TikTok updates maximum video length to 10 minutes

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Can TikTok still be referred to as a short-form video social media platform following a major new update? TikTok has made a significant announcement, raising the maximum upload time to 10 minutes. With more to watch, TikTok has been experimenting with new methods to grow. This time, with expansion in mind, they have taken it quite literally with this extended video duration.

In this digital age, they are continuously thinking of new ways to provide value and improve the TikTok experience. This is not the first major shift, nor will it be the last. Last year, we saw changes to videos, giving the TikTok community more time to create and enjoy. The ability to post videos of up to 10 minutes in length opens up even more possibilities for creators all over the world.

Learn the latest in TikTok news including a new partnership with NHL.

More than just an update

Although TikTok’s meteoric rise to success was due to a continuous stream of short clips designed to pique users’ interest, the platform has been pushing longer content for quite some time. Longer videos allow TikTok to compete with YouTube while also gaining an older audience and improving app engagement time. However, there may be certain disadvantages to this. A change to longer content may reduce the amount of data acquired on individuals’ watching behaviours, allowing for the customising of the algorithms used to attract viewers.

As TikTok develops to provide creators and users with longer content, its competitors, fuelled by TikTok’s success, have done the opposite, becoming the place to be for short videos. Instagram has launched Reels, YouTube has Shorts, and Snapchat has Spotlight. All of these major platforms are seeking to find the optimal content balance in order to compete and become the hub for a wide range of content.

Instagram experiments with Likes on Stories as a new way to engage users

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When you think you’ve seen it all from Instagram, they surprise you by releasing new features for testing. Instagram users can reply to a Story with emojis that are sent to the creator through DM. Creators can also be contacted by writing direct messages that are delivered to their inboxes. We can share and follow, but there’s more to these Stories. The like button is such a big part of Instagram and most other social media platforms, it was only a matter of time until it made its way onto Instagram Stories.

Currently, it looks that Instagram is quietly preparing to start live testing of likes on Stories. With this new feature, they plan to give an even easier and faster method to connect with a Story without needing to be a feature of a user’s inbox. Nothing has been verified since it is still under development. However, we could expect a like feature to emerge beside the message box at the bottom of the Stories display depending on the outcomes of these trials.

By clicking here, you can stay up to date on Instagram’s ongoing testing, including trials for Story links for all users.

This new element would imply that current story forwarding choices will be relocating to the function menu instead. With this newest announcement, it appears that Instagram has toned it back a touch. Instagram is simply letting the like button accessible in the current test, as opposed to all of the different Reactions options. This lack of reactions, however, might be in relation to how they will be in the Stories frame. Instagram also noted that creators would be able to see their like counts in the same location as Story viewers.

The history of likes

Although it may feel like a long time ago, given the number of updates since then but Instagram had eliminated public like counts on feed posts in 2019. This was before allowing users to select whether or not to display likes, rather than completely deleting the option. Instagram made this adjustment in order to minimize the pressure associated with public posting and competing for likes. This gives users the option to remove that aspect if they choose to. Theoretically, it assists to reduce peer comparison and prevent users from removing postings that don’t meet a specific like level.

Click here to learn more about Instagram’s latest and greatest improvements, including how to use Instagram Insights to make Reels more popular.

This new feature raises the possibility that a similar pressure will occur again. They do, however, serve a ranking function and are crucial for the users getting that involvement. But, of course, Instagram has considered this issue of displaying likes and has devised a solution. Counting likes on stories will not be public. It would be private information between the user and the creator.

This feature can help Instagram enhance its Stories ranking by prioritizing content from the creators that users enjoy the most, while also adding an extra interactive aspect.

Twitter takes a chance on NFTs and begins to accept bitcoins

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Twitter has brought a lot of new feature releases into the Twitter world as it refuses to slow down its ongoing desire for updating. This major social media network has now launched a number of new initiatives aimed at better serving the conversations and communities that take place on its platform, including support for cryptocurrency tipping and NFT authentication.

