Social Media Updates: Latest News, Trends & Changes

October 2026 ChatGPT Ads updates

• OpenAI has added four new features in ChatGPT Ads as follows (source):

  • Bulk creation for product feed campaigns.
  • Product review status.
  • Report conversions beyond your campaign goal through the API.
  • Separate account, brand, and legal names.
• OpenAI is testing a new visual ad format in ChatGPT that will appear during the image generation process. (source)
• OpenAI is testing new labels for product results in ChatGPT (source):
  • “Best all-rounder.”
  • “Best for beginners.”

October 2026 Meta (Ads) updates

• Meta has announced new features for advertisers at New York Advertising Week as follows (source):

  • A new feature for Facebook Messenger, Meta AI, and Muse., “Direct checkout.”
  • Advertisers can generate product videos and receive recommendations for related products.
  • AI-powered audience discovery.
  • Deeper performance insights and faster creative testing in Ads Creative Studio.
  • Meta’s Ads MCP enables external AI tools to upload creative, preview ads, and prepare campaign drafts.
  • Meta AI can retain campaign context, recommend strategies, and uncover creative insights.
  • Meta AI can transform static assets into video while optimizing hooks, audio, captions, and endings.
  • Marketers can now use AI to build campaigns, generate creative, and adjust targeting or budgets through chat.

October 2026 Meta (xR) updates

• Meta has added four new features for Meta Ray-Ban owners (source):

  • Audio Balance.
  • Mono Audio.
  • Pedestrian Navigation.
  • Share location from phone to glasses.

October 2026 Meta (Apps) updates

• Meta has officially launched the Forum app for Facebook users based in the United States. (source)
• Meta has expanded the availability of its Pocket app to the European Union. (source)

October 2026 Meta (Business) updates

• Meta has launched Muse for Small Business, an AI-powered suite designed to help small businesses streamline workflows, automate tasks, and improve day-to-day operations. (source)

October 2026 Meta (AI) updates

• Meta now allows users to apply for early access to coming Muse features by simply prompting the assistant in that direction. (source)
• Meta will launch its AI-powered assistant Muse in the EU as well. (source)
• Meta has launched an iPad app for its AI-powered assistant Muse. (source)
• Meta has launched parental supervision controls for Meta AI as well. (source)

October 2026 Facebook updates

• Facebook had added a new “Canvas” feature for stories on iOS. (source)
• Facebook has added a new “Create a Challenge” feature on iOS. (source)
• Facebook has added a new “Page” label for Facebook Pages in the account switcher. (source)

October 2026 Facebook Messenger updates

• Facebook Messenger is testing a new “Close Friends” option on iOS. (source)

October 2026 Instagram updates

• Instagram is working on “Timestamped comments.” (source)
• Instagram is working on a new “Longform” tab for profiles. (source)
• Instagram is testing a new “Threads” sticker for stories on iOS. (source)
• Instagram has added a new ”AI song creator” feature for Instagram DMs. (source)
• Instagram now allows users to boost livestreams as well. (source)
• Instagram is working on a new perk for Instagram Plus, “Read-Only Mode.” (source)
• Instagram is working on a fresh new UI for the “Edit Profile” page. (source)
• Instagram is testing a Reels-first feed on iOS. (source)
• Instagram is internally testing two new tabs for creator series, including a dedicated section for short-form clips from those series. (source)
• Instagram is now showing a prominent message when you try to create or upload a Reel, promoting Edits as a better way to create Reels with extra tools. (source)
• Instagram has added an option to search within your Saved posts, making it easier to find whatever you’re looking for. (source)
• Instagram has added an option to access your saved posts and collections directly from Explore. (source)

October 2026 Instagram Edits updates

• Meta may bring Instagram Edits to Meta Quest headsets as well. (source)
• Instagram may add support for creating and editing Stories in the Instagram Edits app. (source)
• Instagram has added the Liquid Glass design on Instagram Edits as well. (source)
• Instagram now allows Instagram Edits to create and edit carousel posts as well. (source)

October 2026 Threads updates

• Threads is rolling out an advanced photo editor on mobile with the following features (source):

  • Aspect ratio.
  • Backgrounds.
  • Layouts.
  • Overlays.
  • Reorder.
  • Stickers.
  • Split.

