Summer Social Media Roundup 2025: 30 Must-Know Updates & Insights

Here are 5 of the top social media updates from this summer. Download the full report to get the other 25!

Social media didn’t take a summer break in 2025. From Instagram’s 20-minute Reels to TikTok’s new publishing tools, here are the biggest updates you need to know.

If you manage accounts, build campaigns, or just like to know what’s coming before it smacks you in the algorithm, you’ll want the full picture. We pulled together the 30 biggest updates from Instagram, TikTok, Threads, LinkedIn, YouTube, and X into one neat roundup.

1. Instagram Posts Appear in Google Search‍

Instagram’s public content is now indexed by Google, which means your posts can show up directly in search results. This pushes your reach beyond the app itself and puts your content in front of people who may not even use Instagram.

For marketers, this is a huge chance to think about Instagram as part of your SEO strategy. Alt text, captions, and keyword relevance suddenly matter much more because they can influence how your posts rank on Google. Brands that optimize here will have an advantage in discovery.

2. Hashtags Banned in Promoted Posts (X)‍

X is now flagging promoted posts that include hashtags, which means paid campaigns must stay completely focused on the CTA with no distractions. Organic posts are unaffected, so you can still use hashtags to boost visibility and engagement.

Elon Musk announced the change himself:

Shortly after, Grok’s official profile stepped in to clarify. Hashtags are still valuable for regular posts. Their advice:

• Use 1–2 relevant hashtags per post to avoid looking spammy.
• Research trending and niche hashtags with X’s search.
• Engage with hashtag communities and post during peak times.
• Rotate hashtags to stay fresh and avoid filters.
• Place hashtags mid-post for more engagement or at the end for a cleaner look.

For marketers, the split is important. Ads must now stand on their own with sharp CTAs, while organic posts can still ride discovery and engagement through smart hashtag use. The smartest strategies will treat ads and organic as two different beasts.

3. Instagram Reel Retention Metric‍

Instagram added a Retention chart and Skip Rate to Reels Insights. The Retention chart shows exactly where viewers drop off, while Skip Rate reveals how many swipe away in the first three seconds.

For marketers, this is one of the most useful updates in a long time. You can finally see if your hooks are strong enough, spot weak points in your video, and adjust content strategy with hard data. This kind of metric lets social teams test, tweak, and improve creative performance instead of guessing what keeps people watching.

4. TikTok Enforces 5-Hashtag Limit‍

TikTok now limits captions to five hashtags per video. If you try to add more, you’ll get a warning. This puts an end to hashtag spamming and forces marketers to be more strategic with tag selection. Relevance now beats volume.

Choosing the right hashtags that align with your content and audience behavior will make the difference in visibility. The limit also hints that TikTok is moving toward making recommendations less dependent on tags and more on actual content signals.

5. Threads DMs Roll Out Globally‍

Threads launched its own direct messaging system, separate from Instagram.

For users, this creates a more complete standalone platform. For marketers, it adds another place where audiences may expect quick, personal interaction. This matters because direct messages are often where brand loyalty is built. DMs on Threads can be used for customer support, private engagement, or even delivering exclusive content to your most active followers. Social teams that treat Threads as a messaging-first channel will be ready to build stronger connections early.

But wait, there's more...

You just got the top five, but there are 25 more updates waiting for you. From algorithm tweaks to brand-new features, if you’re serious about running social in 2025, you’ll want the full download.

Instead of scrolling endless product blogs or random tweets, you get one clear cheat sheet that tells you what changed and why it matters. Plus, we asked a few pro marketers to share their take on where social is headed next.