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Instagram’s Unveils Collaborative Music Features and More

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Instagram has introduced new and exciting ways to engage with friends and creators through music, photos, and reels.

Now, users can add music to their photo carousels, enhancing the mood and bringing their collections to life. This builds on Instagram’s previous launch of music for feed photos.

“Whether you’re sharing a collection of summer memories with friends or moments from your camera roll, you can now add music to your photo carousels.” announced Instagram

Collaborate with Friends on Posts and Reels

With the new Collabs feature, users can invite up to three friends to co-author a feed post, carousel, or reel. 

This collaboration will allow the content to reach each collaborator’s audience and appear on each account’s profile grid. Both private and public accounts can participate in this feature.

“We’re opening up more possibilities with Collabs: now, you can invite up to three friends to co-author a feed post, carousel or reel.” said Instagram in a blog post

Engage with Creators and Artists on Reels

Creators and artists will now be able to invite their followers to join in on fun prompts or challenges they create on Reels. 

They will also be able to hand-pick their favorite submissions to celebrate their fans’ creativity.

“With the Add Yours sticker, a creator or artist can invite their followers to join in on a fun prompt or challenge they create on Reels, and then hand-pick their favorite submissions to celebrate their fans’ creativity.” mentioned Instagram

Music continues to be a vital part of Instagram, and the platform is expanding its music library to more countries. 

They are also partnering with Spotify in Mexico and Brazil to feature popular songs from Instagram Reels.

“Music is a key part of how people express their creativity and interests on Instagram. We’re excited to bring our music library to more countries over the coming weeks.” mentioned Instagram in a blog post

Instagram’s new update emphasizes collaboration and creativity, allowing users to engage with friends and creators innovatively. 

“We’re always working on ways to improve your Instagram experience. We’ll continue to build features that make it easier and more fun to create and share on Instagram.” said the platform

Whether a casual user or a content creator, these new features offer exciting possibilities to explore and enjoy. We can’t wait to see how this change interactions within the platform.

WhatsApp Introduces Screen Sharing on Video Calls

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WhatsApp, the globally popular messaging platform owned by Meta, has announced a significant update that promises to enhance the user experience. 

Will Cathcart, the Head of WhatsApp at Meta, revealed that screen sharing on video calls is rolling out starting 9th August. 

This feature has been highly anticipated, and its introduction is a response to numerous user requests. 

Screen Sharing: What Is It?

Screen sharing allows users to display the contents of their screen to other participants during a video call. 

Whether it’s a photo, a document, or even a live demonstration of an app, screen sharing can make communication more interactive and engaging.

While the exact details of how to activate screen sharing on WhatsApp may vary depending on the device, it’s expected to be user-friendly and intuitive. 

Typically, users would initiate a video call and select an option to share their screen. The other participants on the call would then be able to view the shared screen in real time.

Introducing screen sharing on WhatsApp video calls is a significant step in making virtual communication more interactive and versatile. 

By listening to user requests and implementing this feature, WhatsApp continues evolving as a platform that caters to personal and professional communication needs.

As users begin to explore and utilize this new feature, it’s expected to become a valuable addition to how people connect and collaborate on WhatsApp. 

Screen sharing promises to enrich the WhatsApp experience for its vast user base, whether for casual conversations with friends or more formal professional interactions.

Looks like the platform is exploring the world of Zoom and google meets and being the most popular social app, it could just take over.

YouTube’s New Updates for Short-Form Videos

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YouTube is rolling out a series of exciting new features to enhance the experience for creators of short-form video content. 

These updates are set to launch in late September and will provide creators with more tools to drive traffic, engagement, and creativity. 

Edit Any Short in Studio Desktop

Creators will soon be able to edit their short videos directly within YouTube’s Studio Desktop. 

This feature will provide more flexibility and control over the content, allowing for quick adjustments and refinements.

The ease of use will allow creators to edit shorts without needing third-party software, providing enhanced control to fine-tune videos with YouTube’s built-in editing tools. 

This streamlined workflow means creators can manage all video content in one place, making the process more efficient.

Add a Link to Any Related Video

This update will allow creators to add links to related videos, whether long, short, live, public, or private. It’s a feature designed to create a more cohesive viewing experience.

The ability to add links to related videos will increase engagement by guiding viewers to more content. It offers content integration by seamlessly linking related videos and provides versatility by applying to various video types, including live and VOD.

One-Click Remix-Style Button on the Short

A one-click Remix-style button will be added to shorts, allowing viewers to create remixes or variations of the original content quickly.