• Threads has added three new features for live chats as follows (source):

  • Group reactions.
  • Raise a virtual hand.
  • Web-based group chats.
• Threads is working on the ability to set a custom like for posts. (source)
• Threads is working on the ability to add a Substack newsletter to the profile. (source)
• Threads is working on letting users vote to turn tags into communities. (source)
• Threads is testing a standalone “Unreplied” filter on Android. (source)

October 2026 WhatsApp updates

• WhatsApp is working on a refreshed bottom navigation bar on Android. (source)
• WhatsApp is working on a feature that will move broadcast channels in the “Chats” tab. (source)
• WhatsApp is testing a new feature for users with a WhatsApp Plus subscription, “Focus schedules.” (source)
• WhatsApp is testing a new feature in the contact information screen, “Birthdat date.” (source)
• WhatsApp is testing a feature that will allow users to create a group chat from poll results. (source)
• WhatsApp has announced a new set of parental control tools to help parents better manage their kids experience in the app. (source)
• WhatsApp is testing a new Contacts tab on Android. (source)
• WhatsApp is testing a feature that lets users watch status updates at double speed on Android. (source)
• WhatsApp is rolling out the Liquid Glass design for the video player. (source)
• WhatsApp is rolling out a new alert for users on outdated versions of iOS or Android to help them update and protect their devices and accounts. (source)

October 2026 TikTok updates

• TikTok has added a new post sharing button in iOS, ”Viber.” (source)
• TikTok has added a new profile section on iOS, TikTok One Collabs. (source)
• TikTok has updated its Partner Program by dividing ad agencies into two distinct categories designed to better showcase their areas of expertise across the platform (source):
  • Agency Partner.
  • Premier Agency Partner.

• TikTok has announced new ad options at New York Advertising Week as follows (source):

  • Agentic Leads.
  • Buy Direct, an one-click, in-app checkout feature.
  • GMV Max enhancements.
  • Search Ads Campaign powered by Smart+.
  • Shopping Assistant.
  • Smart+ Creative Selection.
  • TikTok Ad Network (TTAN) expansion.
  • TikTok for Business MCP.

• TikTok has launched an enhanced user interface for “Memories.” (source)

October 2026 X (Twitter) updates

• X is working on a new design for X Calls on iOS. (source)
• X is working on a new design for the Grok tab on iOS. (source)
• X is working on a new design for the Grok tray on iOS. (source)
• X is working on a “Clipping” feature for longform videos on iOS. (source)
• X is working on a NBA Hub on iOS. (source)
• X is working on a NHL Hub on iOS. (source)
• X is working on four new subscriptions packages with access to Cursor, Grok AI and Grok Bot as follows (source):
  • XPass Premium.
  • XPass Plus.
  • XPass Super.
  • XPass Ultra.
• X is rolling out a new design for the X Spaces docked player on iOS. (source)
• X now allows X Premium users to link their Grok account. (source)
• X is working on a NBA Hub on Android. (source)
• X is testing a new “Clipping” feature for videos on Android. (source)
• X is testing a new “Screenshot” button in the share sheet menu on Android. (source)
• X has added a new AI-powered ad creation option called X Lift. (source)
• X has added a new “Call” for XChat on iOS. (source)

October 2026 LinkedIn updates

• LinkedIn is testing a new “Creator Discovery” feature within its Creator Marketplace, giving marketers additional search filters to more easily find the right creators for their campaigns. (source)
• LinkedIn is rolling out a new UI on Android and iOS. (source)

