Another week, another shake-up in social! Instagram might be breaking Reels out into a separate app, LinkedIn is testing a connections-only feed, and YouTube just hit 1 billion podcast viewers. Meanwhile, TikTok is making desktop users feel more at home, and Apple is launching new child safety tools. Let’s dive in! ⏬
Latest News
🎥 Instagram’s Reels-Only App – The Next TikTok Rival?
Instagram is reportedly developing a standalone app for Reels, codenamed Project Ray. The app will focus entirely on short-form video and offer a full-screen scrollable feed. This move could declutter Instagram’s main app while offering an alternative to TikTok, especially given the ongoing regulatory drama in the U.S.
If it launches, expect Meta to push Reels even harder, with longer 3-minute videos and a more significant push for creators to make exclusive content. Would you download yet another video app? 👉 Read More
🔗 LinkedIn Tests Connections-Only Feed – A Game Changer for Engagement?
Are you tired of seeing strangers in your LinkedIn feed? LinkedIn is testing a “My Network” tab that will only show updates from your direct connections and pages you follow.
This could help users engage more with familiar faces, making it easier to build relationships without distractions from viral, algorithm-boosted posts. A cleaner feed could mean better reach for personal updates, so start crafting those thought-leadership posts now! 👉 Read More
🖥️ TikTok’s Desktop App Gets a Major Upgrade
TikTok’s mobile-first days might be numbered. The platform is expanding its desktop experience with a modular layout, better search, a floating video player, and live gaming streaming.
For creators, this means more flexibility in editing and uploading content on desktop, and for brands, it’s a bigger opportunity to target audiences consuming TikTok outside of their phones. The floating video player also means TikTok wants to compete with YouTube’s “watch while you work” crowd. 👉 Read More
🍏 Apple’s New Child Safety Tools – A Step Toward Safer Apps?
Apple is introducing new age-checking features for apps. These features allow parents to share their children’s ages so developers can provide more age-appropriate content.
This comes as governments worldwide push for stronger online child protections. With new App Store age ratings and better parental controls, brands in the kids’ space should pay close attention to how these rules impact app marketing and compliance. 👉 Read More
🎙️ YouTube Hits 1 Billion Podcast Viewers – The Future of Video Podcasts?
YouTube has cemented itself as the #1 podcast platform, with over 1 billion monthly viewers consuming podcast content. In 2024 alone, people watched over 400 million hours of podcasts per month on their TVs.
For marketers, this means video podcasts are no longer just an experiment, they’re a must-have strategy. Whether it’s long-form interviews, bite-sized clips, or behind-the-scenes content, YouTube is where podcasting is growing the fastest. 👉 Read More
🔥 Quick Tip of the Week
Boost Engagement with LinkedIn’s “My Network” Feed
LinkedIn is testing a new “Connections-Only” feed, which means your posts could get more visibility if users filter out non-connection content.
📌 What to do:
✅ Prioritize engagement. Interact with connections before posting. A simple comment or direct message can remind LinkedIn’s reminder algorithm that you’re connected.
✅ Go personal. Thought-leadership posts and behind-the-scenes updates tend to perform better in a network-focused feed.
✅ Encourage follows. If your audience isn’t connected, ask them to follow you so they don’t miss your content.
💡 Why it matters: This could shift how LinkedIn works, making personal content more valuable than ever. Get ahead of the game before it rolls out to everyone!
💡 TEAM LEWIS Likes
✨ Campaigns We Love ✨
🍟 Messi, Putellas, Henry, and Suarez Walk into a Bar…
No, it’s not the start of a joke, it’s Lay’s latest global campaign, featuring football legends hunting for crisps/chips across Miami and Barcelona. It’s the latest instalment of No Lay’s, No Game, proving again that snacks and sport are the ultimate duo. 🎥 Watch Here
🏠 IKEA Encourages Kids to Wreck Their Parents’ Homes (Sort Of)
IKEA’s new campaign, “Your Home Will Never Be the Same”, highlights how kids turn homes upside down, but in a way that makes life more fun. Instead of pretending homes stay spotless, IKEA embraces the chaos with kid-friendly furniture solutions. 🎥 Watch Here
🗓️ Mark Your Calendars
Opportunities to celebrate this week
- Wed March 5th: National Cheese Doodle Day 🧀
- Thu March 6th: National Frozen Food Day ❄️
- Fri March 7th: National Employee Appreciation Day 🙌
- Sat March 8th: International Women’s Day 💜
- Sun March 9th: National Barbie Day 🎀
- Mon March 10th: National Mario Day 🍄
- Tue March 11th: World Plumbing Day 🔧
And next…
- Wed 12 Mar: National Plant a Flower Day 🌸
- Thu 13 Mar: National Good Samaritan Day 🤝
- Fri 14 Mar: International Day of Mathematics ➗
- Sat 15 Mar: World Speech Day 🎤
- Sun 16 Mar: National Panda Day 🐼
- Mon 17 Mar: Saint Patrick’s Day ☘️
- Tue 18 Mar: Global Recycling Day ♻️
And that’s a wrap! 🎬 Want to stay ahead of the latest social media trends? Subscribe below and never miss a round-up. Need help with LinkedIn strategy, TikTok content, or making your brand’s video podcast the next big thing? Let’s chat. 🚀
See you next week! Bye! 👋
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