This feature fosters creativity by encouraging community collaboration and user engagement. It allows viewers to interact with content in new ways and can lead to content expansion by generating new content from existing videos.

Use It to Bridge Shorts to Long-Form Content

Creators can use these new tools to bridge shorts to long-form content, link multi-part shorts, drive to live content, market sales VODs, and experiment with various content formats.

This set of tools will enable creators to build a cohesive content journey, driving traffic to long-form and live content. 

It also opens up opportunities for sales and marketing by promoting VODs and other products, enhancing the overall content strategy.

YouTube’s new updates for short-form video content creators are a significant step in recognizing and supporting the growing trend of short videos. By offering these tools, YouTube empowers creators to innovate, engage with their audience, and drive more traffic to their content.

Creators should keep an eye out for these features in late September and explore how they can be integrated into their content strategy. 

TikTok’s Global #BookTok Challenge: A Celebration of Literary Engagement

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TikTok has launched the Global #BookTok Challenge to celebrate National Book Lovers Day. 

This unique initiative fosters literary engagement and highlights the growing #BookTok community. 

The Challenge Explained

From August 1st to August 31st, TikTok is encouraging book lovers to create content around books, such as reviews, recommendations, and must-read lists. 

Participants posting at least two videos with the #BookTok hashtag will receive exclusive prizes, possibly including books and themed products. 

TikTok explains, “Creators who post at least two videos with the #BookTok hashtag will receive a special #BookTok profile frame along with other exclusive prizes, ultimately elevating their position as a true #BookTok super fan!” 

The challenge also emphasizes supporting local bookshops and related small businesses, aligning with a broader movement to promote local enterprises.

Impact and Potential

In an era where online connection and short video clips dominate, the challenge could be a vital push to reconnect people with literature. 

Books offer a window into diverse perspectives, something often lost in the online world. The #BookTok hashtag shows promise in engaging younger generations with literature, helping them glean important context and understanding, with a 140% increase in total views over the past year. 

The Global #BookTok Challenge is a positive step towards fostering literary appreciation. 

However, it raises questions about the true value of literary engagement in a platform driven by short, snackable content. 

The popularity of the #BookTok hashtag may signal a cultural shift towards valuing literature once again, but whether it will lead to a resurgence in reading or remain a fleeting trend is a question that only time will answer.

TikTok’s Global #BookTok Challenge is an intriguing blend of social media engagement and literary appreciation. 

While it offers exciting opportunities for creators and readers alike, its true impact on fostering a love for reading and supporting meaningful literary engagement is yet to be fully realized. 

It’s a reminder of the power of books and the challenges in translating that power into the digital realm.

Revolutionizing in-app shopping in the UK: TikTok’s ‘Fulfilled by TikTok’ Program Unveiled

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TikTok has announced the launch of a new logistics program called ‘Fulfilled by TikTok’ (FBT) in the UK. 

This program aims to simplify the selling process for merchants using TikTok Shop by handling various logistics aspects, allowing them to focus on marketing, content, and product development. 

The initiative seems promising, but its success will depend on execution and adaptability to the diverse needs of merchants.

What ‘Fulfilled by TikTok’ Offers

Same-Day Fulfillment

FBT offers same-day automated fulfillment for all orders made by 7 PM from Monday to Saturday, along with a next working day premium delivery service. 

This feature could significantly enhance customer satisfaction by reducing waiting times.

Improved Customer Interaction

The program promises improved customer feedback and ratings through instant messaging services and dedicated customer service employees. 

This direct customer interaction may foster loyalty and improve the overall shopping experience.

Enhanced Delivery Metrics

FBT aims to reduce delivery times, providing a more efficient service to customers. 

While this is a promising aspect, how well the system will perform during peak shopping seasons remains to be seen.

How Merchants Can Use FBT

Merchants interested in FBT must be based in the UK, and packages must not exceed a weight of 30kg or a cubic volume of 31.5 cubic liters per shipment.

Stock Handover

Merchants can hand over a volume of their stock to be stored at a warehouse. They don’t have to store all their SKUs at the warehouse and can select specific items for FBT.

Order Processing

Once a merchant’s items are stored in the FBT warehouse, the warehouse will pick, pack, and label the merchandise before shipping – all through one seamless service.

Charges

TikTok Shop charges fees for warehousing, shipping, and other added value services such as labelling, pre-packing, and inserting leaflets.

This comprehensive service could be a game-changer for small businesses, but the fees for warehousing and shipping might be a concern for some.