With these new features, the app will be able to better assist creators who work with non-fungible tokens or NFTs. This new feature is possible by the increasing popularity of NFT. This popularity is thanks to artists are now generating NFTs of their work, which is sold on NFT markets like as OpenSea, Rarible, Foundation, SuperRare, and others.

Explore more of Twitter’s interesting new features, such as the platform’s unveiling of topic-based “Communities” within its app.

This platform is also expecting to offer NFT authentication in the near future. With this assistance, NFT creators will be able to connect their crypto wallets to Twitter. This would allow creators to stay on track while also displaying their NFTs on this well-known platform. Users may still have to wait, as this is still in the early phases and Twitter has yet to explain how it will operate. Twitter is also thought to be experimenting with a number of other techniques to assist authorized collection producers to stand out in the eyes of other users. All is yet to be determined.

More in the Tip Jar

Of course, Twitter has more to say about cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin tipping support has also been a big topic. Twitter’s “Tip Jar” function was first released as a prototype product in May. Users can make and receive one-time payments through third-party services such as PayPal, Venmo, and others using this metaphorical jar. The service will now be available to all users worldwide on iOS. Android support is coming soon and will include support for tipping using Bitcoin.

https://twitter.com/Twitter/status/1441085130487975952?s=20

There will also be a lot of new ways for Bitcoin tips to function. Users will be able to get Bitcoin tips by adding a Bitcoin Lightning wallet or their Bitcoin address. According to Twitter, lightning wallets are popular among cryptocurrency users because of their minimal transaction fees. Twitter’s implementation makes use of Strike, a payments tool built on the Bitcoin Lightning Network that enables anyone to transfer and receive Bitcoin for free and immediately. This ingenious Tip Jar will also include GoFundMe and the Brazilian mobile payments provider PicPay.

Learn more about the popularity of NFTs, including Sorare’s $680 million in investment for fantasy sports NFT games.

And that’s not all. Twitter also unveiled additional tools for users to protect their security and well-being on the platform, including offensive discussion filters. Twitter is attempting to address some of the platform’s most chronic issues. One of which includes the lack of mechanisms for the platform’s most engaged users to grow their following and generate income from their contributions. Negativity and harassment are also long-standing difficulties.

With this in mind, Twitter has included additional security features such as “remove yourself from a conversation,” which allows the user to exit a Twitter thread that contains their name. Users will soon be able to block accounts using automatic methods, according to the network.

Twitter begins testing with topic-based “Communities” within its app

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Twitter made another exciting announcement for its ever-expanding platform last week; this platform has now taken the next step by launching a live test of its new ‘Communities‘ option. Users will be able to exchange tweets with a select group of app users thanks to this new community feature.  This new function will allow users to avoid continually publicly broadcasting or sharing all of their tweets with all of their followers.

These communities are to function as niche, topic-based spaces. On this social media platform, these areas allow people with similar interests to share and discuss relevant tweets with others. It is possible to pick a specific community from within the tweet composer, allowing users to tailor their tweets.

This function was created to provide a solution for users who believe that certain topics are not for everyone; everyone enjoys a little secrecy once in a while! Users can utilize ‘Communities’ to tweet specifically to a group rather than to everyone. Only members of the same community can respond and join the conversation, keeping it small and relevant.

Learn more about Twitter’s latest changes, including the launch of a new TweetDeck, by clicking here.

Although you can only tweet to your community for a targeted in-depth discussion, keep in mind that these pages are public. Users are still in the public domain, and this feature allows users to search for all active communities. All talks will also be accessible through a new ‘Communities’ option at the bottom of the platform’s app.

Similar to Facebook groups or Reddit threads, this new tool allows for more topic-oriented conversations. It also takes Twitter further away from its core notion of a “public square”. Even though being a public hub has been the app’s driving force since it was founded in 2006, a change in direction could be beneficial for its growth in the future.

