Instagram changes, Google rollbacks, and new app features
This month sees rollbacks from Google, changes across Instagram, and new apps launched.
To help you keep up-to-date, we’ve brought together all the latest insights and trends so you can leverage them in your marketing activities.
Google is scrapping its efforts to eliminate third-party cookies on Chrome
It has announced that it plans to keep third-party cookies up and running for those who don’t disable them.
However, to enhance user privacy while preserving advertising effectiveness, Google plans to roll out a new solution: a one-time prompt that enables users to set preferences that will apply across Google browsing experiences.
This change comes after extensive feedback from various stakeholders, including regulators such as the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), as well as web developers, standards groups, and advertising industry participants.
Instagram is working on Shared Access
This feature will allow users to invite up to three people to manage an account.
These users won’t be able to do things like disable the account or change the username/password, but they will be able to post content, manage messages, and perform other specified tasks.
This feature is particularly significant for content creators who rely on support from virtual assistants, talent managers, and dedicated teams.
Instagram now lets you add up to 20 songs to your Reels
When you add different tracks, Instagram will label the audio mix as belonging to you, allowing other users to share and reuse it.
You can sync different audio to the text, stickers, and clips that appear in your Reels.
Instagram ‘Made with AI’ label has been swapped out for ‘AI info’
After photographers’ pictures were tagged incorrectly, Meta announced it was changing the label to ‘AI info’ across their apps.
It’s rumoured that Adobe’s cropping tools and flattening images might have triggered the incorrect tag, meaning real-life but retouched photos were being labelled as AI.
Instagram is adding expiring and semi-private comments
Users will now be able to leave Notes on Reels and grid posts, where the comments will float on top of the content in little bubbles.
These comments are temporary and will disappear after three days, unless deleted earlier.
The new temporary comments are also semi-private, with users able to tailor who can see the comment (either a curated list of close friends or followers who follow you back).
Share-worthy content will rank better on Instagram
Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram, reinforced the message that the share-to-reach ratio is important to Instagram’s ranking signals—something to keep in mind when creating content.
TikTok allows the option to download clips without a watermark
You can either save the video with a watermark or “post to save without watermark” when you tap on the “save” option within the upload flow.
This will allow you to repost your video to other apps, but you’ll need to share it with TikTok first.
Spotify is letting people leave comments on podcast episodes
This new feature will give creators new ways to interact with their audience.
Initially, comments will be private by default, allowing creators to approve each comment they want to appear. You can choose to have comments available for the whole show or just for specific episodes—you can also opt out of this feature entirely.
LinkedIn rolls out sponsored newsletters
The platform is now expanding its sponsored articles ad option to include sponsored newsletters, allowing brands another way to generate leads from LinkedIn content.
YouTube is rolling out new options for Shorts
To help customise and expand your Shorts usage, new features are coming, such as:
- Auto layout – this aims to make it easier to convert your longer videos into Shorts. It will track the main subject of your video, narrowing the field of view and helping you better optimise your content.
- Text-to-speech – will provide automated narration on your clips. You’ll be able to edit, customise, and style your captions with fonts and colours.
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