Social Scoop Unplugged #17
Want to stay ahead in the social media game? This week’s updates bring exciting changes: Instagram’s testing Scheduled DMs, Meta’s AI tools are here to help you create more content effortlessly, and you can now tag someone in your Story after posting—handy, right? Plus, Instagram’s blocking sneaky screenshots for view-once media, testing a ‘No Edit’ tag for authenticity, and Snapchat is streamlining creator monetisation. Meanwhile, X is rolling out updates to its Grok AI chatbot and testing file attachments in DMs. And LinkedIn is experimenting with paid boosts for personal updates—could this be a game-changer for creators?
Learn how these social media updates can supercharge your marketing strategies and keep you ahead of the competition!
Instagram Tests Scheduled DMs: A Game-Changer for Your Outreach
Say goodbye to sneaky screenshots—Instagram’s blocking them for view-once media
Meta is testing a ‘No Edit’ tag for untouched Story images to promote authenticity.
Snapchat Streamlining the creator grind with a new monetisation process.
X (Twitter) is rolling out updates to its Grok AI chatbot—more AI magic coming your way.
Instagram Tests Scheduled DMs: A Game-Changer for Your Outreach
You know how amazing it is to schedule your posts and Stories ahead of time on Instagram?
Well, now there’s even more to love. Instagram is rolling out a new feature that lets you schedule your DMs too. That’s right—you’ll soon be able to send your messages at the perfect time, without the need to manually click “send.”
This feature is currently being tested by a select group of users, and here’s how it works:
1. Open the chat and write your message.
2. Long-press the send button.
3. Select the date and time you want the message to go out.
It’s that simple! This is especially handy for brands with followers in different time zones or anyone looking to plan their outreach with precision. Imagine scheduling your DMs alongside your posts for seamless, strategic communication.
Now, on to a potential pitfall: AI bots. Instagram is experimenting with AI tools that can replicate your voice or even engage in video chats with fans. While this might be useful for larger accounts, it can come across as impersonal and spammy. My tip? Keep it authentic if you’re working with a smaller audience.
With DMs becoming such a vital part of Instagram engagement, scheduled messages could help you stay on top of your outreach—without the late-night scramble. Keep an eye out as this update continues to roll out!
Generate more content effortlessly with Meta AI.
If crating multiple variations of ad copy has ever felt like a struggle, then Meta’s new Text Generation tool in Ads Manager is about to make your life a whole lot easier.
This smart tool helps you create variations of ad headlines and primary text by pulling from your previous campaigns. Even better? It tailors the suggestions to reflect your brand’s tone of voice and key selling points—so you don’t have to worry about starting from scratch every time.
How does it work?
1. Input your campaign details: You’ll start by providing some context about your ad.
2. Let Meta’s AI work its magic: The tool uses previous campaign data to generate suggestions that align with your brand and objectives.
3. Customise and refine: You can tweak the generated text to ensure it matches your exact style or messaging.
This is a huge time-saver for brands that run frequent campaigns. With the Text Generation tool, you can create diverse ad copy quickly, without losing the essence of your brand. Plus, it’s a great way to test different variations of copy, ensuring that your messaging resonates with your audience.
By leveraging this feature, you’ll optimise your ad performance while keeping things consistent with your brand identity.
You can now tag someone in your Story after posting.
Guess what? You can now tag someone in your Instagram Story after posting it. Yes, you read that right!
Here’s how to do it:
1. Open your Instagram app.
2. Tap your profile picture in the top left corner.
3. Find the Story you want to add a tag to.
4. Tap the three-dot More menu in the bottom right corner.
5. Select Add Mentions.
6. Search for the accounts you want to tag.
7. Hit Add.
Your tagged account will get a notification, plus a direct message with a preview of your Story. Just a heads-up: the preview disappears after 24 hours.
You can tag up to 20 people per photo or video in your Story, but if you can’t mention someone, it’s likely because they’ve updated their privacy settings.
Such a handy update, right? Perfect for making sure you don’t forget to tag someone after you’ve posted!
Say goodbye to sneaky screenshots—Instagram’s blocking them for view-once media
Instagram is rolling out a new feature that blocks screenshots for media sent in “Vanish Mode” or when using the “View Once” option. So, if you’re sharing content that you want to disappear after being seen, Instagram’s got your back—no more worrying about screenshots!
Here’s how it works: When you send a photo or video in these modes, Instagram will notify you if someone tries to take a screenshot. And now, you won’t be able to screenshot at all—Instagram will block it completely. This adds a layer of peace of mind when sharing sensitive content.
