ICYMI: March's Biggest Headlines
Welcome to March’s ICYMI: You Need to Know It Edition, recapping the major platform updates you might have missed this month.
Your feeds may have been full of speculation about the potential TikTok ban this month but I am here to remind you that other platforms exist — and they’ve been busy!
Let’s get into it. Here are the highlights of what happened in March:
📲 LinkedIn Updates
LinkedIn is testing a dedicated video tab that launches a vertical video feed, similar to TikTok’s FYP experience.
LinkedIn is broadening the scope of its Thought Leader ads, allowing advertisers to sponsor content from any individual, not just employees.
LinkedIn confirmed it’s working on puzzle-based games for the platform.
LinkedIn announced that messaging capability is rolling out to all LinkedIn Pages starting this week.
📲 TikTok Updates
On March 7, TikTok sent a notification urging its users to call Congress and protest a potential ban.
TikTok announced Creator Search Insights, giving creators insight into the topics people are searching for or topics that are often searched but only have a limited number of videos currently available.
TikTok announced Sounds for Business Voice Clips: 18 custom voiceover audio templates recorded by creators and cleared for brand use.
TikTok announced details of its new Creator Rewards Program, which rewards content over a minute long on 4 core metrics: originality, play duration, search value, and audience engagement.
📲 YouTube Updates
YouTube announced a new tool in Creator Studio that requires creators to disclose when realistic content is made with “altered or synthetic media,” including generative AI.
The YouTube app on TV is rolling out a new design to make it easier for typical YouTube features such as comments, video descriptions, and shopping.
YouTube launched Collab, it allows you to record a Short in a side-by-side / split-screen format with eligible long-form videos and Shorts.
📲 Instagram Updates
Instagram is testing Reels up to 3-minutes long.
Instagram is testing the option to add up to 15 — and in some cases 20 — photos or videos per Carousel post.
Instagram is testing the ability to respond to specific photos or videos within a Carousel post with a numbered @ mention.
Instagram announced two updates to their DM feature which will give you the ability to:
Edit DMs for up to 15 minutes after sending
Pin up to 3 chats to the top of your DM inbox
Instagram announced it was combining the hashtag and search experience. Tapping on a hashtag will bring up search results and the option to follow/unfollow.
Instagram is limiting political content.
📲 Threads Update
Trending topics on Threads is officially rolling out to the US.
Meta is testing the ability to swipe right on a Threads post to like it, or swipe left on a post if you’re not interested.
Threads is adding live sports scores, starting with the NBA.
📲 Pinterest Updates
Pinterest is launching a new tool, “Body Type,” which gives users the choice to self-select what body types are featured in their search results.
📲 Snapchat Updates
Snapchat announced users will be able to create videos up to three minutes long and upload longer videos (up to five minutes) for Chats, Stories and Spotlight.
📲 Twitter (X) Updates
Elon Musk said Twitter will hide Likes and Retweets from appearing on the feed and just show view counts, unless you tap into the post.
Elon Musk said Grok AI will be available to Premium Twitter users, not just Premium+.
Twitter has declared itself a video-first platform, according to CEO Linda Yaccarino.
Twitter has increased its group chat limit to 256 people.
In case you missed it, last week I shared 15 dates you need to have in your Q2 calendar: see the list.