Time flies when you’re deep in the social media vortex! This week, Instagram is testing ‘Blends,’ a new way to share Reels with your mates, TikTok is adding a meditation feature for teens and Meta is practically begging advertisers to connect Google Analytics. Meanwhile, Bluesky is getting some much-needed upgrades, X is offering a trip to Mars (seriously), and Corona is bringing beach vibes to Lima’s rush hour.
Also, in case you caught last week’s Round-Up, I got a little ahead of myself with the Edits app launch. It turns out that it’s now coming in late April. Sorry about that.
Let’s dive in! ⏬
Latest News
🎬 Instagram Begins Live Testing ‘Blends’
Instagram is testing a new Reels-sharing experience called Blends, where you and a friend can see what’s being recommended to each of you in a single, shared feed. Instead of constantly DMing your favourite Reels back and forth, Instagram is making it official, so you can discover content together without lifting a finger. Just scroll and enjoy the chaos.
Instagram’s Adam Mosseri is excited about it (which means we should be too, right?). Check out the details here: 📎 More on Blends
🚨 TikTok Announces New Teen Safety Measures
TikTok is stepping up its game on parental controls with updates to Family Pairing. Some highlights:
✅ Parents can set custom time limits for their teens.
✅ TikTok has launched an in-app meditation feature (yes, really) to help users unwind after 10 PM.
✅ The Science, Tech, Engineering & Math (SEM) feed is now in 100+ countries, serving millions of teens weekly.
Basically, TikTok is trying to prove it’s the responsible older sibling of social media. It could be a good moment to create content by breaking down these updates for your audience. 📎 More on TikTok’s Safety Measures
📊 Meta Wants Advertisers to Connect Google Analytics
Meta is gently nudging (read: aggressively pushing) advertisers to integrate Google Analytics with their Ads Accounts.
Why? Because brands with high-quality GA integrations saw a 5% increase in conversions (according to Meta’s own data, so take that as you will).
The setup takes 5-10 minutes, and honestly, if it means squeezing more out of ad spend, it’s probably worth it. 📎 More on GA & Meta Ads
🚀 Win a Trip to Mars with X (No, Really.)
Social media competitions are nothing new, but this one is out of this world. Literally. X (formerly Twitter) just announced a March Madness Bracket Challenge in partnership with Uber Eats. The grand prize?
🥇 A trip to Mars on SpaceX’s yet-to-be-built rocket ship (small detail).
🥈 If Mars isn’t ready yet, the winner gets $100,000 instead.
Clearly a ‘world’ first and we’re excited to see how it pans out. 📎 More on the ‘Win a Trip to Mars’ Competition
🔄 Bluesky Rolls Out a Big Update
Bluesky, the decentralised social network that’s aiming to be Twitter, but less Elon-y, has just rolled out Version 1.99, and it’s bringing some long-awaited upgrades.
📽️ 3-minute videos are now supported, giving users a bit more breathing room for content.
📥 A separate request inbox for DMs, meaning strangers won’t clog up your main messages.
🔕 Faster mute options so you can silence trolls before they even finish typing.
But the big picture here? Bluesky is rapidly evolving. Since launching, it’s been positioning itself as the more user-friendly and nicer alternative to X, and these updates are another step in the right direction.
If it keeps up the momentum it might just become a real contender. 📎 More on Bluesky’s Latest Updates
🔥 Quick Tip of the Week
The Best Time to Post in 2025
Timing is everything, especially in social media. But when exactly should you post? The team at Hootsuite teamed up with data science experts Critical Truth and analysed over 1 million social posts across different industries and platforms. The verdict?
🕛 Overall best time to post: 12 PM on Fridays. 📌 But each platform has its own sweet spot, so it’s worth digging deeper.
- Instagram: 9 AM – 11 AM, Tuesdays & Thursdays
- LinkedIn: 7 AM – 9 AM, Wednesdays & Thursdays
- TikTok: 6 PM – 9 PM, Saturdays
- X (Twitter): 10 AM – 1 PM, Wednesdays
What does this mean? Test different times, track your engagement, and adjust accordingly. Posting at the right time can make a massive difference to visibility and reach. 📎 Read More
✨ Campaigns We Love ✨ – Beer Special 🍺
🍺 Corona Turns Rush Hour into a Moment of Calm
In Lima, Corona transformed a chaotic avenue into a sunset-filled escape, broadcasting a live beach sunset across every digital billboard at rush hour. 📎 Watch Here
🏎️ Peroni Welcomes Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari
Peroni & Ferrari, a match made in Italian luxury heaven, have teamed up for a dolce vita-inspired ad starring Lewis Hamilton. It’s sleek and stylish. 📎 Watch Here
🗓️ Mark Your Calendars
Opportunities to celebrate this week
- Wed 19 Mar: National Let’s Laugh Day 😂
- Thu 20 Mar: International Day of Happiness 😁
- Fri 21 Mar: World Poetry Day 📝
- Sat 22 Mar: Earth Hour 🌏
- Sun 23 Mar: World Meteorological Day ☀️
- Mon 24 Mar: National Cocktail Day 🍸
- Tue 25 Mar: International Waffle Day 🧇
And next…
- Wednesday 26th March: Purple Day 🟣
- Thursdsay 27th March: International Whiskey Day 🥃
- Friday 28th March: Respect your Cat Day 🐈⬛
- Saturday 29th March: World Piano Day 🎹
- Sunday 30th March: Pretzel Sunday 🥨
- Monday 31st March: National Crayon Day 🖍️
- Tuesday 1st April: International Fun at Work Day 🥳
Want to stay ahead of the latest social trends? Subscribe to out weekly newsletter and never miss a Round-Up. Need help with content strategy, video production, or plotting your trip to Mars? Let’s chat. 🚀
See you next week! Bye! 👋
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