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January 2025 social media news

Are you adjusting your strategy based on the latest social media updates and trends?

With new features rolling out across all major platforms every month, there’s a lot to keep track of. Here’s what you need to know and how you can adapt.

If you find it challenging to keep up with constant changes, get new updates directly to your inbox by subscribing to Shareable TL;DR. It’s SocialBee’s specialized newsletter, designed to bring the latest social media news straight to your inbox every other week.

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January 2025 social media updates

January 2025 Meta Ads updates

  • Meta added a new feature for lead-generation campaigns, “Lead labels”. (source)
  • Meta is testing ads on Threads. (source)
  • Meta added a new feature for lead-generation campaigns, “Require SMS verification to submit form”. (source)

January 2025 Meta Misc updates

  • Meta will soon replace its fact-checking teams with a feature already available on X (Twitter), “Community Notes”. (source)
  • Meta is now showing eBay listings in Facebook Marketplace. (source)

January 2025 Meta VR updates

  • Meta is working on a “Horizon Media Player” for Meta Quest headsets. (source)
  • Meta added a new feature for Horizon OS browser, “Import passwords via CSV”. (source)
  • Meta has introduced support for Shazam on Meta / Ray-Ban smart glasses. (source)

January 2025 Meta social media updates

  • Meta will add the “Community Notes” feature on Instagram as well. (source)
  • Meta has introduced a new feature on Meta Business Suite apps, “Invite collaborators”. (source)

January 2025 Meta AI updates

  • Meta added a new “Memory feature” for Meta AI Assistant. (source)

January 2025 Facebook social media updates

  • Facebook added a new Call-to-Action (CTA) message for Facebook Subscriptions, “Add a pinned comment to get more subscribers.” (source)
  • Facebook added a new AI-based feature for events, “AI-generated descriptions”. (source)
  • Facebook has changed the color of the verified checkmark from blue to white. (source)
  • Facebook Messenger now allows users to add lyrics to music notes. (source)
  • Facebook is working on a new type of story called “Recap Story”. (source)
  • Facebook added a dedicated page for every hashtag available on the platform. (source)
  • Facebook has introduced a new type of story, “For You Music”. (source)
  • Facebook now has a “Clip hub” feature for Facebook Reels. (source)

January 2025 Instagram social media updates

  • Instagram will soon allow users to dislike comments. (source)
  • Instagram will launch next month a video editing app, Edits. (source)
  • Instagram now allows users to upload reels up to 3 minutes long. (source)
  • Instagram added a new feature for Instagram DMs, “Send photos in HD”. (source)
  • Instagram added a new feature for Instagram DMs, “Disappearing messages”. (source)
  • Instagram is testing a new “Mute” button for stories. (source)
  • Instagram is testing a new “cross-app engagement” feature for reels. (source)
  • Instagram is now highlighting unseen notifications. (source)
  • Instagram launched a “Fade” effect for songs added in a Reel. (source)
  • Instagram now allows users to mention Facebook pages in their posts. (source)
  • Instagram has simplified the user interface for cross-posting to Facebook and Threads. (source)
  • Instagram now allows users to translate private messages. (source)
  • Instagram added a “Trending Audio” shortcut within the saved music collection. (source)
  • Instagram added a new label for business chats, “Learn more about business chats”. (source)
  • Instagram added two new metrics for Reels, “View Rate” and “Views over time.” (source)

January 2025 Threads social media updates

  • Threads added on iOS a “Markup” feature for text posts. (source)
  • Threads now allows users to hide the “Replies” tab (profile level). (source)
  • Threads now highlights “live feed” articles published by news outlets. (source)
  • Threads added a “Two-way links” feature on iOS. (source)
  • Threads is working on a “Cover image” feature for profiles. (source)
  • Threads is working on a “Display name” (“nickname”) feature for profiles. (source)
  • Threads will soon allow users to add a note to their profile. (source)
  • Threads will soon add three filters for political content: „Less”, „Standard” and „More”. (source)
  • Threads will allow users to attach a song to a post. (source)
  • Thread is working on a new feature for posts, “Templates”. (source)
  • Threads will soon allow users to “mark spoilers” in posts. (source)
  • Threads added three new features on Android and iOS (source):
    • A “Markup” tool for quoted posts.
    • A “Schedule” button for posts.
    • Metrics for individual posts.
  • Threads has rolled out the “Media” tab to all users. (source)
  • Threads now allows users to tag profiles in photos (single posts and carousel posts). (source)
  • Threads moved the Instagram shortcut icon above the “Edit Profile” and “Share Profile” buttons. (source)

