Trending with Taylor 💃🏻 (May 2024)
Dearest reader,
Taylor here, your premier source for the lowdown on what is hot and happening. I am here to enlighten you on all the notable occurrences from the past month of May. Have you heard the latest whispers in the social media world?
Well, you’re about to.
Instagram is always testing new features to see how it can keep it’s users engaged and on the platform more.
The latest testings we’ve heard about is to do with the highlights feature. There was a photo shared on Threads from @sunfwer about her profile page changing and the highlights are much larger on her profile.
Another creator and app researcher on Threads @ihammod_oh reported that another feature on the highlights tab will be a ‘recently’ highlight which essentially can extend the life of your stories!
T’s thoughts: I really like both of these features that they’re testing. I think they’d also benefit brands working with influencers by giving them more space to advertise on profiles. Even on a brand’s own profile they could possibly highlight key customer pain points or product demos in a bigger format that would gain more traction. They could utilise a large highlight feature dedicated to them or extend the life of a branded story from 24 hours to an extra 7 days.
Algorithm Update
IG is taking bigger steps towards rewarding ORIGINAL content!
Historically, Instagram’s ranking system gave more reach to big accounts and reposted content, which mean smaller creators weren’t getting a push, and neither were original creators of popular trends. To fix this, Instagram’s latest algorithm update has 4 big changes:
- boosting distribution for smaller creators
- prioritising original content over reposts in recommendations
- labelling reposted content with links to the original creator
- removing content aggregators/repeaters from recommendations
This new approach will display fresh content to a small audience first and expand its reach based on engagement. The goal is to ensure original creators get the credit and visibility they deserve. These updates should help level the playing field, giving all creators a fair shot at reaching new audiences and gaining a larger following.
TikTok
Notes
TikTok Notes has been around for a month, but it’s still only accessible to users in Canada and Australia. Because of its limited availability, we’re yet to see it gain any significant traction.
U.M.G x TikTok
U.M.G. music is back on TikTok, and let’s face it, it was bound to happen eventually. This move opens up more avenues for artist promotion and unleashes greater creative potential for TikTok creators. Honestly, it’s a win-win situation for everyone involved!
Symphony
TikTok just dropped a “creative AI suite” that helps with writing scripts, producing videos, brainstorming ideas, and more! Yep, another AI tool. Most of these features were already part of TikTok’s creative suite, so it’s not completely new, but now all the AI tools are grouped under one umbrella.
60 minutes TikTok Videos
TikTok is testing videos up to 60 minutes… is there even a need for that? Our attention spans keep getting shorter, so the focus has always been on short-form content. Will 60 minutes really be necessary? If they’re trying to compete with YouTube and go with 60-minute videos, will there be ads? Will TikTok become a subscription service for an ad-free experience like YouTube’s paid version?
Ads
Apple’s “Crush” iPad Pro Ad:
Our office had mixed reactions to this ad: some hated it and felt offended, while others saw no issue. Regardless of opinion, it’s clear the ad successfully boosted product awareness!
IG Ad
My thumb stopped on this ad’s unique approach, even though the first 10 seconds wasn’t connected to the promoted app. The quirky visuals kept me engaged until the end, mainly because I wanted to understand the significance of the cookie. Despite its 45-second length, it did capture my attention from the start, and I was genuinely curious to see it would unfold.
McDonald’s
They rebranded its Happy Meal as simply ‘The Meal’ in support of Mental Health Awareness Week.
E.L.F.
CGI feels a bit overused these days, especially when people lean more towards authenticity. However, the London-centric Maybelline mascara ads and this recent one show its potential when done right. What really caught my eye were the witty and quirky responses in the comment section, highlighting the importance of engaging and interacting with your audience.
Met Gala x Gym Shark
You know how the first Monday in May is all about the Met Gala, right? Well, Gymshark didn’t miss a beat and jumped right into the social media buzz surrounding the event. They totally owned it, turning the spotlight onto their fitness brand in a fresh and exciting way. This is “Sweat Gala”
Yours Truly,
T
