This week, YouTube changes the game for Shorts creators with the addition of a new Gen AI tool and Instagram is feeling the love with its new Valentine’s Day-inspired features. Plus, an unexpected player is stepping into the social media arena with a brand-new platform.
Meanwhile, TikTok users are rethinking their emergency contact choices, and everyone is grabbing a coffee with their younger selves. Read on for more social media news.
YouTube adds new AI tool to Shorts
YouTube is integrating Google’s Veo 2 model into the Shorts composer, giving creators the chance to enhance their content with gen AI. Google’s Veo 2 model generates realistic-looking videos and can produce results based on just text prompts. Shorts creators will be able to use the feature in the Shorts creation flow by tapping “Create” at the top of the window and inputting a prompt.
Meta launches AI in chats – with heads up on using it safely
Meta has launched its AI tool in chats but warns users that any shared information may be used for AI training. Meta states: ‘Because others in your chats can share your messages and photos with Meta AI to use AI features, be mindful before sharing sensitive information that you do not want AIs to access.’
BuzzFeed is working on its own social media platform called BFisland. The platform will create a positive space online, focusing on interactive storytelling and new content formats.
There’s little to know about the platform but users can now join the waitlist and BuzzFeed plans to test the platform with selected users.
Reddit CEO, Steve Huffman has announced that Reddit is planning to introduce a paywall this year. It looks like it will be in the form of paid subreddits and only apply to new subreddit types, not any subreddits currently available.
Instagram has introduced a range of new features for Valentine’s Day. When users include love-themed phrases like “vday,” “ily,” or “pookie” in Notes, special visual effects will appear. New Valentine’s Day-inspired fonts and text effects have launched on Stories, along with Valentine’s-themed chat options such as “Love,” “Sweetheart,” and “Candy Hearts.” And, there’s also a range of Valentine’s inspired Stories templates and a new interactive Vinyl Music Sticker.
New subscription service launches for Bluesky analytics
Image credit: BlueSkyHunter
BlueSkyHunter is a new subscription service that launched at the end of last week, which introduces a dashboard for analytics, post-scheduling, automated DMs, and more for Bluesky. You can try the subscription out with a 14-day free trial but it will cost you $29 a month after that.