January 2025 TikTok + CapCut social media updates

  • TikTok added “detailed rewards analytics” per post. (source)
  • TikTok added on Android a new accessibility setting, “Higher color contrast”. (source)
  • TikTok is now displaying “search highlights” for creators as well. (source)
  • CapCut added on iOS a new widget for its background removal feature. (source)
  • TikTok added a new content feature for users, “Curate Memories For You”. (source)
  • TikTok added a new security feature for content posted on the platform, “Content check”. (source)
  • TikTok updated its desktop video editor with new features. (source)
  • TikTok Studio now has a “Scheduled post” feature. (source)
  • TikTok added a new AI-based feature for single photo posts, “Description ideas”.(source)
  • TikTok added a new AI-based feature for users, “AI Self”. (source).
  • TikTok added a new setting for songs saved by users on Apple Music or Spotify, “Add songs to music app on the For You feed”. (source)
  • TikTok added a new security feature for posts, “Content check”. (source)
  • TikTok now allows users to create / to join a chat group via a QR Code or link. (source)
  • TikTok moved the “Explore” section to the feed tabs. (source)
  • TikTok added a “New” label for recent posts. (source)

January 2025 X (Twitter) social media updates

  • X now has video analytics. (source)
  • X added on Android a new AI-based feature for posts, “AI Search Suggestions”. (source)
  • X added on desktop (web) a new FAB (Floating Action Button) for Grok AI. (source)
  • X added a new “Parody account” label on mobile. (source)
  • X added a new AI-based feature on desktop (web), “Post enhancer”. (source)
  • X is working on a “News” tab. (source)
  • X is working on a new AI-based feature for posts called “Post enhancer”. (source)
  • X will soon have “video analytics”. (source)
  • X added a new “Video” section in the sidebar (mobile). (source)

January 2025 YouTube social media updates

  • YouTube will launch four new features for YouTube Premium (source):
    •  A 256kbps audio bitrate for videos.
    •  “Jump ahead” on YouTube (desktop).
    • “Picture-in-Picture” and “Smart downloads” for YouTube Shorts (iOS).
  • YouTube added on mobile a new “Q&A” sticker for vertical live streams. (source)
  • YouTube now allows all users create 3-minute long Shorts. (source)
  • YouTube added on YouTube Studio (desktop) a new “Releases” tab (Channel Content). (source)
  • YouTube is working on a “Share lyrics” feature for YouTube Music. (source)
  • YouTube is testing on Android a new content discovery feature called “Play something”. (source)
  • YouTube is testing a new feature for shorts creation, “Create video highlights”. It will be available in YouTube Studio. (source)
  • YouTube is showing on iOS a “View All Posts” button in the main feed. (source)

January 2025 Google social media updates

  • Google has launched a new “Brand report” in Google Ads. (source)
  • Google is testing new search refinements features for the “People also ask” and “People also search” sections of the search results. (source)
  • Google added a new attribute for vehicle listing ads, “Date first registered”. (source)
  • Google Ads will soon introduce a new goal-based campaign, “Ads Search Max”. (source)
  • Google Ads added a new “Chat” button at the top of the advertiser console. (source)
  • Google Ads added two additional promo code options under the promotion details section (Promotional Assets), “Promo code (Bar code)” and “Promo code (QR code)”. (source)
  • Google Ads added a consent checkbox for images. (source)
  • Google has introduced a new feature that allows you to efficiently bulk manage special hours for all the businesses you handle within Google Business Profiles. (source)
  • Google Search is testing a new label for local search results, “Frequently Saved”. (source)

January 2025 LinkedIn social media updates

  • LinkedIn added two new AI-based features: a “Job Match” tool for job seekers and a “Recruitment AI Agent” for small businesses. (source)
  • LinkedIn added a new feature for LinkedIn Games, “Playback overview”. (source)
  • LinkedIn could soon introduce a feature that tracks the amount of time you spend viewing someone’s profile. (source)
  • LinkedIn will launch a new badge renewal process for its LinkedIn Top Voice program. (source)
  • LinkedIn is testing a new notification for videos, “People are watching [Username] video…”. (source)

January 2025 Bluesky social media updates

  • Bluesky now has custom feeds for videos. (source)
  • Bluesky is testing a “Trending Topics” section on iOS. This feature is available to all users. (source)
  • Bluesky added a new video tab to profiles. (source)

