Round-Up: Paid Social Media (April 2023)

We’re back again with another essential paid social round-up, covering all the latest news that’s happened in the world of social media in bullet point chunks, perfect for when you’re on the go!

In just a few hundred words you’ll know everything you need to know about this fast-paced industry. Today is no different, we’ve got stories about all the major social media platforms, including TikTok, Meta, and Twitter, with links to all the articles in full so you can delve deeper if you wish!

What are we waiting for, then? Let’s get into it!

The Latest Social Media News!

• TikTok has been fined £12.7 million for failing to protect children’s privacy on the app. In 2020, it was estimated that around 1.4 million children under 13 had access to the app and that their data was to track and profile them.
• LinkedIn, the professional social network, has announced a bunch of new features centred around personalisation and enhanced search. Think new suggested posts, personalised feeds, and deeper, more enhanced search functionality.
• There’s a lot of change happening at Twitter and Meta (some good, some bad). One of the biggest changes is the plan to end the verification programme (giving blue ticks to people of note, basically) and replace it with a paid system that offers certain benefits for those that have opted to pay. Here, Search Engine Journal asks ‘Is it worth it?’
• Google is launching a new Ads Transparency Centre which will allow users to see what are ads being run ensuring users have a better understanding of the ads they see from Google.
• KSI, the popular boxer, drinks creator, gamer, and Youtuber has apologised for saying a racist slur during one of Sidemen’s most recent videos. With his apology was an announcement that he was taking a break from social media because ‘lately I’ve been messing up a lot’.
• Ever wondered how your Twitter recommendation algorithm works? Well, fear no longer, as Twitter itself has broken down how its sources, ranks, and filters tweets into a selection of recommended content.
• Got a birthday coming up? Well, if you’re lucky enough, you might be able to test Instagram’s new birthday photo effect in time for your big day. Only visible on the day itself, the new effect will let others know you’re celebrating (and that they need to rush out to buy you a last-minute gift).
• The Australian government has become the latest government to ban TikTok on its officials’ devices. Senior politicians down under have now quit the app and this move marks the latest development in what has been a turbulent few months for the Chinese-owned app.
• Twitter Blue, the paid-for subscription service where users can pay for blue ticks (and enjoy other benefits) has been rebuked by plenty of a-list celebrities from LeBron James to William Shatner!
• Pinterest has released a brand new guide to help users create more effective advertising. Based on feedback from over 100,000 Pinners, it aims to help brands get more from their Pinterest presence.
• Instagram is launching a new feature aimed at helping users and their friends discover content together. Essentially, the new feature looks like a collaborative feed of content from accounts you and your friends both follow.
• When Twitter announced it was ending its free API access, even the most cynical Musk critic wouldn’t have believed that the social media company would end up charging at least $42,000 (about £33,000) for access to it. This move has caused some huge developers and businesses to pull their API access because they simply can’t afford it.
• Once heralded as the next revolution in content, NFTs have suffered another blow as Instagram announced it is winding down its NFT programme, and will close it all together on 11th April.
• LinkedIn has announced it is launching a Podcast Academy – this 6-month pilot will ‘connect emerging business podcasts with exclusive programming, coaching, tools and LinkedIn co-branding’ and will feature experts across a host of industries.

Phew! Well, there we go, a host of interesting social media stories from the last few days and weeks. There is no sign of this crazy industry slowing down anytime soon! Check back next month for another round-up of our paid social. In the meantime do you know we do round-ups for SEO and PPC, too? Be sure to check them out!

If you find the world of social media too hectic and want to work with a team that can transform your paid and organic social media performance, why not get in touch? Our award-winning social team know a thing or two about how to create successful social media campaigns that hit your target KPIs. To learn more call us on 0161 327 2635 or email [email protected].