The “View Once” option, which was introduced in 2020, lets users send media that disappears after the recipient sees it. You can also choose whether to allow replays or not. If someone tries to take a screenshot of this media, Instagram will alert you, giving you transparency in the process.
Now, while this isn’t foolproof (someone could still snap a photo with another device), it definitely provides extra in-app protection. This change comes at a time when Instagram has been under pressure to improve safety, especially for younger users.
So, for those sharing content they’d like to keep private, this added feature is a step towards offering more control and reassurance.
Meta is testing a ‘No Edit’ tag for untouched Story images to promote authenticity.
Meta is testing a new feature on Facebook that lets you add a “No Edit” tag to your Story. This tag will tell your followers that the image you’re sharing hasn’t been touched up or edited in the app—straight from your camera roll to the Story, no enhancements needed.
This could be a game-changer if you want to keep things real and authentic. The idea is to help build trust by letting your audience know that the content they’re seeing hasn’t been altered, either by AI or through any in-app filters. It’s all about giving you the option for a more raw, in-the-moment update.
Now, you could still edit your image outside of the app and upload it to Stories, and the tag would still work. Meta does have some detection in place to spot external edits, but it’s not foolproof. Still, the concept is solid—it’s all about offering a more genuine, transparent experience.
As AI-generated content continues to flood platforms, this could be an important step to help users feel more confident about what they’re seeing. With so much content being created by AI, it’s getting harder to tell what’s real and what’s not. So, adding a “No Edit” tag could be a way to preserve that sense of authenticity.
However, there’s a catch. While the tag may help keep things real, there’s always the chance that it could be used to mislead—if someone edits their image outside the app and still uses the tag. But, overall, this could be a useful tool to encourage a more genuine vibe in the feed, especially in an age where AI is making it harder to know what’s truly human content.
Snapchat Streamlining the creator grind with a new monetisation process.
Snapchat is making it easier for creators to earn money by streamlining its monetization process. The platform is now including Spotlight videos in its Stories revenue share program, so creators can get paid for both.
This update follows Snapchat’s Stories revenue share program, which launched back in 2022. It lets eligible creators earn income through mid-roll ads placed between Stories. Last year, they lowered the entry requirements, opening it up to creators with over 50k followers, 25 million views, or 12,000 hours of cumulative view time per month. Now, Spotlight creators can tap into the same revenue streams, too.
Starting February 1, 2025, eligible creators can monetize both their Stories and Spotlight videos under one unified program. This change will simplify things, making it easier for creators to earn from their content. To qualify, Spotlight creators will need to meet similar requirements—at least 50k followers and 12k hours of cumulative watch time over the last 28 days.
But there are a few more things to keep in mind:
• Spotlight creators need to post at least 25 times a month.
• They must post to either Spotlight or Public Stories on at least 10 of the last 28 days.
• And they need to generate 10 million Snap views or 1 million Spotlight views in the past 28 days, or hit the 12k total watch time mark.
The idea is simple: if you’re putting in the work and building your presence, you should be able to monetize it. This change also marks the end of Snapchat’s Spotlight Bonus program, which previously paid out a million dollars every day for the top-performing clips. The new approach is more sustainable, giving creators a better shot at earning without the growing competition.
This integration makes it easier to make money on Snapchat, offering a more straightforward way for creators to earn from both Stories and Spotlight. With 500 million monthly active users on Spotlight this year, the potential for creators to connect with a larger audience—and for brands to tap into that audience—is huge.
It’s all about creating more opportunities for both creators and brands while rewarding the time and effort put into content creation.
X (Twitter) is rolling out updates to its Grok AI chatbot—more AI magic coming your way.
X is continuing to refine its Grok AI chatbot, which is now available for free to all users. Grok, created by Elon Musk’s xAI initiative (part of X Corp.), pulls data from X itself to generate its responses, making it highly integrated with the platform.
With xAI securing an extra $6 billion in funding and building a massive AI computing cluster in Memphis, Musk and X are eager to show off Grok’s capabilities and position it alongside other generative AI chatbots on the market.
Here’s what’s new:
X has integrated more of its web and X search data into Grok, improving the accuracy of its answers. Now, when Grok responds, it includes reference links and citations for better clarity. The chatbot’s image generation model has also been improved, plus there’s a new Grok button on X posts, allowing users to get more context about any post directly from the chatbot.
In terms of design, the Grok button has had a facelift—moving from a simple box with a slash through it to a more distinctive logo. X is also testing voice queries for Grok, so users can now ask questions vocally, bringing it closer to the voice query features already available on Meta’s Ray-Ban Meta glasses.