January 2025 WhatsApp social media updates

  • WhatsApp will soon allow users to share their status updates as Instagram Stories through Accounts Center. (source)
  • WhatsApp is testing on Android a new badge count feature for chat filters. (source)
  • WhatsApp is testing on Android a new “Music” sticker for status updates. (source)
  • WhatsApp is testing on Android a new privacy feature that displays PIX keys on profiles. (source)
  • WhatsApp is testing on iOS a bulk management feature for channels: Mute / Unmute, Read / Unread, Unfollow. (source)
  • WhatsApp is working on a new AI-based feature for users, “Create an AI character”. (source)
  • WhatsApp is working on a widget for Meta AI. (source)
  • WhatsApp will replace the “Community” tab with a new one, “AIs”. (source)
  • WhatsApp will soon allow users to create events in individual chats. (source)
  • WhatsApp is testing two new default icons, one for contacts and one for group chats. (source)
  • WhatsApp has rolled out four new updates for chats and stickers (source):
    • 30 backgrounds, filters and effects for images or videos sent in conversations.
    • Selfie Stickers.
    • Share a sticker pack.
    • A “double tap” actions for message reactions.
  • WhatsApp will allow users to open a conversation with Meta AI from the “Chats” tab as well. (source)
  • WhatsApp is working on a new feature for WhatsApp Channels, “Starred channels”. (source)
  • WhatsApp will allow users to turn off or on animations for emojis, GIFs and stickers sent in conversations. (source)
  • WhatsApp is working on a feature for WhatsApp Channels that will allow admins to add photos to polls. (source)
  • WhatsApp will soon allow users to scan documents with the phone’s camera. (source)
  • WhatsApp is testing a feature that simplifies group chat and community creation. (source)
  • WhatsApp added a new default emoji reaction for messages, “Party Popper”. (source)
  • WhatsApp will soon allow iOS users to add and manage multiple accounts. (source)
  • WhatsApp is working on a welcome screen for the “AIs” tab. (source)
  • WhatsApp added on iOS a new feature for WhatsApp Calls, “Call dialer”. (source)

January 2025 Spotify social media updates

  • Spotify added a new “Create (+)” button in the global navigation bar. (source)
  • Spotify added a new filter in the “Your library” section, “Podcasts & Courses”. (source)
  • Spotify now enables users to view an artist’s top 10 most popular songs on mobile devices. (source)
  • Spotify added a new “TikTok”-like feed in the “Explore” section, “Best New Artists 2025”. (source)
  • Spotify added a new feature for podcasts, audiobooks and tracks, “Download to other devices”. (source)

January 2025 Tumblr social media updates

  • Tumblr launched Tumblr TV (another TikTok competitor) to all users. (source)

January 2025 Substack social media updates

  • Substack rolled out its livestreaming feature to all publishers. (source)

January 2025 Reddit social media updates

  • Reddit launched a new ad format, “Ask Me Anything Ads”. (source)

January 2025 Snapchat social media updates

  • Snapchat added a “Spotify Wrapped”-like feature for users. (source)
  • Snapchat now allow users to promote their snaps. (source)

January 2025 Discord social media updates

  • Discord is testing a virtual currency system, Discord Orbs. (source)
  • Discord now allows users to play audio files without interruption. (source)

January 2025 Kick social media updates

  • Kick added a “Live rewind” feature for live streams. (source)

January 2025 Netlfix social media updates

  • Netflix added a new “Season Download Button” for iPhone and iPad users. (source)

January 2025 Twitch social media updates

  • Twitch will allow users to pay for subscriptions with their payout balance. (source)
  • Twitch will launch a new hype train emote, “Neurosama”. (source)
  • Twitch added a new button for Twitch Clips, “Share to Instagram”. (source)

Keep Up with the Latest Social Media News

Are you ready to adjust your strategy based on the new feature updates and trends?

Social media never stands still, and neither should your strategy. These updates offer new ways to connect with your audience and improve your content.

By understanding and incorporating these changes, you can stay ahead of the curve. Experiment with the new features, and ad tools to adapt your approach, and keep your social media game strong.

If you find it challenging to keep up with constant changes, get new updates directly to your inbox by subscribing to Shareable TL;DR. It’s SocialBee’s specialized newsletter, designed to bring the latest social media news straight to your inbox every other week.

Subscribe to Shareable TL;DR
Get bi-monthly social media updates in your inbox and stay on top of the latest news.
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