We Are Social’s Monday Mashup #686
Instagram updates creator metrics
Instagram is updating its analytics dashboard to make ‘views’ the primary metric across all formats including reels, live, photos, carousels, and stories. The company says that by having the same metrics, creators will be able to better understand how their content is performing regardless of format and develop better strategies to help achieve their goals.
Separately, the platform is live testing a new “Friend Map” feature which will display where users are or have been based on any posts and/or Stories where they have been tagged with a location. Users will also be able to add Notes to any location or place. This feature will only be available to a user’s “Close Friends” list and mutual follows within the app. Public location sharing and content tagging will not be an option with the feature.
X removes ads for top tier subscribers
X is removing ads for its Premium+ subscribers. Previously, subscribers from this tier were exposed to less ads but now the platform promises to remove them from “most areas” including the For You timeline, Following timeline, post replies, and profiles.
TikTok announces partnerships with Warner Bros. and Amazon
TikTok is launching a new feature called “Spotlight” to help users discover content about films and TV series. Spotlight directs users to a landing page about the film or TV series, as well as short-form content from creators. Users will also be directed to where they can watch the title. The platform is partnering with Warners Bros. to promote some of its titles through the feature. To be featured on Spotlight, videos must have a certain number of views. Creators participating in Spotlight campaigns can also earn incentives such as movie tickets, red-carpet access and merchandise.
TikTok has also announced a new integration with Amazon to facilitate in-app purchases. Users will be able to link their Amazon accounts and purchase products from the e-commerce giant’s ads directly within TikTok’s app.
YouTube trials new ad format for live streams
YouTube is testing out picture-in-picture ads for live mid-rolls. This new format will allow creators to run ads without disrupting their live stream while generating additional revenue from smaller screen ads displayed on top of the content.
In other news
Instagram expands Carousels to 20 frames, X launches a reply sorting option for users to select how post replies are displayed and Reddit’s daily users grew by 8.5 million to 91.2 million in Q2. Snapchat is also simplifying its ad campaign set-up process and LinkedIn now allows brands to sponsor user-generated newsletters.