More updates to come

Twitter is testing a number of different types of platform updates. The site is also developing a feature called “Facets,” which will allow users to create multiple identities under one profile. Not only that, but it also adds a new audience management option to the tweet composer, allowing users to share their tweets with only their “Trusted Friends”.

Find out about the most recent Twitter news, such as Twitter’s step into e-commerce with a new shopping feature.

This new update may not only eliminate the need for extra accounts but will also push people to tweet more regularly. Users will now be able to share their thoughts on various topics with specific, interested audiences in the app, rather than feeling limited by the broader audience approach.

TikTok explores ‘TikTok Stories’ to broaden the app’s creative prospects

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It all began with the development of Snapchat Stories, and as the platform’s popularity expanded, other social media sites quickly followed suit. Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn have all used a Stories format. Previously, a similar tool has been available on Twitter, but the platform recently suspended the feature. This feature is becoming increasingly popular. With this growing popularity in mind, TikTok has responded with its own TikTok Stories.

These stories are still in the works and have not yet been released to the public. TikTok Stories will disappear after 24 hours and appear in a collapsible left-hand side panel in the app’s main feed while in testing. Users would be able to see stories from the individuals and accounts they follow. They can also move about the Story frames, which are indicated by gray bars running along the bottom of the Story display.

From the Samba Digital team, learn more about TikTok, including how to establish an effective TikTok strategy.

More from this feature is to come

This isn’t all, as Stories will have its own camera and creative flow. This will also be located on the left side of the main screen. Therefore, making it easier to find and create Stories that can be shared within the app.

TikTok is on the verge of entering the next phase of its development, as the site continues to gain users. Analysts predict that by the end of this year, it will be the next billion-user social app. This feature would propel TikTok into the top five apps on the market, putting it on par with long-time rival Instagram. This would be a wonderful step for TikTok, especially given Facebook’s long-term dominance of the market.

Possible limitations

TikTok’s expanding potential, on the other hand, might be limited. This constraint comes in the shape of successful monetization and a clear way for its top users to make the most money from their app submissions. There are less revenue opportunities on TikTok because you can’t place pre-roll or mid-roll ads like you can on Facebook or YouTube.

Apart from putting promos between user clips, there are fewer alternatives for efficient ad placement in the main TikTok feed. As a result, the revenue potential of TikTok is limited. This is why, at this point in its evolution, TikTok is focusing on expanding its content capabilities in order to optimize engagement and ad space.

TikTok is always evolving, most recently raising the maximum duration of TikToks from 60 seconds to 3 minutes. According to reports, TikTok is working on live stream commerce and other revenue alternatives for streaming creators. This update, in conjunction with Stories, will increase the platform’s revenue potential. It will also offer a broader range of content than its current short video offerings.

More features will allow creators to build their communities without having to rely on similar engagement surfaces in other apps. Currently, there is no information on the scope of TikTok’s experiment, including the regions and users who will have access. However, we do know that if this upgrade becomes publicly recognized, it might open up a whole new world of possibilities for a user’s TikTok strategy.

Learn more about TikTok’s efforts to expand its user base, including its collaboration with Extreme E.

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Twitter is branching out into eCommerce with the launch of new shopping feature

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Following the end of Twitter Fleets and the debut of a beta version of Professional Profiles for brands, Twitter has now surprised users with yet another major update for this platform. With the launch of Shop Module, a new retail feature, Twitter has taken the next step in its business strategy. This feature is still in its early phases of development. Despite the fact that it has not yet been made public, a number of companies in the US are actively testing this new function.

Learn more about Twitter’s decision to remove Fleets as they launch a new TweetDeck platform.

This shop module allows businesses to promote their products at the top of their profiles. Users who visit a profile with the Shop Module enabled can browse the product carousel. This feature allows viewers of their favorite companies to tap on a specific product to learn more about it. Users can utilize this feature to find certain products and then purchase them without ever leaving the platform.

With the growth of eCommerce, many social media platforms are looking to combine retail components to keep users on the network for longer and improve revenue opportunities. With such a large user base, it’s no surprise that Twitter is exploring a similar strategy.

