Welcome to the latest edition of Social Commotion, Motion’s roundup of social media updates and news. Check out our top social media updates from September 2024.
More Adults Trust Big Tech and Media Companies Than the U.S. Government
Consumer data shows that more adults trust Big Tech and media companies than the U.S. government. 70% of U.S. adults trust Amazon, followed by Google (65%) and Netflix (64%)—much higher than trust in the U.S. government (28%).
However, concerns about AI usage underscore the importance of responsible and transparent data usage practices. 70% of U.S. adults have little or no trust in companies to use AI responsibly, according to an October 2023 report by the Pew Research Center. Yet, despite the widespread use of AI at major tech and media companies, consumers still remain trustful of them overall.
This presents opportunities and challenges for marketers as AI continues to shape the advertising landscape. Given where consumers put their trust, marketers and brands alike should look to leverage these trusted platforms for effective campaigns—think retail media ads on Amazon, search ads on Google and CTV ads on Netflix.
Instagram Introduces Teen Accounts for Safer Social Media Use
Instagram is stepping up to protect teens online with its latest update, addressing growing concerns about social media’s impact on young users. The platform is introducing a new, more advanced protection mode for all teen accounts, designed to limit who can contact them, what content they can see and how much time they spend on the app.
The new teen mode comes with six key restrictions:
- Accounts are automatically private.
- Messages are limited to only people they follow.
- Sensitive content controls are turned on.
- Filters for offensive words and phrases.
- Time limit notifications after 60 minutes per day.
- Sleep mode activated between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Teens under 16 will need parental permission to turn these restrictions off. These updates aim to create a safer space for teens, but will it keep them hooked or drive them to explore other platforms? Time will tell!
New Report Highlights Key 2024 Video Content Trends
Tubular Labs published its latest report on the state of social media video and the drivers behind video engagement across all major social apps. Tubular Labs provides insights to help power content strategies, with a database that now includes over 11 billion videos, from 28 million content creators.
Here is what they found:
- Longer Short-Form Videos: On YouTube, videos over 30 seconds increased engagement by 39%, while TikTok sees more clips between one and two minutes, suggesting users may prefer slightly longer content than the traditional short-form.
- TikTok Trends: Business and finance content is rising, with popular topics including young home ownership and viral finance tips.
- Instagram and Meta AI: Instagram engagement is up, partly due to Meta’s AI recommendations, which now curate 50% of content on Instagram feeds. Facebook video uploads have also increased, possibly due to the success of Reels and a shift in user behavior.
Stay up to date on the latest in social media with Social Commotion, The Motion Agency’s monthly roundup of social media updates, or contact us today to help your brand navigate the ever-changing landscape of social media.