October 2026 Google updates

• Google is now showing three products in the “More products” grid within Google Search. (source)
• Google is now showing two rows of action buttons of the local panels within mobile search. (source)
• Google is now displaying the sponsored products search results block more like the organic products grid. (source)
• Google has added a new policy to the Google Business Profiles policy document, “Misuse of support channels.” (source)
• Google is testing a new “Target ROAS” calculator for Google Ads that helps advertisers determine an appropriate ROAS target based on their profit margin. (source)
• Google is testing in Google Ads a new billing interface with more clearly organized links for billing reports, transactions, payment methods and account budgets. (source)
• Google is testing a new Local Service Ads experience that hides business phone numbers until users hover over the ad or select “Get phone number.” (source)
• Google is testing a new AI-powered localization tool for Google Ads that can translate Search campaigns. (source)
• Google is now displaying the advertiser’s name within the click to call phone number call asset on the sponsored listings. (source)
• Google is expanding Loyalty Customer Match to AI Mode and Gemini. (source)
• Google is expanding Google Search Profiles to creators and publishers in India and Canada, with Brazil coming soon. (source)
• Google is giving advertisers a way to group eligible Video and Demand Gen campaigns through a new Video Campaign Groups feature. (source)
• Google is rolling out its Merchant Center Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) integration hub to U.S. merchants. (source)
• Google is rolling out a WhatsApp button in local business panels, allowing users to contact businesses directly through WhatsApp alongside options such as calls, directions and websites. (source)
• Google ow allows users to select multiple countries at once in Google Search Console’s Performance report. (source)
• Google will add support for dark mode in Google Search Console. (source)
• Google will begin identifying promotions, including coupons and deals, from websites and automatically adding them to eligible Search and Performance Max campaigns starting October 12. (source)

October 2026 Google AI updates 

• Google is now showing the citation cards at the bottom of AI Overview responses on desktop. (source)
• Google has rolled out monitoring capabilities in AI Mode in Google Search globally for everyone. (source)
• Google is testing a new “Sitelinks” feature for ads shown in Google AI Mode. (source)
• Google is testing an “Add to Calendar” option within AI Overviews for event-related searches. (source)
• Google has introduced its new Nano Banana 2.1 image-generation and editing model in AI Mode. (source)

October 2026 YouTube updates

• YouTube is testing a new AI-powered feature for Shorts, ”Conversational Editing.” (source)
• YouTube is rolling out two new filters for ads on iOS, ”See too often” and ”Not too often.” (source)
• YouTube is testing on desktop (web) a layout that shifts comments and video details into a right-hand sidebar. (source)
• YouTube now allows users to play games as well during livestreams on mobile. (source)

October 2026 Bluesky updates

• Bluesky is working on an automation label that will appear on profiles. (source)
• Bluesky has added new privacy & security options that let users prevent their posts from appearing in algorithmic recommendations and hide their account from logged-out users (source):
  • App passwords.
  • Allow users to be notified on your posts.
  • Ask apps and sites not to show my account to logged-out users.
  • Ask apps to hide my posts from algorithmic.

October 2026 Pinterest updates

• Pinterest now lets businesses turn eligible creator Pins into ads even without a pre-existing brand partnership. (source)

October 2026 Discord updates

• Discord is testing a new “Game Mode” feature for web browsers. (source)
• Discord has doubled the upload limit for Discord Nitro users from 500MB to 1GB. (source)
• Discord has added a new feature for all users, “Bookmarks.” (source)

October 2026 Apple Music updates

• Apple is working on a redesigned Apple Music app for Android with Liquid Glass elements. (source)
• Apple is working on a new “AI Labels” feature for Apple Music on Android. (source)

October 2026 Kick updates

• Kick has added a new “Schedule” tab for profiles on desktop (web). (source)

October 2026 Reddit updates

• Reddit is ending support for RSS feeds on November 13th. (source)
• Reddit has announced new ad options at New York Advertising Week as follows (source):
  • A new in-market audience segmentation.
  • Integrations with Bombora, Demandbase, Clay, G2, Octane 11, and Dreamdata.
  • HubSpot is now available in open beta for attribution and reporting, with Pixel and Conversions API support coming soon.
  • Max campaigns can now automatically optimise lead generation, creative rotation, and ad delivery.

October 2026 Snapchat updates

• Snapchat has added a Halloween-themed app icon. (source)
• Snapchat is working on new story insights, now showing views from followers and non-followers separately. (source)

October 2026 Spotify updates

• Spotify is working on a dedicated “Cache Limit” feature on Android. (source)
• Spotify will expand audiobooks to more than 180 markets by the end of this year. (source)

October 2026 Tinder updates

• Tinder has added a new feature for its users, “Group hangouts.” (source)

October 2026 Substack updates

• Substack has updated its podcast analytics, with downloads now following IAB Tech Lab industry standards. (source)

October 2026 Twitch updates

• Twitch is now recommending random streamers in the “Notifications” section. (source)
• Twitch has added a new stream event, “Birthday celebration.” (source)