Join us as we look back on what the main players have been up to this month! From fun AI tools to TikTok taking steps towards accessibility - it’s been a positively interesting month in social media! Let’s dive in.
1. Meta’s releases new AI chat bots.
The team at Mashable have gone deep with Meta’s new AI celebrity chat bots. In case you weren’t aware, these were designed on the likeness of celebs like Kendall Jenner and Snoop Dogg – yet bear no resemblance to them. Though we are constantly being promised big things from the tech and AI world, in an unsurprising twist, Meta’s new chatbots leave something to be desired. Interactions with the AI have been described as awkward at best. At this point, we are wondering “why?” And yet we cannot tear our eyes away from what might come next, can you?
2. The internet re-does their yearbook photos!
In terms of the AI we can get behind, a new trend took over TikTok this month – the 90s AI portrait trend. Glow-up yearbook photos, or the same old disappointment, we were here for it and so was the rest of the internet thanks to the AI photo editing app Epik. As with most AI, these edits were flawless and definitely had an overly-flattering filter feel, which is what kept the trend in a fun realm. Tap the link to give yours a go!
3. TikTok takes a step up in accessibility.
This month TikTok announced an important move towards accessibility in the app by introducing auto captions as a default feature on all videos. While users currently have the option to enable auto captions, TikTok announced this will now be the standard. Creators will still be able to edit captions after posting, but opting out won’t be an option. This aims to make TikTok more inclusive, so that all users can enjoy the app regardless of language or hearing barriers. As of next month auto captions for English language videos will be rolled out, with other languages to follow.
4. Meta makes moves towards subscription models.
In another money-making move for Meta, the app is exploring an ad-free subscription tier for Facebook users. This comes as Europe’s data privacy regulations continue to evolve, making it difficult for Facebook to optimise the user experience with targeted ads. Their alternative is a paid subscription that eliminates irrelevant ads while still generating revenue from users. Coming in at 14 USD a month, just to avoid annoying advertising, it seems a big ask for users and we’re curious to see what the uptake will be.
5. What does the Google Antitrust Lawsuit mean for advertisers?
The Google antitrust lawsuit, one of the most significant lawsuits against Google in over 25 years, could reshape the digital advertising landscape as we know it. The team at Search Engine Land explains how. If you’re not across all the legal jargon (guilty) just know that the U.S. Department of Justice has accused Google of anti-competitive behaviour – meaning actions that give Google an unfair advantage – this includes things like acquiring competitors, manipulating auction prices, and more. If Google loses this lawsuit, the implications for advertisers could be huge, but regardless of the outcome, advertisers need to prepare for potential changes now. Read more at the link below.
6. Meta releases a report on Evolving Consumption Shifts.
Meta’s new report on evolving consumption shifts aims to help brands and marketers make an impact in an ever-changing environment. The report, conducted in collaboration with Kantar and Nielsen, identifies key factors in today’s marketing world as areas of focus, such as short-form video, business messaging, and AI. Unsurprisingly, Meta, a company that makes money from ads, is suggesting brands spend more on paid advertising, underlining the cost-effectiveness of Meta in delivering an impact. Overall, the report provides valuable insights, however businesses should conduct further research on the latest consumer trends to improve their marketing strategies.