Social Media Updates: TikTok Cuts Ties With Universal, Flipside, + More

The social media landscape is constantly changing and as business owners, it’s our job to stay informed on best practices. So, here are the latest updates on Instagram and TikTok from the past few weeks.

TikTok Cuts Ties With Universal Music

If you’re on the platform, you may have already noticed this. Universal’s music licensing agreement with TikTok expired on January 31 and since then, TikTok’s lost their huge library of sounds. This means that we’re going to see more creators speak directly to the camera and rely on storytelling or information and less on trendy audios and dances. Leverage this as a business owner by putting value and education at the forefront of your social media content.

Instagram Experiments With Flipside

In response to consumer requests for more privacy on social media, Instagram has begun experimenting with “Flipside.” This new feature allows users to create a private space within their existing account. Think “close friends” but expanded to an entirely hidden profile instead. You’ll get to set up a custom account with its own unique name, bio, and photo, and curate a smaller group of followers. With a simple swipe, you’ll be able to move between your main account and your Flipside account.

Instagram Experiments With A “Friend Map” Function

Instagram confirmed that they’re working on a “Friend Map” feature that will enable your Instagram friends to see where you’re at and where you’ve been, with all posts and stories tagged with that location added to a map display. This option will also have built-in notes so that you can leave tips for your friends about each location. This new feature could be great for location-based businesses hoping to reach new audiences.

Threads Expands Saved Posts to All Users

Threads has been experimenting with a “save” function for the past few weeks and it’s now available to all users! This function acts similarly to save on Instagram. You simply press the three dots menu in the app and then bookmarks it for future reference.

There are a few additional minor updates like Meta expanding access to Instagram’s creator marketplace and Youtube adding new music remix options but that’s about it for this month! Stay connected with the latest updates by following us at Instagram!