News and Insights
BOOM SCROLL: DECEMBER 2024
December 11, 2024
Need to speed-read your social feed? Here’s the social intel from last month you definitely need to know.
tl;dr
Bluesky soars, Threads unspools its new ad plans, Facebook changes its view on metrics, and Instagram says #byebyehashtag.
#1 Bluesky: Reaching New Heights
As post-election turbulence fades, Bluesky’s been soaring by a million users a day, reaching 20M in November. What’s giving the platform a lift?
💥 The Boom
– With 100s of thousands of X users bailing out, Bluesky offers a calmer alternative
– Same look and feel as X, but users control their own feed
– Ad-free for now, with subscription services on the horizon
Our take
Bluesky rapid ascent is turning heads, but don’t rush to add another platform into your social ecosystem right away. Grab your brand handle now, then watch to see if the momentum continues.
#2 Threads: Trying Ads on for Size in 2025
As of November, Threads has spun its way to 275 million users. And with growth, comes change. Meta plans to roll out ads on the platform as soon as January.
💥 The Boom
– Handpicked brands will try the platform on for size with the first batch of ads
– Instagram’s ad division is expected to lead the initiative
Our take
Threads won’t be a major revenue driver for Meta in 2025, but ads could be a perfect fit. Watch this space – the platform may have bigger changes in store for the coming year.
#3 Facebook: A Fresh Look at “Views”
Facebook is taking a fresh look at performance by setting its sights on “views” as its primary metric for reels, videos, posts, and stories.
💥 The Boom
– Views track eyeballs by measuring the number of plays for a reel or video, or time on screen for a photo or text post
– Streamlines measurement with a single metric to watch across all content types
– Meta promises the way views are calculated will remain unchanged
Our take
The world of social metrics can move pretty fast, but the switch to a single “views” metric makes it easier for brands to stop and look around once in while for any major shifts.
#4 Instagram: #Farewell #HashtagFollows #EndOfAnEra
On December 13, Instagram will say #byebye to hashtags by getting rid of the option to follow and removing tags you follow from your main feed.
💥 The Boom
– Instagram is taking a stand against #instafamous spammers who use #follow4follow tags to expand their #reachgang
– Algorithms are getting smarter at connecting users to relevant content, making hashtags less #necessary (😉)
– But don’t panic – you’ll still be able to search tags and find them in Explore
Our take
While Instagram waves goodbye to hashtags, don’t bid adieu to them just yet. Strategic tagging can help improve profile discovery and turn scrollers into followers.