Weekly Social Media Scoop: New Grids, Long Reels, and Drama Overload
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TikTok might be grabbing all the headlines lately, but it’s not the only app making moves. This past week has been stacked with updates, fresh features, and plenty for marketers to dig into. Whether you’re tweaking your Instagram strategy or waiting to see if TikTok survives the drama, here’s your cheat sheet:
Meta Enters the Chat with Edits (Watch Out, CapCut!)
Meta is making moves. Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, hopped on Instagram to announce the launch of a video editing app called Edits. The app is currently available for pre-order in theApp Store and is set to launch around February. It will offer advanced video editing features, including a trending audio panel and the ability to share your projects with other content creators.
Clearly, this is Meta’s play to rival CapCut, the popular editing app owned by TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance. With TikTok’s future in the U.S. under scrutiny, Meta’s timing couldn’t be more strategic.
What this means for you: If you have access to the App Store, pre-order Edits now and test it out when it drops. Especially with CapCut’s future uncertain, it’s a smart move to explore alternatives—you can always switch to a different platform if needed.
Instagram Finally Updates the Grid
This is a change we’ve been expecting for a while—Instagram has officially ditched the iconic squares. Your profile grid will now display in a 3:4 format, though the preferred post ratios stay the same: 4:5 for static posts and 9:16 for Reels. Don’t worry—you can still adjust how each post appears using the settings. Plus, you can even add backgrounds to square posts to make them fit.
What this means for you: The square era is over. Stick to 4:5 and 9:16 ratios for your content and plan your profile’s look with the new 3:4 previews in mind.
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Bluesky & X Hop on the Short Video Trend
Both platforms are doubling down on short-form content. Bluesky now lets you create video-only timelines curated with hashtags, while X (formerly Twitter) has introduced a trending video tab for U.S. users. Think TikTok but Elon’s version.
What this means for marketers: Short-form video is still king. With TikTok’s future uncertain, it’s worth testing both X and Bluesky. If your audience craves quick, snackable content, give these features a shot and see what sticks. Worst case? You learn what doesn’t work.
TikTok’s Rollercoaster: Ban Drama and a 75-Day Reprieve
TikTok faced a total U.S. shutdown over data privacy and national security concerns—for a few chaotic hours. The app briefly went offline before President Donald Trump issued an executive order granting a 75-day extension, giving ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, time to address U.S. concerns.
What this means for you: 75 days isn’t much time. If you haven’t already, start building a presence on other platforms like Instagram Reels, Facebook Reels, and YouTube Shorts. Diversifying your platform portfolio is a must for reaching new audiences (and you can always repurpose the content you already have).
Instagram Reels Go Long: 3-Minute Limit
Instagram is now letting U.S. creators post Reels up to three minutes long. This opens up opportunities for more detailed how-tos, behind-the-scenes content, or anything that needs a little more time to shine. But remember, attention spans are still short, so make every second count.
What this means for you: Use the extra time to tell a story or showcase your brand in more depth. Just keep it engaging—viewers will scroll past if it feels too slow.
Instagram Reels: See What Your Friends Like
Instagram has introduced a new feature that displays which Reels the accounts you follow have liked. Small profile icons with a heart symbol now appear on liked Reels, making engagement more visible.
What this means for you: Now more than ever, it’s important to be mindful of the content you’re liking—your activity is more public than ever. For brands, this is also an opportunity to keep your profile visible and build subtle connections.

Threads Brings Mobile Analytics for Everyone (Yay!)
Threads is rolling out mobile insights, giving users easy access to key performance metrics like reach, engagement, and follower growth. You can even see posts ranked by views and likes—all within the app.
What this means for you: If you’re posting on Threads, monitoring your performance just got easier. Use these insights to double down on what works and tweak what doesn’t.
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Meta Adds WhatsApp Profiles to Accounts Center
Meta announced plans to integrate WhatsApp profiles into its Accounts Center, joining Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger. This update will allow features like cross-posting and single sign-on for easier logins.
What this means for marketers: If WhatsApp plays a role in your strategy, this integration will let you re-share WhatsApp Status updates to Facebook or Instagram Stories seamlessly. It’s a small change but one that could streamline your cross-platform efforts.
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