Free or monthly fee?

In the past, some Twitter updates required users to pay to gain access. Users of Twitter Blue, for example, pay a monthly fee to gain access to additional tweet features. Premium access may become more common as Twitter evaluates changes to its TweetDeck platform, which might lead to a similar subscription. As part of Twitter’s plan to double its revenue by 2023, more paid choices could become standard. Given Twitter’s need to boost income, it’s possible that this new product showcase will become a paid service.

Learn more about Twitter’s recent changes, such as the audio push with the ‘Spaces’ feature.

Twitter has also launched a new Merchant Advisory Board. A number of organizations that have already established themselves on the network will be included in this feature, and they will be consulted on future business tool developments. Twitter is presently working on adding shopping options to Tweets, which could be the next step for this new feature. While these retail features will take time to develop, they appear to offer a lot of potential for Twitter’s long-term growth.

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Instagram begins testing Story Links for all users

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Instagram is one of the most popular and often updated social media platforms currently on the app store. With this popularity, they must update their app in order to remain relevant. Instagram’s most recent and largest update, which remains in testing, is the ability for those without millions of followers to connect to other content from Instagram Stories. This linking tool will be different from the swipe-up functionality we’ve seen in our favorite influencers’ Stories.

Rather than swiping, this upgrade will use a sticker that followers can tap to open the link in their browser. This interesting new feature is presently being tested by the Instagram team to evaluate how users respond to the app’s links. They’ll also search for the most frequent types of links to check if they’re using this feature to spread misinformation. Despite the fact that it is currently in beta testing, this feature is likely to be limited to Stories.

Learn about Instagram’s most recent updates, including the most recent Reels update to compete with TikTok.

Instagram has been using the sticker strategy for a long time. Users who do not publish as often as the system suggests do risk becoming obsolete. Those who play the game and post on a regular basis have a better chance of gaining a huge following. Once users gain 10,000 followers, Instagram will grant them access to a new level, allowing them to share links to external websites.

No matter how many followers they have, verified users have access to the links. External links are a simple tool that will benefit all users, regardless of their level of engagement. However, like with most things, this new update may have some drawbacks. This functionality could have a negative impact on activists and educators who have already helped pave the way for call-to-action messaging.

Bye-bye to complicated links

There would no longer be times when users wished they could share links without having to tell their friends how to get to the link in their bio or copy and paste a long URL into their mobile browser.

Instagram would gain a big advantage over TikTok, with whom they are always competing if they could link to other websites. This competition between the two platforms continues since the most recent hashtags to hit on Instagram Reels originated on TikTok.

TikTok has also been updating its site in anticipation of Instagram’s next move. TikTok has developed Jumps, which incorporates apps into videos to allow for things like a link to a Wikipedia page. However, there are still some issues to iron out with TikTik’s new feature. This new feature currently doesn’t allow direct linking outside of the URLs displayed on profile pages, but if they want to stay on top, they must address this bug as soon as possible.

More about TikTok, including Samba’s top ten tips for building a successful TikTok strategy.

This linking feature would assist Instagram in its goal of becoming known as a home shopping network. If it had this feature, it would be more appealing to small businesses as a platform. These small business owners could publish to their Etsy stores and personal websites if they didn’t use Instagram’s commerce stickers. This function is presently in testing with a select group of Instagram users, so we’ll have to see how long the rest of the Instagram community will have to wait.

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Twitter removes ‘Fleets’ as it prepares to test its new TweetDeck

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Twitter made a surprising announcement last week that will surely have an impact on their platform in the future. This social media network has announced that Fleets, their very own stories format, will be retiring after less than a year in service. Following this announcement, Fleets are expecting to be in the last weeks before leaving in early August. There is, however, a new beginning with this ending. Twitter’s focus is now shifting away from Fleets and into a new audio Spaces product, as well as a revamped TweetDeck.

Learn more about Twitter’s business efforts, including its most recent relationship with the National Football League.