Experience from Merchants

Several TikTok Shop UK merchants have already tested the service and reported positive results:

Ning Cheah, Founder of Skincare and MakeUp brand The Beauty Crop, said, “Since using FBT, we’ve seen volumes increase by 30%, shipping lead times drop by 36% and late dispatch rates drop by over 45%. It’s made a huge difference.” This quote emphasizes the efficiency gains from the program.

Sach, Managing Director of the personal care brand Nature Spell, stated, “Partnering with FBT has been a monumental shift for us. Before FBT, we were drowning in order volumes and couldn’t focus on what we do best: manufacturing.” Sach’s experience highlights how FBT can free up merchants to focus on their core business.

‘Fulfilled by TikTok’ presents an innovative solution for merchants using TikTok Shop in the UK. Taking care of logistics, it allows merchants to concentrate on other vital aspects of their business. 

The early success stories are promising, and the embedded features seem well thought out.

However, the program’s long-term success will depend on its ability to scale and meet the diverse needs of merchants. 

Overall, FBT seems to be a step in the right direction, offering tangible benefits to UK creators, but its real impact will be revealed in its broader implementation and acceptance among the merchant community.

Sing Your Heart Out: TikTok LIVE’s “Gimme The Mic” Competition

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TikTok, known for its endless fun and entertainment, has announced a new global competition called “Gimme The Mic.” 

This competition aims to discover new musical talent and support aspiring music creators. 

“Gimme The Mic”

TikTok LIVE has been a platform for various creators, including singers and musicians, to showcase their talents and make a real-world impact. 

The launch of “Gimme The Mic” celebrates TikTok’s diverse and talented ecosystem of musical creatives and emerging artists.

“Whether you’re discovering new livestreams on your For You feed, tuning into your favorite creator’s daily GRWM, or starting a LIVE community of your own, TikTok offers endless fun and entertainment for everyone.” announced the platform on a blog post

How to Participate

The competition consists of three phases: Audition, Semi-Final, and the Grand-Finale.

1. Audition

To audition, participants must register on the audition page in-app and post a short submission video (30-sec minimum) with the hashtag #GIMMETHEMIC between August 7 and August 16.

2. Semi-Final

After the audition period, 30 of the most popular creators from the US will move on to the Semi-Final. They will perform and compete in pairs in a series of Multi-guest LIVE videos from September 1 to September 3. Viewers will have a chance to vote for their favorite performers in real-time.

3. Grand-Finale

The Top 10 contestants from the Semi-Final will compete in the US Grand Finale on September 10. The winner will receive 50,000 Diamond rewards and a ticket to the LIVE Global Finale on September 22 and 23.

Rewards and Recognition

The global contest winners will not only receive a trophy but also have the opportunity to be featured on official TikTok channels and receive up to 500,000 Diamond rewards.

“Gimme the Mic is a chance for contestants to showcase their talent to a wider community. Not only that, global contest winners will receive a trophy, have the opportunity to be featured on official TikTok channels, and receive up to 500,000 Diamond rewards,” says TikTok

“Gimme The Mic” is a significant step by TikTok to elevate its talented community and provide a platform for aspiring musicians. It fosters deeper engagement and offers valuable and exciting entertainment for the TikTok community.

With this competition, TikTok continues to inspire and interact with talented creators, making it a hub for creativity and innovation. It will certainly bring new talent and a good competitive atmosphere to the platform, which will be very interesting to watch.

Maximizing Holiday Engagement: Creative Tips from Pinterest

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Pinterest is not just a platform for sharing creative ideas; it’s a hub for holiday planning. 

People on Pinterest start making their holiday plans even before summer begins, offering a unique opportunity for creators and advertisers to connect with their audience, with over 463 million users visiting the platform monthly. 

Here’s a look at some of the most impactful tips provided by Pinterest for the 2023 holiday season.

A Longer Season, A Larger Opportunity

“People on Pinterest are already deep in holiday searches six months out,” says Pinterest. 

Creators should start advertising earlier in the season to see stronger results. They can tap into consumers seeking inspiration by being ahead of the curve.

Starting early allows creators to influence decisions and buying patterns. It’s a proactive approach that aligns with the consumer’s timeline, making it a win-win situation.

Fall Approaches

As fall approaches, people shift from discovery mode to decision-making. Pinterest suggests updating messaging to better support people as they finalize their plans.

This phase is crucial for creators to solidify their connection with consumers. Tailoring content to align with the decision-making process can lead to higher conversion rates.

