This week, social is getting nostalgic with not only the return of Vine (OMG!) but also Snapchat bringing back OG 2D bitmojis. Meanwhile, Threads and TikTok are looking at podcasters as their next shining stars.
Trending this week, the Wicked press tour is giving us a load of memes, including Cynthia being reunited with her beloved (and long-lost) hat. Read on for more social media news.
Vine is back!
Image credit: TechCrunch
It’s been 10 long years since Vine was shut down, but finally the day has come – Vine is returning. A new app called diVine will feature more than 100,000 archived Vine videos that were backed up before Vine’s shutdown. Users will also be able to create their own videos, but they must not use AI. diVine is taking a big stand against AI use, and is using tech from human rights nonprofit the Guardian Project to verify that content was recorded on a smartphone, and wasn’t made with AI.
TikTok and Amazon Music have teamed up to make sharing music simpler. Amazon Music now has a “Share to TikTok” button. Users can post songs, albums, playlists, and personal listening stats directly from Amazon Music to TikTok. This new feature builds on TikTok’s “Add to Music App” feature, where users can save songs they find on TikTok to their streaming platform of choice.
Thread is launching new features that will focus on bringing more podcast content to the app and help creators promote their shows. One feature will make podcast links look different to other links, with a colourful background and image thumbnails, so that they stand out. Creators will also get a dedicated space in their profile to add a link to their podcast.
Following popular demand (almost 100k signatures on this petition), Snapchat is bringing back its old-style 2D Bitmoji characters. As explained by Snap: “Bitmoji isn’t just an avatar. It’s your digital identity, the way you show up with friends, share your moods, and represent yourself online. With Comic Bitmoji, we’re giving you more choice in how you express yourself, whether that’s embracing the latest 3D styles or throwing it back to the look that started it all.”
TikTok and iHeartMedia have teamed up to help creators create audio formats like podcasts, radio, and live events. This collab includes the launch of the TikTok Podcast Network, which will feature 25 new podcasts hosted by TikTok creators, a national broadcast radio station, a digital radio station, and a series of live events.
