Measuring the pulse of social media through headlines
Welcome back, social media junkies! This Pulse episode is packed with more twists and turns than a reality TV show. From Trump ❤️ Musk, to Christmas wishlists, we’ve got it all. Let’s dive into the digital drama!
Issue #14:
🇺🇸 The Aftermath of The New US President 🇪🇺 Europeans Are Obsessed With IG 🎄 X’s Holiday Playbook 💰 IG Wants You To Spend More on Ads 🎁 Pinterest, More Like Wishlist 🔊 TikTok’s Peace With Music 📱 Kenya, The Answer Is Kenya
Trump’s Return: A Social Media Nightmare or Dream?
Social media platforms are bracing themselves for a potential storm. With Trump back in the Oval Office and at the helm of a major political party, speculation is swirling about the impact this could have on social media companies.
Trump’s return could create both benefits and challenges for social media platforms:
Meta: With Trump’s likely rollback of AI regulations, Meta could grow in AI, even though Zuckerberg’s past conflicts with Trump might lead to more scrutiny on Facebook policies.
X (Twitter): X could become a key political tool, with Musk’s influence helping the platform attract more conservative users and advertisers. However, Musk’s close ties to the government could complicate his leadership of X. TikTok: Trump may try to prevent a U.S. ban on TikTok, which could boost its growth on younger demographics, but this may clash with broader government concerns.
Snapchat: Relaxed regulations could help Snapchat expand, although Trump’s “America-first” policies might create issues for their production, which relies heavily on China.
LinkedIn and Microsoft: LinkedIn might benefit if Microsoft gains flexibility in AI development, though past tensions between Trump and Microsoft could limit support.
While it’s unclear which policies will stick, Trump’s return has social platforms bracing for impact.
INSTAGRAM
Instagram Takes the Crown in Europe, Boosting Meta’s Revenue
A significant shift in social media preferences has emerged in Europe.
According to recent reports, Instagram has surpassed Facebook in terms of monthly active users within the region.
This marks a major milestone for the photo-sharing platform, and it suggests a growing European appetite for visual content.
This news coincides with Meta, Facebook’s parent company, reporting strong Q3 revenue results. Analysts believe Instagram’s user growth is likely a contributing factor to Meta’s financial success.
With Facebook facing stagnation, Instagram’s continued rise is a trend worth monitoring for brands and marketers.
Plan and Preview Your IG & TikTok Feed
A chaotic feed got you down?
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Head over to the link below and start creating a feed that will have your audience stopping, scrolling, and hitting that like button.
The holiday season is fast approaching, and X is here to lend a hand! They’ve released a new infographic packed with tips and strategies to maximize your holiday marketing campaigns on their platform.
The infographic dives into various aspects of X marketing, including content creation ideas, campaign planning strategies, and audience targeting tips. Whether you’re a seasoned marketer or just starting out, this resource can be a valuable tool to get your creative juices flowing and prepare for a successful holiday season on X.
INSTAGRAM
Instagram Expands Post Boosting Options for Businesses
Instagram is providing businesses with greater control over their reach and engagement.
“Ever tried to boost content with GIFs, stickers, or copyrighted music and faced an error? Give it another go. Instagram’s latest update to boosting now means that most GIFs and stickers are now eligible to be boosted.”
Keep in mind that only most posts will be eligible, not all.
It’s still unclear which posts qualify, so if you’ve had issues boosting top-performing organic posts before, it may be worthwhile to revisit them for maximum impact in your promotions.
PINTEREST
Pinterest Gears Up for the Holidays with Gift Discovery Features
Gift-giving just got easier on Pinterest!
The platform is rolling out new features designed to help users discover the perfect presents for their loved ones. These features include enhanced search functionalities, custom product wishlists, expanded Gift Guides from famous users, and a new way to save items from Gift Guide displays.
This move highlights Pinterest’s growing focus on e-commerce and its potential as a shopping destination. With the holiday season approaching, these new features are likely to attract more users looking for inspiration and convenient gift-finding options.
Additionally, Pinterest’s record-high user numbers in Q3 suggest the platform’s continued influence and user base growth.
TIKTOK
TikTok Makes Music Sharing a Breeze with Streaming Services
TikTok is making it even more seamless to share your favorite music with friends and followers.
This feature is likely to benefit both users and artists. Users will have easier access to a vast library of music, while artists can gain broader exposure through increased song usage in TikTok videos.
STUDY/INFOGRAPHIC
Who Spends the Most Time on Social Media? A Global Look
The recent Digital 2024 report by We Are Social reveals some surprising findings about global social media usage.
With an average of 3 hours and 43 minutes spent on social media daily, Kenya tops the global list for time spent online.
That’s a significant chunk of time compared to the global average of about 2 hours and 27 minutes. The “typical” internet user spends almost 2½ hours daily on social media, equating to more than one-third of their total online time.
In Japan, users spend the least time on social media, averaging just 1 hour and 53 minutes daily.
These findings suggest a potential correlation between social media engagement and overall county culture on media consumption.
