Social Media Updates You Need To Know
Social media has changed the entire media landscape. It is nearly impossible to build and maintain brand relevance without having a social presence on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, X/Bluesky etc. However, the social platforms themselves are also prone to change.
Social platforms are constantly updating their user interface and the algorithms that impact what content you see. It seems like there are new features added to your favorite social media applications every other week, causing you to have to agree to another updated terms of service.
Being able to leverage social platforms to elevate your brand means being able to adjust to the constantly changing social media landscape. Here at Spotlight, we pay attention to the trends. Here are three recent social media changes that you should be paying attention to.
Instagram has changed the profile grid ratio
It’s time for your graphic designer to update the Instagram template. The perfect square ratio (1:1, 1080px/1080px) used in the profile grid for all Instagram users has changed. Now, content in the profile grid appears at a 3:4 ratio (1015px/1350px). However, you cannot upload any content in the 3:4 ratio format. Instagram recommends creating and uploading content in the 4:5 ratio (1080px/1350px) as the platform will automatically crop the sides of your image to fit the grid.
This change falls in line with Instagram’s efforts to highlight reels and vertical content over horizontal or square content. With the increasing growth of TikTok, which displays only vertical video and images, Instagram is looking to stay atop the newer platform in global popularity.
Vertical, short form video content is taking over
TikTok’s blueprint of short form, vertical videos has caught the attention – or lack thereof – of the youngest generations of social media users.
The newer the generation is, the shorter their attention span is. In two decades, the average attention span of a human has decreased from 12 seconds to 8.25 seconds, with Gen Z individuals dropping to 8 seconds. This means that if you want to get young people interested in what you do, your content better be short and sweet!
Even YouTube, which is a hub for longform content such as podcasts, has implemented YouTube Shorts. Vertical or square videos on YouTube Shorts must be 3 minutes or less, which is a recent increase from the original 60 second limit.
When creating video content, you must consider your target audience. If you want your video to attract adults 35 and up, then a longer video posted on YouTube or Facebook will suffice. However, if you want your content to resonate with someone younger than 25, a clip that is 60 seconds or less will be your best bet. And you may want to post that clip on TikTok or Instagram reels for the best visibility. Take that hour-long YouTube podcast and break it down into short segments for YouTube Shorts. Make sure the Gen Z kids don’t fall asleep on your video!
AI is on the rise, media literacy has never been more important
Artificial Intelligence is increasing in, well, intelligence. AI generated content is becoming more and more relevant in use on social media. A recent example of this is the Studio Ghibli trend, in which social media users are transforming viral memes, iconic images, and personal content into the Studio Ghibli art style. And while it makes for cool-looking content, this content does not come from the Japanese animation house that inspired it.
AI has even seen increased use in advertising. The ability to generate videos of people performing real acts and speaking in a natural tone has blurred the line between what’s real and what’s fake for users.
The NFL franchise Buffalo Bills recently made light of this in their schedule release. In the video, a Bills executive calls their star quarterback Josh Allen, asking him how the Bills should create their schedule release. Josh Allen tells the executive to “Just use AI. That’s what everyone’s doing.” The executive in turn uses “AI” to announce the schedule release, that AI being the real Allen Iverson, former NBA superstar.
A funny play on words by the Bills speaks to a deeper message, however. We are entering the age of artificial intelligence. What we see on our screens may not always be factual, and now what we see on our screens may not even be reality. It will become increasingly important to be able to discern what is real versus what is AI generated, and to be able to use AI generated content properly.
There is no need to fear the changes we’ve listed. The ability to adapt to the changing media landscape can increase the visibility and durability of your brand. Here at Spotlight, we have a team of experienced media experts that can help you leverage your social media platforms for the best results.
For more information, contact us and book a consultation today.
Andre White is the Digital Media Specialist of Spotlight PR LLC. Check out our other writings on our blog, The Pitch.