‘Tis the Season to Act

During the holiday season, people act on the ideas they’ve found on Pinterest. Maintaining budgets through December is essential as demand remains high.

This period is all about execution. Creators should focus on actionable content that helps consumers make their holidays go right. It’s not just about inspiration; it’s about facilitating action.

Post-Holiday Opportunities

Even after the holidays, there’s an opportunity to strengthen customer relationships. 

Pinterest reveals that most (57%) holiday shoppers continue to buy from brands they discovered during the holidays.

“Use that momentum to keep connecting in the new year and give customers new ways to connect with your brand.” the platform advises

Post-holiday engagement is often overlooked, but it’s a golden opportunity to retain customers. Creators should leverage this time to build lasting relationships.

Full-Funnel Campaign Strategy

Pinterest emphasizes the importance of a full-funnel campaign strategy, recommending different ad formats for each part of the marketing funnel.

A full-funnel approach ensures that creators reach people at every stage of the buying process. It’s a comprehensive strategy that can lead to 3x higher conversion rates.

Pinterest’s holiday marketing guide offers valuable insights for creators looking to maximize their reach and impact during the holiday season. 

From starting early to maintaining engagement post-holidays, these tips provide a roadmap for success. By understanding the unique behavior of Pinterest users and aligning strategies accordingly, creators can make the most of the extended holiday season on Pinterest.

Read the full guide here.

Snapchat’s Lens Creator Rewards Unleashes New Earning Potential

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Snapchat, the popular social media platform, has recently introduced a new way for Augmented Reality (AR) creators to earn money within the platform. 

The new initiative, called Lens Creator Rewards, offers AR creators, developers, and teams the opportunity to earn for building top-performing Lenses on Snapchat. 

“With the incredible scale of AR creation and deep engagement from Snapchatters, we’re committed to supporting AR creators as they advance their skills and grow their businesses by empowering and rewarding creativity,” said Snapchat through the Newsroom

The Lens Creator Rewards Program

“Today, we’re introducing Lens Creator Rewards, a new opportunity for Snap AR creators, developers, and teams to earn for building top-performing Lenses on Snapchat.” announced Snapchat

The Lens Creator Rewards program is designed to celebrate the most creative Lenses that help Snapchatters express themselves and have fun with friends.

These could range from imaginative new looks to try on to amazing AR scenes they can explore. 

Every month, a Lens Creator could be awarded up to $7,200 if their Lens is the top-performing Lens in the United States, India, and Mexico. The program is open to new and existing Lens Studio community members from nearly 40 countries.

Impact on Creators

This new initiative by Snapchat is expected to impact creators within the platform significantly. 

It provides an additional revenue stream for creators, incentivizing them to create more engaging and innovative Lenses. 

“Every month, a Lens Creator could be awarded up to $7,200 if their Lens is the top-performing Lens in the United States, India, and Mexico.” mentioned Snapchat

This could increase the quality and diversity of Lenses available on Snapchat, enhancing the user experience and potentially attracting more users.

Terms and Conditions

Like any other program, the Lens Creator Rewards program comes with its terms and conditions

For instance, only a small percentage of creators submitting a Lens to the program will receive payments. 

The ability to receive payments will only be available in a limited number of countries listed in the Program Guidelines & FAQ.

To be eligible for payment, creators must submit a Qualifying Lens and satisfy all Payment Account Eligibility Requirements. A Qualifying Lens is one that has been designated “public” in Lens Studio and is a high-performing Lens in a Region, calculated based on Snapchat’s proprietary formula.

Snapchat’s Lens Creator Rewards program provides a monetary incentive and encourages creativity and innovation among creators. 

As the program rolls out, it will be interesting to see the new and exciting Lenses that creators come up with.

Meta’s AudioCraft: Revolutionizing Audio Generation with AI 

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In a digital world that is forever evolving, Meta brings another ground-breaking solution to redefine audio composition and sound generation. 

AudioCraft, Meta’s latest AI tool, is designed to generate high-quality realistic audio and music derived purely from text, promising an era of sound creativity that is uniquely convenient and efficient. 

Delving into AudioCraft

AudioCraft comprises three distinct models: MusicGen, AudioGen, and EnCodec. The MusicGen model generates music from text prompts using Meta-owned and specifically licensed music. 

On the other hand, AudioGen, equipped with training in public sound effects, generates audio from text prompts. 

Alongside these, Meta released an upgraded version of EnCodec enabling enhanced music generation with lesser artifacts. 

