News and Insights
BOOM SCROLL: OCTOBER 2024
October 2, 2024
Need to speed-read your social feed? Here’s the social intel from last month you definitely need to know.
tl;dr
Instagram’s got parents in mind with Teen Accounts, X is giving the boot to Blocks, Gen Z’s prepping for holiday shopping, Reddit ads don’t collect personal data, and US Attorneys General want social media warning labels.
#1 Instagram: Teens Go Private (Whether They Like It or Not)
In an effort to reassure parents (and Attorneys General, see later on), Instagram rolled out Teen Accounts with stricter privacy settings, all in the name of making social media safer for teens.
💥 The Boom
– Teen profiles now automatically set to private
– Parents use their own IG account to check up on their kids and change settings
Our take
With parents in charge, your content might hit a snag if the Instagram AI flags it as sensitive. Plan for a dip in teen metrics. You’ll also lose access to teen follower accounts, which could make user-generated content more difficult to tap into.
#2 X: Bye Bye Bye Blocks
Elon says he’s doing away with the block button as we know it. People you’ve blocked on X will soon be able to see everything you post.
💥 The Boom
– Blocked users still won’t be able to engage with your posts
– You still need to be logged into X to see any posts
Our take
Sure, blocked users can’t engage with your posts, but they’ll be able to screengrab them, share them, and get your brand mixed up in a mess without even tagging you. Invest in listening tools to keep your ear to the ground – you don’t want a PR wildfire starting up without you knowing about it.
#3 Gen Z is Shopping Social This Holiday Season
The latest Fiverr report reveals where Gen Z plans to do their holiday shopping… and it’s looking very social.
💥 The Boom
– 54% plan to purchase on TikTok Shop
– ⅓ will buy based on Instagram and FB ads
– ¼ will spend money based on influencer recos
Our take
Social shopping keeps getting easier as platforms streamline their e-commerce features, and it’s becoming even more popular as Gen Z increases its spending power. If you don’t have Meta and TikTok shops set up, now’s the time. Make sure you’ve got a strong lineup of influencers prepped for the season, too.
#4 Reddit: A Different Take on Privacy
Meta and Google are the biggest social platforms around, but their user tracking and data collection is always raising red flags about privacy. Reddit takes a different approach: the platform serves ads based on interests rather than user data.
💥 The Boom
– Users are weary (and wary) of being tracked online all the time
– Reddit offers a less-invasive, more privacy-friendly approach to advertising
Our take
Looking to reach audiences without the privacy headaches? Reddit might be your answer. The platform can serve ads to people that are interested in a particular topic, without having to dive into their personal data.
#5 Social with a Warning Label?
Over 40 U.S. Attorneys General are pushing Congress to require a warning label for social media platforms. The idea? To remind users about the potential mental health issues linked with consuming too much social media.
💥 The Boom
– Warning labels are part of a broader push to protect young users on social platforms
– Critics argue that warning labels alone won’t do enough to curb risky behavior among teens
Our take
If this idea becomes law, we may see fewer teens on social media as parents try to limit their exposure. So if you’re looking to reach teens, consider platforms like YouTube and Reddit where you can target the types of content they’re interested in, rather than using their personal data.