This week, Meta is making posting on social a little bit less daunting with trial Reels on Instagram and get out of jail free card on Facebook. Meanwhile, Snapchat is embracing the spirit of giving this Christmas with a host of new features. Plus, people are using an unsuspecting Emma Roberts to play out some of life’s awkward moments. Read on for more social media news.
Instagram rolls out trial Reels
Image credit: Instagram
Instagram has started to roll out its new “Trial Reels” feature allowing creators to test content by publishing videos that aren’t visible to their followers. The feature began testing in May and creators were able to experiment with new ideas and see what performs best without having to worry about how their followers may react.
Threads has launched a new feature to help users find profiles that post about their favourite topics. The collections will appear when a user signs up for Threads and will also be displayed on the app’s For You Page.
Christmas has come early for Snapchat users, with the app introducing a range of new features. Users can now save chats for up to seven days after receiving them, compared to the previous 24-hour limit. Snapchat+ subscribers gain access to new app colour themes and an updated selection of Bitmoji reactions. Meanwhile, non-paying users can enjoy festive holiday Lenses, including an Ugly Sweater option.
Ended up in Facebook jail? Meta is expanding its feature to remove strikes for minor first-time violations by undergoing in-app “educational training”. Users can only use the feature once in a 12-month period.
