ICYMI: Big Moves from Instagram, Snapchat & Pinterest
3 platform updates that made me say, "whoa!"
Brace yourselves. With Cannes and VidCon next week, we’re about to get hit with a wave of platform updates and agency reports. I’m keeping this one short — just the essentials — before the deluge begins.
⏰ 1-SECOND SUMMARY
Instagram Edits updates include a Teleprompter feature
Instagram’s feature to edit your grid should be available next week
Threads is testing an inbox for DMs, separate from Instagram DMs
Pinterest partnered with LTK to allow cross-posting between platforms
Snapchat will allow creators to save their Stories to Public Profiles
Snapchat’s consumers smart glasses, Specs, launch in 2026
AirPods will soon allow creators to record “studio-quality audio”
Trend Report: Brands have us summering like it’s 1999
Free access to the ICYMI Events Guide to VidCon Parties
💻 ROADMAP
📲 Meta Updates
Instagram’s photo and video editing app, Edits, added a new Teleprompter tool, which allows you to read your script while filming.
*The best teleprompter apps cost $59.99 — and the feature is currently free to use on Edits. I’d encourage you to try Edits now while it’s free. At some point, tools like this will be a part of a paid tier.
Instagram announced Restyle in the Edits app. It allows you to quickly change the look and feel of your videos with AI with 50+ preset AI prompts to choose from
Instagram launched 2 new features: Recaps and Celebrations. Recaps will provide weekly and monthly insights and inspiration to help Creators account track their performance. Celebrations will send in-app notifications when you hit significant milestones.
Adam Mosseri blogged about Instagram’s creative updates, which include: Trial Reels being available to everyone, the re-order your grid feature (which should be available next week), and a Spotify integration with Notes.
Instagram is launching Drafts, a new initiative that will provide financial support, connections, co-ideation and collaboration opportunities for emerging creators.
Threads is testing an inbox for DMs, separate from Instagram DMs. The initial test is 1:1 messaging — no group chats yet — and rolls out this week in limited locations (Hong Kong, Thailand, Argentina). More regions are expected soon.
*Note to brands on Threads: it’s time to start talking about your inbox monitoring and response strategy.
📲 YouTube Updates
YouTube announced that you'll now see videos and posts from creators you subscribe to in the Shorts feed.
YouTube is reportedly adding a new tool to let creators change thumbnails for videos in different languages.
Research from Oxford Economics shows YouTube’s creative ecosystem contributed $55 billion to the US GDP in 2024, supporting the equivalent of 490,000 full-time jobs in the US.
📲 TikTok Updates
TikTok announced its MVPs of POV — a program it’s launching at Cannes that highlights marketing trailblazers who lean into creator collaborations and real-time trends.
TikTok launched a new in-app experience around homegrown talent — Addison Rae — in honor of her self-titled debut album. Fans who complete a set of interactive tasks can unlock an Addison-themed profile frame in one of four color variations.
TikTok’s latest “ban” deadline is June 19 but the app is expected to get another extension.
📲 Pinterest Updates
Pinterest partnered with LTK: High-performing image posts from the sub-affiliate app will automatically publish to Pinterest, linking back to the creator’s profile and tagged products.
*It’s a potential win-win: Pinterest gets quality creator content (and less AI junk), while LTK creators gain visibility — and possibly more sales.
Pinterest announced Auto-Collages — a new AI feature that allows advertisers to turn their existing Pinterest product catalogue into thousands of new shoppable collages. Collage pins are one of the most popular content formats among Gen Z Pinterest users.
Pinterest announced a Trends tool for advertisers that will provide insights into what Pinterest users are saving, curating on boards and shopping for. Pinterest will also provide hand-curated Editors’ Pick trends.
📲 Snapchat Updates
Snapchat announced it’s launching its new, augmented reality, smart glasses in 2026. They’re called Specs and described as: an ultra-powerful wearable computer integrated into a lightweight pair of glasses with see-thru lenses.
Snapchat announced expanded insights, an improved editing tool and they’re rolling out Auto-Save Stories to Public Profiles (no more disappearing!). The new feature is coming soon to creators around the world.
Snapchat released the Snapchat Generation Report, described as an inside look at what drives Gen Z and Millennials on Snapchat.
📲 Apple Updates
Apple announced that the AirPods 4, AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, and AirPods Pro 2 will soon allow creators to record “studio-quality audio on the go.” While tapping the AirPods stems will prompt the camera app to take a photo or start recording video.
🏆 THIS WEEK’S BRAND MVPS
Nostalgia is the theme of the week (maybe even the year?). These brands are taking inspo from the 90s and 2000s before doomscrolling became a thing. It’s comfort marketing at its finest.
Instacart’s encouraging people to Summer Like It’s 1999, with prices to match. Immediate yes to this signature audio.
Lancome just celebrated a juicy summer event to promote Juicy Tubes with cameos from entertainment icons, like The Plastic’s Karen Smith and Gossip Girl’s Chuck Bass.
Chilis revived the 90s with Tiffani Thiessen (choose your classic: Saved By the Bell or Beverly Hills, 90210) to promote its Radical ‘Rita special.
🧰 RESOURCES
Adobe Express partnered with Female Founder World for the Launch Lab Workshop Series, a free, four-week live online series designed for small business owners, creators and founders.
Adobe Digital Academy is launching a new Coursera series: Design Fundamentals with AI, a four-week module course that blends AI literacy with training in design and content creation that you can audit for free.
🪩 🏢 🚕 UPCOMING EVENTS
Cannes Lion, Cannes, France |June 16-20
VidCon, Anaheim, California | June 19-21*
Open Sauce, San Francisco, California | July 18-20
Creator Economy Live, New York City | August 6
→ 2025 VIDCON PARTIES + MEETUPS
👀 ICYMI: JUST THE HEADLINES
The hottest trend this spring for young people is … Roblox gardening -Business Insider
Instagram wants Gen Z. What does Gen Z want from Instagram? -New York Times
Gen Z’s chaotic, ironic emoji swapping meme -Emojipedia
Lowe's just announced a new Creator Program, which includes MrBeast with a dedicated storefront featuring his favorite materials, tools and DIY projects -Lowe’s
Starbucks is hiring two Global Coffee Creators to create coffee-related content -Starbucks
Report: 2025 is the year creator platforms will drive more ad revenue than old media -Business Insider
The top women shaping influencer marketing -Linquia + FQ
A MAGA creator claims he was the one who got the world’s most popular TikToker, Khaby Lame, detained by ICE -MSNBC
‘Come and get me’: Gavin Newsom has entered the meme war -The Washington Post
PS. Congrats to AJ Feuerman who won the stack of summer books from taking the survey two weeks ago!
obsessed with that Instacart campaign