Fleets History

The goal of Fleets was to give people a place to express their fleeting thoughts. It was with the hope that this would encourage more people to join the Twitter conversation. However, the outcome was less than ideal. The number of new people joining the discussion with Fleets did not increase as they had hoped.

Last month, Twitter launched its first test of Fleet ads, further elevating Fleets in the minds of its users. It was difficult to know whether the option would be useful for businesses as Twitter had not disclosed any official data on Fleets usage.

Because of the slow growth of Fleet users, Twitter has concluded that it is mostly utilized by those who are already Tweeting to promote their own Tweets and communicate directly with others. Users are ultimately using Twitter as a free amplification route, rather than contributing to the entire Twitter experience as intended.

New features to replace Fleets

With this information, Twitter made the executive decision to go a different way, while simultaneously learning from this feature and applying it to new areas of its platform. Updated camera options to better support full-screen images and full-screen ad formats are likely to be among the new areas.

It has also been suggested that they’re boosting in-progress audio Spaces near the top of the timeline to increase audio participation. The profile bubbles at the top bar will be visible when subsequent upgrades are released, so not all of Fleets features will be lost.

Twitter had also started pushing Fleets in other ways as well, such as presenting users Fleets from individuals they don’t follow and emphasizing comparable Fleets when growing specific postings. The think tank, however, later withdrew these possible enhancements.

Click here to learn everything there is to know about Twitter’s audio-focused platform, Spaces.

TweetDeck Updates

Since January, rumors of a TweetDeck update have circulated, along with hints of possible paid feature add-ons for the platform’s increasing subscription options. Twitter has begun a live test of the redesigned TweetDeck, confirming the rumors. A Tweet Vompser, enhanced search tools, and additional column types are among the new features. There will also be new ways to organize your columns into Decks, allowing you to do more with your data.

https://twitter.com/TweetDeck/status/1417586159220367361?s=20

The new column layouts, which allow you to resize and rearrange your columns to give them more or less screen time, are the most noticeable display enhancements. You may now customize your columns by extending and reducing them on-screen.

It’s not a problem if consumers don’t like the idea; this function is optional, and you can maintain your columns as they are. Users may also construct new Decks with this upgrade. These Decks allow you to create a whole new set of columns that will display on a secondary dashboard that will be accessible from your sidebar.

The new TweetDeck, which belongs to the genre of search tools, has a basic interface for search options. Users are, however, restricted by Twitter’s sophisticated search parameters. These parameters have always been able to incorporate into your TweetDeck tracking columns. Although these search tools will remain accessible, they will be easier to use as a result of this improvement. And just when you thought you’d seen it all, there’s one more. Within the app, you can now see how your tweets will appear, making it easier to plan and schedule them.

More testing to come

TweetDeck’s latest version is currently available to a select number of people in the US and Australia who were picked at random. A notification will appear on the user’s TweetDeck dashboard encouraging them to test out the new TweetDeck. Because it is such a powerful and valuable tool, TweetDeck is gaining more attention. However, we may see them go much further in the future, and increase the number of testing of the existing TweetDeck.

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Clubhouse says goodbye to invite-only and welcomes all users

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We’ve been waiting for a new update from Clubhouse for a long time, and it’s finally here. Clubhouse has declared that it would no longer host exclusive parties as the number of new users drops. Anyone who wants to join a club and listen to the most recent audio talks can do so today with this freshly redesigned app. For the occasion, a gleaming new logo has been created for the audio social media platform.

More news from Clubhouse, including the extension of their Creators First Program to include Brazilian creators.

The restricted, invite-only nature of Clubhouse contributed greatly to the initial buzz. Clubhouse invitations became somewhat of an internet status symbol, with some even fetching extravagant prices on eBay. However, when Elon Musk joined a Clubhouse discussion, the app’s exclusivity was effectively broken as people flocked to speak with the well-known figure.

