Happy Tuesday, social media friends! This week’s social updates include numerous tools that can be used to harness AI to improve audience reach. There are also added protections for users susceptible to online scams. Let’s dive in and see where these features can enhance your strategy.
Instagram is adding a “Watch History” feature for Reels. Users will now be able to see a list, with thumbnails, of the videos they’ve watched in the past 30 days.
This makes it easier for users to go back and find a Reel they once saw but didn’t save.
As Instagram’s Adam Mosseri says, “If you go to ‘Profile’, and under ‘Settings’ under your ‘Activity,’ there’s ‘Watch History’ now, so you can see every Reel that you’ve ever watched. You can sort it from oldest to newest, or newest to oldest, you can go to a specific date or date range, and you can even filter it down to a specific person or account that posted that Reel, so hopefully now you can find that thing that you were trying to find that you couldn’t find before.”
The app has also rolled out a new drawing tool inside DMs.
When users are in a chat, they can tap the “+” menu next to the message composer and select Draw. Then they’ll get a set of drawing tools at the top of the screen to draw anything they like over the chat background.
Users can also place stickers anywhere in the chat user-interface for added visual flair.
These drawn or “stickered” items are part of the chat sequence, meaning they’ll appear in the chat, but as the conversation continues and things scroll, they’ll move out of view just like other messages.
Instagram has additionally added a new AI-powered editing tool inside Stories called “Restyle.” Users can add, remove or change elements in photos and videos using simple text prompts or preset effects.
As an example, users can remove a photobomber, change an outfit, swap the background or apply a sketch filter.
The tool is built directly into the Stories editor. Users pick a photo or video, tap the “Restyle” icon, which looks like a paintbrush, and then make your edits.
This feature is currently only available in the U.S.
Users aged 13 to 17 with a teen account will have the option to change the app’s icon on the device’s home screen.
The visual styles include themes like chrome, cosmic, slime and more aesthetic variations of the usual Instagram logo, which allows teens to better express themselves, per Instagram’s design team.
With a Teen Account open, tap the Instagram logo at the top of the home feed, select the custom icons option and choose from there.
LinkedIn is giving users the option to become an “AI Trainer.” Essentially, users can answer questions about their professional background and experiences, and the responses will help train LinkedIn’s AI systems.
If users sign up, they’ll be asked to reflect on their work, skills and career in more detail than usual, not just posting, but interacting with triggers and questions.
Snapchat
Snapchat announced that its Imagine Lens, an AI tool that lets users type in a prompt and generate or transform images, is now available to all U.S. users for free.
Previously this tool was limited to paid tiers.
The feature lets users pick a photo or start fresh, type something like “turn my office into a slip-and-slide” or “try on Halloween costume inspo,” and watch an image version of an idea appear, Snapchat says.
Users can then share it with friends, post it to a Story or export it outside the app.
X
X announced that it is rolling out a pay-per-use model for its API access, expanding a closed beta program to include both new and “power” users who build applications on the platform, according to the app makers.
Rather than a one-size-fits‐all subscription tier, developers will pay based on how much they use the API, a move that signals X is seeking to rebuild and refine its relationship with its developer community.
Facebook has updated how business and creator pages are categorized during setup.
Now, when users go to create a page, they’ll be asked right away whether it’s a “Company” or “Creator” page, helping ensure the right tools and features are offered based on preference.
The company says this change aims to make the onboarding process simpler and more accurate, so pages are aligned with their purpose from the start.
It also means creators can more easily access the features built for them, and companies can streamline their setup.
Meta
Meta is using Cybersecurity Awareness Month to roll out new tools and guidance across its platforms, including Facebook, Messenger and WhatsApp, to help protect older adults from scams.
Across Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, users can access tools to review and strengthen their account security settings. These checkups guide users through actions like enabling two-factor authentication and adjusting privacy preferences.
The app makers said: “When this is enabled and a new contact sends a potentially scammy message, we warn you and give you an option to send recent chat messages for AI scam review. If a potential scam is detected, you will get more information on common scams, and we will suggest actions including blocking or reporting the suspicious account.”
Courtney Blackann is a communications reporter. Connect with her on LinkedIn or email her at [email protected].
