The Social Media News You Need In November
As my Dad likes to point out around this time of year, the year truly has flown by. Hopefully you are able to look back on the year with a positive outlook and if you’re like me, excited for the year ahead. And if you’re looking for more of my writing, like covering my favorite social media tools to use, like GoCharlie.ai, check my blog here.
Let’s dig into the social media news you can use his week. That includes a drastic change to the content available on LinkedIn, Instagram introducing new ways to bring replies to Stories, and X is looking for extra cash by selling inactive usernames.
LinkedIn Decides To Remove Carousels Entirely
In a surprising turn of events, LinkedIn announced yesterday that it's removing all carousel posts, profile videos, and in-image linking from its platform before the end of the year. This change will take effect on December 14th.
LinkedIn says it's making this change to simplify its platform and make it easier for users to find the content they seek. The company also wants to focus on more engaging and interactive content formats like videos and live streams. Why not stop future carousels from being created like the platform did earlier this year and keep the existing content? No one knows.
Given monthly reports are usually the standard for the Motion Agency’s clients, we’ve advised our clients to pull any necessary creative and metrics related to carousels posted to LinkedIn. Be sure you do the same before December 14th.
Instagram Now Lets Users Highlight Post Replies in Stories
Looking for new ways to engage with your audience and show appreciation for your community? Well, you're in luck because a new feature from Instagram allows creators to spotlight specific comments and share them directly to their stories. This is a great way to highlight positive feedback from your followers and start conversations around your content. Here's how it works:
Select a comment from a piece of content.
Swipe left on the comment.
Tap the plus icon.
The comment and content will be drafted as a story.
By swiping to the left and selecting the plus icon, the comment and content are then drafted as a story.
This is a great tactic to explore to drive more engagement because it shows your followers that you appreciate their feedback. And it can end up starting conversations around your brand or business. At the end of the day, you want any opportunity to build a stronger relationship with your audience.
If you don't believe me, listen to Instagram, "Sometimes, all it takes is a single comment to spark an idea, or start meaningful conversations with your fans. You can now easily share your favorite comments to Stories, highlighting your most important interactions with your audience."
X Begins Selling Off Old Twitter Handles
Emails obtained by Forbes reveal that X has already begun reaching out to potential buyers of dormant usernames. Allegedly, X has requested a flat fee of $50,000 to initiate a purchase.
This move is no surprise, as X CEO Elon Musk has previously expressed interest in monetizing dormant usernames. In December 2022, Musk noted that X would be looking to make these usernames available for new use.
In true Elon fashion, X's current username registration policy still states that the company cannot release inactive usernames. Additionally, its inactive account policy warns users to log in every 30 days to avoid being considered inactive. How X will reconcile its current user policies with its plans to sell dormant usernames is still being determined. The company may need to update its policies or create a new policy specifically for dormant usernames.
Be sure to check out the latest podcasts I’ve been on sharing my learnings and insights. If you’ve only got time for an article, then uncover the keys to gaining success with influencer marketing, and other deep dives on other social media topics.