Musk’s main goal with his AI push, however, isn’t necessarily to compete with Meta AI. Instead, his sights are set on OpenAI, the company he helped launch before he was ousted. With Grok, xAI is positioning itself as an alternative, backed by Musk’s long-running frustration with OpenAI’s for-profit shift.
While I’m not totally convinced that AI chatbots will significantly change the social media experience (and I’m not sure how much value many X users will find in Grok), there’s definitely potential here. As xAI keeps developing, Grok could offer a valuable tool, especially with its access to real-time data from X, which sets it apart from other AI platforms.
X Tests File Attachments for DMs
X users might soon see a boost in their DM capabilities, with file attachments currently being tested. Behind-the-scenes code in both the iOS and Android versions of the app suggests that the feature is on its way.
This would make X even more of a go-to messaging tool, further aligning with Elon Musk’s vision of turning X into an “everything app.” The idea is to make X a central hub where users can handle everything from social media to messaging, and file attachments in DMs would be a big step in that direction.
In fact, Musk mentioned back in September that X is working on “decoupling” DMs from the public posting feature, allowing users to engage just in private messaging without needing to post publicly. So, adding file attachments fits perfectly into this shift, giving users the ability to share documents and images in their DMs, making the platform even more versatile.
While X’s “everything app” dream is still a way off—especially with delays in launching its payments feature—the app is steadily enhancing its messaging functions. Earlier this year, X introduced voice and video calls, and it added DM editing in September. Together, these updates are pushing the platform toward being a fully-fledged communication tool.
Key Takeaways:
• File attachments are being tested for X DMs, likely rolling out soon.
• This update enhances X’s functionality as a messaging tool.
• Musk’s “everything app” vision for X is still evolving, but DMs are a key part of the strategy.
• Previous updates have included voice/video calls and DM editing, continuing the trend of enhancing private messaging.
• The feature may initially be available to X Premium users.
Though there’s no official word yet on when file attachments will roll out, I’d expect this feature to launch soon, possibly with a limited release for X Premium users first.
LinkedIn’s New Test: Paid Boosting for Personal Updates
LinkedIn is experimenting with a new paid option, letting users amplify their personal posts and boost their reach—just like they’ve done for business page updates. If you’re looking to grow your personal brand and establish yourself as an influencer in your field, this could be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for.
Here’s the lowdown:
• What’s New? LinkedIn is expanding its “Boost” feature, which was previously only available for business posts, to include personal updates. This gives users a quick, simple way to get their content seen by more people in their feed.
• Who Can Access It? Right now, the test is available to a limited group of paying users, including Premium Business subscribers in the U.S. So, if you’re not in the test group yet, don’t worry—it might roll out more widely in 2025.
• What Can You Boost? For now, the option is available for text posts, images, articles, videos, and newsletters. But note—job posts, events, documents, polls, and group posts can’t be boosted at this stage.
• How Does It Work? It’s a streamlined version of LinkedIn’s regular ads, with fewer targeting options. It’s designed for quick amplification of your top-performing posts, letting you reach a broader audience based on your content.
Why Is This Interesting?
Personal posts on LinkedIn typically get more engagement than business page updates. So, this could be a great way for individuals to get more attention in the app, especially if you’re aiming to stand out or build authority in your niche. And for businesses, it could be a strategic move to amplify your top experts and build their presence.
Ultimately, this is another step in LinkedIn’s effort to help users boost their visibility and grow their personal brands—whether you’re an individual looking to stand out or a business showcasing your leaders.
A Few Key Points to Note:
• Available only to select users (for now).
• Boosting personal posts doesn’t come with the extensive targeting options that regular ads offer.
• It’s an easy, quick way to amplify your content and reach a larger audience.
It’s still in the testing phase, but this feature could definitely be worth exploring in 2025!
That wraps up this week’s Social Scoop Unplugged! 🚀 Remember, the world of social media never stops evolving, and neither should your strategy. Stay curious, keep experimenting, and don’t forget to adapt to these exciting updates as they unfold.
If you’ve found this helpful, share it with your network or drop me a message with your thoughts and feedback. Until next time, keep shining and be creative online!
Natty Bernasconi | Instagram Expert & Educator
Social Media Strategy for Lifestyle Businesses & Creators
Empowering brands with tailored Instagram strategies and aesthetic-driven insights. Follow for weekly tips, industry updates, and coaching designed to elevate your brand’s online presence—making it as captivating as it is strategic.