Social Round-Up: 19 February 2025

Another week, another wave of social updates to keep you ahead of the game! 🎯 YouTube is going all-in on TV, AI, and the creator economy, 📺 WhatsApp is making chats more personal, and LinkedIn is expanding content reach beyond the platform. Plus, TikTok just named 2025’s top creators, and BuzzFeed is making a bold move into social media. Let’s dive in! ⏬

Latest News

🎥 YouTube’s 2025 Playbook

As YouTube turns 20, it’s making four big bets for 2025:

It will remain the heart of culture.
Creators are the new Hollywood.
YouTube is officially the new TV.
AI is revolutionizing content creation.

With TV now the #1 way people watch YouTube in the U.S., it’s clear that short-form alone won’t cut it anymore. Brands need to create high-concept, engaging content that blends entertainment and marketing. Because in the new era of TV, ads are skippable—but great content isn’t. 👉Read More

🎨 YouTube Shorts Adds AI Video Tools

YouTube is boosting Shorts with AI, integrating Google’s Veo 2 model to allow creators to generate high-quality 4K video clips from text prompts. This means more visually stunning, AI-driven content – no fancy production studio required. For brands and creators, this is a game-changer: AI-powered clips can add a creative spark to your Shorts, helping content stand out in a crowded feed while reducing production time. 👉 Read More

🎨 WhatsApp Introduces Chat Themes

WhatsApp is giving conversations a fresh look with custom chat themes, colourful bubbles, and 30+ wallpapers. Now, each chat can have its own vibe, making brand interactions more engaging. For businesses, this is an opportunity to elevate brand presence in DMs. Customising chats to match your brand colours or campaign aesthetics can create a more immersive, on-brand customer experience.👉Read More

🔗 LinkedIn Now Lets You Share Posts Beyond the Platform – More Reach, More Engagement

LinkedIn is making it easier than ever to distribute content. With the new “Send” button, you can now share LinkedIn posts across multiple platforms in just two taps. Whether it’s posting to Slack, embedding in newsletters, or sharing on WhatsApp, your content no longer has to live in a LinkedIn silo. This is huge for expanding thought leadership and repurposing content. If you’re already investing in high-quality LinkedIn posts, now’s the time to leverage them beyond the feed to drive even more engagement. 👉 Read More

🌍 TikTok’s Discover List 2025

TikTok’s annual Discover List is here, highlighting the top creators across education, food, culture, and innovation who are shaping trends both on and off the platform. For brands, this is your cheat sheet for influencer marketing in 2025. Getting in early with these rising stars could mean massive audience reach before their fees skyrocket. 👉 Read More

🏝️ BuzzFeed is Building Its Own Social Network

In an unexpected move, BuzzFeed is creating its own social media platform, promising a more positive, community-driven experience than traditional networks. While most new platforms struggle to gain traction, BuzzFeed’s built-in audience could give it a fighting chance. Marketers should keep an eye on this one – if BuzzFeed’s fans migrate, this could become an interesting niche space for brands looking to connect with engaged communities. 👉 Read More

💡 TEAM LEWIS Likes

✨ Campaigns We Love ✨

🍔 McDonald’s Lets You Order Like Stormzy

Stormzy’s go-to McDonald’s meal—Nine Nuggets, Fries, Sprite, Oreo McFlurry, and Barbecue Sauce—is now an official menu item in the UK, proving once again that brands that tap into pop culture win big. 👉 Watch Here

🎧 Beats – Listen to Your Heart

Beats’ latest campaign features RZA, LeBron James, Lionel Messi, and Shohei Ohtani, blending music and sport in a visually stunning showcase of the Powerbeats Pro 2. 👉 Watch Here