Things haven’t been going well since Elon Musk followers rushed onto the app, causing it to become overwhelmed. Shortly after, Twitter introduced Spaces, a Clubhouse clone, and others quickly followed with their own social features to cash in on the hype. After many more similar apps Clubhouse has been mostly replaced by newer, more open, and accessible audio options.

More to come for Clubhouse 

Clubhouse continues to grow with each new development. This is partly owing to the fact that the app was released for Android devices in May. Thanks to this update, which has enabled more people in more regions to join, the app has generated significant buzz in India, where the vast majority of its new users are now based.

The idea is for this new feature to revive the app’s early enthusiasm. It also competes with Twitter Spaces and Facebook’s expanding social audio offerings. Clubhouse is ecstatic about this new venture and is looking forward to developing something truly unique on the web. Unfortunately, they may need more than hope to get users to return to the app. The fact that everyone can now participate is, nevertheless, a big step forward.

Learn more about Clubhouse’s rivals, including Facebook’s entry towards an audio-focused feature.

Clubhouse now employs 58 people, up from 8 previously. Not only that, but the number of daily rooms on the platform has climbed from 50,000 to half a million. The average Clubhouse listener spends over an hour every day on the station. Users do more than just listen; in fact, a large percentage of them speak as well. This is a great foundation with a lot of room for growth, especially if they want to gain traction among already established platforms. Clubhouse will need to ensure that it can keep up with the increasing volume of users as a result of this new shift, as servers may become clogged with rubbish and random broadcasts.

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TWITTER WORKING ON NEW ‘SPACES’ FEATURES AND TAKING ON FACEBOOK GROUPS

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Will Twitter Spaces gradually replace Clubhouse and restrict its popularity? We will soon see as Twitter is hard at work developing Spaces, the new platform to join the trend of audio-focused social media platforms.

Twitter has demonstrated their commitment to making this new platform a force to be reckoned with by expanding Spaces’ scope to users and adding plenty of new features. The newest function is a scheduling concept that will give you more options when hosting and handling your audio. Users will be able to schedule any upcoming Spaces. And once scheduled, they will be able to alert their followers with a tweet. This tweet will provide a link to your upcoming event for those interested in attending; from this link, a reminder can be sent to those in your audience so they don’t miss out.

Not only that, but Twitter is now working on Space Discovery. Clubhouse, unfortunately for Twitter, has already beaten them to the punch with this concept. Clubhouse allows its members to switch between rooms at any time to find new discussions to explore. Twitter currently makes it difficult to locate live Spaces, although it is experimenting with new ways to overcome this barrier. In addition, Twitter is developing new Space title options to give users more power over their Space. All of these new features, like Spaces, are still in the testing process. But the ever-expanding audio-focused aspect will force Twitter to move swiftly in order to compete with new contenders like Clubhouse.

What else is new?

In terms of scope, Twitter defeated Clubhouse 1-0. Clubhouse users must develop an entirely new community from scratch, while Twitter users can use their current followers to build their audio-focused platform. Might Twitter’s mass audience be a double-edged sword? Will the quality of their rooms be a concern with such a large number of members in the Spaces and no limit on the number of members in a room? Unlike Clubhouse, which only allows exclusive users by invitation. This could impact the algorithm’s accuracy in matching users to rooms that are meaningful to them.

Twitter is not only developing their new Spaces app, but they are also expanding their original platform with new features. To compete with Facebook Groups, the Twitter team has built Communities. Users may join these communities and connect with other members based on a variety of factors, including hobbies and location. This new feature builds on their existing topics feature, making it easier for users to find discussions that are important to topics they care about. Twitter has also created Super Follows, which allows users to be super followers of their favourite accounts, to compete with Twitch and Patreon. Users can gain access to exclusive material, such as newsletters and super follower-only conversations, by using this super follower label.

We can clearly see Twitter’s commitment to dominating and maintaining user loyalty, as well as competing with Facebook and Clubhouse. While social networks like Clubhouse are still evolving, given Twitter’s pace of growth and benefits like audience outreach, they have the potential to become a significant player in the audio industry.

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