More Social Media News You Can Use In June
Before we wrap up the first half of 2023, I have more social media news that you can use in June. This week, we’ll talk about how brands shift their operations for the latest TikTok trends, YouTube testing thumbnail testing, and Meta’s newest Quest+ subscription.
But before you get caught up on the latest social media news in June, be sure to check out more of my writing, like covering my favorite social media tools to use, like GoCharlie.ai. and more deep dives on specific topics on my blog.
Brands Do As Tik Tok Commands
What do brands Starbucks, Chipotle, and many others all have one thing in common: TikTok rules everything around them. According to The Wall Street Journal, the app's 50 million+ daily active users' ever-changing whims transform how corporations design and release products. Whatever TikTok wants, restaurants change their menus and sometimes operations, to meet demand and reduce labor burdens.
After customers trying to order it caused mayhem in shops, Chipotle officially added the "Keithadilla," an off-menu hack popularized by influencers Alexis Frost and Keith Lee — to its menu. And Starbucks' increasingly sophisticated TikTok drinks have become the scourge of baristas' existence, but the coffee company is no stranger to online demands. Starbucks added the famous "Pink Drink" developed by customers to its menu in 2017, before TikTok, and offered a bottled version in April.
YouTube Launches First Stage of Thumbnail A/B Testing
According to SocialMediaToday, certain YouTube content creators are reporting they can now evaluate several thumbnail image options on their YouTube videos using YouTube Studio. Creators use YouTube thumbnails to capture the user's attention and hopefully urge them to click and watch their video.
YouTube will also track the performance of up to three thumbnails (using overall watch time as the primary indicator) and notify creators of their best-performing thumbnail to increase overall views and engagements. Quick tip: a best practice for thumbnails is to select images of people's faces, especially with exaggerated expressions.
Say Hello to Meta Quest+
Meta is attempting to broaden the scope of its VR metaverse beyond gaming. The tech company announced the debut of Meta Quest+, a new $7.99 monthly Meta VR subscription package. This service will provide customers with two VR titles each month. Users will receive two titles to redeem and enjoy on the first of each month. Meta explains that for the first month's offerings, "we're pairing Cloudhead Games' physical action-rhythm FPS Pistol Whip with the nostalgia-fueled arcade adventure Pixel Ripped 1995 from ARVORE Immersive Experiences."
Meta Quest+ subscribers can keep each title as long as they stay a Quest+ member, allowing you to keep playing your favorite games well into 2024. Meta Quest+ is available to all Quest 2 and Quest Pro headset customers and is forward-compatible with Quest 3.
Until next time!