This week’s updates include tons of new ad options. Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and Pinterest have all added new ways to promote ads around cultural moments or big events, which should help visibility and reach. Let’s take a closer look at some other developments and see how they can help your brand strategy.
LinkedIn is updating how LinkedIn Live works. Starting in June, users can’t just go live instantly anymore. They must schedule a live event first, even if it’s just a few minutes ahead of time.
The company says it’s trying to make live video more organized and easier to discover. It’s pushing users to plan ahead and promote their events, rather than jumping on spontaneously.
X
X abruptly tightened access to its X Pro dashboard, a tool many social media managers use to track multiple feeds, lists and conversations in one place.
The update means X Pro is now limited to Premium+ subscribers only, Social Media Today reports, which is the platform’s most expensive paid tier.
The change was rolled out with little advance notice and Nikita Bier, X’s head of product, said there would be a much more powerful model coming soon.
Instagram is updating its Edits app with new features aimed at making content creation easier and more customizable. This will include things like new fonts, creative tools and workflow improvements that give creators more ways to style and edit their videos without needing a separate app.
The company also announced new ad tools focused on helping brands show up next to what people are already watching and talking about. The most major update is expanding “trending” ads on Reels, so companies can place ads alongside popular videos or big cultural moments like sports, holidays or events. They’re additionally making it easier for brands to find creators through improved search tools and a revamped partnership hub.
The updates also include tools that can automatically create video ads, add voiceovers, translate content into different languages and generate creator-style videos using avatars.
The overall goal is to make it faster and cheaper to produce lots of content and make ads feel more like regular videos, so they blend in instead of feeling like ads.
TikTok
Similarly, TikTok announced new ad options at its NewFronts event that are designed to placebrands in front of more people at key moments.
This includes formats like Logo Takeover, where a brand appears right when someone opens the app, and TopReach, which helps advertisers reach a large audience quickly. Another option, Prime Time, lets brands run ads during big events or moments when viewership is highest.
TikTok also updated its Pulse program so brands can place ads next to trending videos or content from specific creators. Overall, the updates are meant to help advertisers show up in the middle of what people are already watching instead of interrupting them with traditional ads.
Snapchat
Snapchat just rolled out a new feature called AI Clips in its Lens Studio tool, which lets creators turn a single photo into a five-second video using AI.
Instead of typing prompts or doing major edits, users upload a photo and tap the button. The user controls how the final video looks.
Snapchat can now also be used for a full range of ad goals, not just getting more attention, but also driving actions like clicks or purchases, Snap says. This includes Total Snap Takeovers, which puts a brand at the of the app for maximum visibility.
Pinterest introduced a new feature called Promote a Pin, which lets businesses and creators turn an existing post into a paid ad. Rather than building a full campaign from scratch, users can pick a Pin that’s already performing well and add budget to reach more people.
This is Pinterest’s version of a “boost” button. It’s meant to make advertising easier, especially for smaller teams or creators, by letting them test what works and expand reach without needing to learn the full ads system.
Courtney Blackann is a communications reporter. Connect with her on LinkedIn or email her at [email protected].
