Social Media Platform Updates: 2025
Stay ahead of the curve with the latest changes and features across major social media platforms. Here's what happened in recent months that you need to know.
Last Update: June 10, 2025
META - Facebook
June Updates
Major Shops Checkout Changes
Meta is transitioning Shops from Facebook and Instagram checkout to website checkout. Key changes include:
- Customers will be redirected to business websites for purchases instead of checking out on Meta platforms
- Post-purchase management features in Commerce Manager will be discontinued
- Payment processing, order management, returns, and dispute resolution will move to business websites
- Only "Purchase" conversion events will be available for Shops ads (View content, Add to cart, and Initiate checkout will be removed)
- Checkout-related metrics on Meta will no longer be tracked
Most shops will be updated by August 2025, with businesses receiving advance notification before the change. Be sure to adjust your conversion tracking by July 2025.
May Updates
Threads Monetization Begins
Meta has officially launched advertising on Threads, opening up new opportunities for brands to reach audiences on the X-alternative platform.
Community Notes Revolution
Meta is shifting away from traditional third-party fact-checking toward a crowdsourced Community Notes system, similar to what we've seen on X (formerly Twitter). However, this change hasn't been without controversy—the Oversight Board has criticized Meta for implementing these changes too quickly without conducting proper human rights assessments.
April Updates
AI-Powered Content Moderation Testing
Meta began testing Community Notes as part of their move toward less biased fact-checking mechanisms.
AI-Generated Comments in Beta
The platform is experimenting with AI-generated comments, though details on implementation remain limited.
Enhanced Ad Tools
AI-powered advertising tools are now being integrated across Meta's platforms, giving advertisers more sophisticated targeting and optimization options.
May
Strategy Alert: The End of Hashtags
In a significant revelation, Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri explicitly stated in a Daily Mail interview that hashtags are no longer relevant for reach on the platform. This represents a major shift in Instagram strategy that all marketers need to understand.
What This Means:
- Hashtags for organization only: Use hashtags for content categorization, not reach
- Focus on engagement: Instagram is prioritizing content that generates genuine engagement and shares
- SEO becomes critical: Use specific, searchable terms in captions and alt text (especially for carousels)
New Best Practices:
- Write captions with specific, searchable keywords naturally integrated
- Optimize alt text for images and carousels with relevant terms
- Focus on creating shareable, engaging content over hashtag strategy
- Prioritize genuine community engagement over hashtag following
TikTok
June Updates
Enhanced User Control Features
Launched on June 3, TikTok rolled out new self-care features to give users more control over their content experience:
- Manage Topics: Users can adjust how often they see content from 10+ popular categories including travel, nature, sports, and creative arts
- AI-Powered Keyword Filtering: Enhanced tool now recognizes synonyms and related phrases, supporting up to 200 keywords for more precise content filtering
- Updated Safety Center Guide: New educational resource to help users understand and customize their For You feed
These updates build on TikTok's March Family Pairing enhancements, which introduced parental controls like Time Away features and teen follower visibility tools.
May Updates
E-commerce Expansion
TikTok is restructuring its e-commerce team and aggressively expanding TikTok Shop into new markets, specifically Mexico and Brazil.
Interactive Video Features
New engagement tools including polls, quizzes, and live Q&As are being rolled out for interactive videos, giving creators more ways to connect with their audiences.
Mood-Based AI Content Delivery
TikTok's AI algorithm is becoming more sophisticated, now delivering content tailored to users' real-time moods, locations, and current activities.
April Updates
TikTok Shop Seller Tools
Multiple new features have been introduced to give sellers more control over their operations and inventory management.
Smart+ Catalog Ads Launch
Commerce tools have been expanded with Smart+ Catalog Ads designed to drive both web and app conversions more effectively.
June Updates
BrandLink Video Ads Expansion
Formerly known as Wire, LinkedIn’s new BrandLink program now lets advertisers place pre-roll video ads not only alongside premium publisher content but also influencer videos from top creators. This expansion signals LinkedIn’s first step toward creator monetization, giving brands more contextual, high-quality video placements and offering influencers a share of ad revenue.
April Updates
AI-Powered Audience Targeting
LinkedIn has expanded their AI-Powered Predictive Audiences feature, helping marketers reach more qualified prospects.
Campaign Manager Upgrades
The platform updated Campaign Manager with AI-powered forecasting capabilities, easier ad duplication processes, and improved dashboard interfaces.
These updates reflect the rapidly evolving social media landscape. Stay tuned for more platform changes as they develop.