Meta quotes, “We’re also releasing our pre-trained AudioGen models, which let you generate environmental sounds and sound effects like a dog barking, cars honking, or footsteps on a wooden floor. And lastly, we’re sharing all of the AudioCraft model weights and code.” 

This move depicts a firm commitment from Meta to democratize AI-generated audio and music. 

the Open-Source Journey 

Meta is open-sourcing these models, paving the way for researchers and practitioners to train their models with their bespoke datasets and potentially add to leaps in the AI-generated audio and music arena. 

“Music is arguably the most challenging type of audio to generate as it’s composed of local and long-range patterns, from a suite of notes to a global musical structure with multiple instruments,” emphasizes Meta. 

By providing a foundation for layering improvements, the complexity of creating high-fidelity audio could be greatly reduced, thereby promoting more extensive experimentation and innovation. 

Implications and Opportunities 

With AudioCraft, Meta sets the stage for unprecedented music and audio industry changes. 

Meta envisions them as tools for musicians and sound designers to inspire, aid in quickly brainstorming, and iterate their compositions innovatively. 

MusicGen’s potential as a new type of instrument is compared to the inception of synthesizers, indicating the landmark transformation this could bring about in music creation. 

“Audiocraft works for music, sound, compression, and generation — all in the same place. Because it’s easy to build on and reuse, people who want to build better sound generators, compression algorithms, or music generators can do it all in the same code base and build on top of what others have done,” states Meta.  

In essence, AudioCraft represents a remarkable stride in AI’s incorporation into audio generation and music. 

As Meta continues to unveil such innovative tools, the dynamics of how we produce and consume sound and music will inevitably continue to change, paving the way for further exciting prospects. 

It will be compelling to watch the waves AudioCraft could generate in not just the music industry but any field where sound plays a quintessential role.

YouTube Shorts’ New Creation Tools Bring TikTok Vibes to the Platform

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YouTube Shorts, the vibrant short-form video platform, is making waves by introducing six new creation tools. 

These innovative features are aimed to empower creators, spark creativity, and foster deeper connections with audiences.

“YouTube Shorts are now being watched by over 2B logged-in users every month, and today we’re introducing new ways to spark imagination and creativity.,” announced Youtube in a blog post

Inspired by some of the features from TikTok, YouTube Shorts is positioning itself to be the go-to platform for creators to express their unique visions. 

1. Collab: A Symphony of Collaboration

Collab opens the door to collaborations, where creators can remix and reimagine content, driving engagement to new heights. 

By embracing the spirit of collaboration, YouTube Shorts empowers creators to create compelling, unified narratives that captivate global audiences.

2. Experimenting with Effects and Stickers

With new effects and stickers, YouTube Shorts offers creators opportunities to manifest their wildest ideas. 

The platform is also introducing a Q&A sticker which presents an exciting opportunity for direct interaction between creators and their viewers. 

This interactive element creates a community-driven experience, making YouTube Shorts a platform where creators’ imaginations know no bounds.

3. Live Vertical Experience: A Living Canvas

YouTube Shorts’ mobile-first vertical live experience for creators sets the stage for real-time connection and authentic storytelling. 

Embracing live videos in the Shorts feed will enhance engagement, giving audiences a front-row seat to creators’ creative process. With features like Super Chat, creators can cultivate supportive communities, solidifying YouTube Shorts’ status as a breeding ground for meaningful connections.

4. Streamlining Creation with Suggestions: Fueling Inspiration

The bundled audio and effect suggestions streamline content creation and allows creators to draw inspiration from fellow Shorts creators seamlessly. 

If this works out, YouTube Shorts will become a playground of ideas where creators can effortlessly blend their unique voices with the collective creativity of the community. 

This innovative approach will redefine content creation as a collaborative and inclusive journey.

5. Save Shorts to Playlists

Enabling creators to save Shorts to playlists will fuel knowledge sharing and elevate content curation within the platform. 

By preserving their favorite effects and ideas, creators will continually refine their craft and explore new creative territories. 

This feature solidifies YouTube Shorts’ status as a treasure trove of artistic gems waiting to be discovered and reshaped.

6. Simplified Video Transformation

YouTube Shorts’ upcoming content transformation enables creators to adapt horizontal videos into captivating Shorts seamlessly. 

Preserving key elements from long-form content will enhance creative expression, ensuring creators can flex their storytelling muscles in diverse formats. 

YouTube Shorts’ six new creation tools, similar and working very well for TikTok, will empower creators to reshape the digital content landscape. 

These new introductions are much needed and will, in one way or another, change creations and interactions within the platform, and I can’t wait to see how this transforms the platform. 

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