Giraffe is back with a sprinkling of insight into some of the biggest movements within the social media space. From the biggest changes to the smallest tweaks, we have you covered. So sit back, relax and take ten to find out what’s been happening in May with our social media news round up.
Instagram Launches New Captions Sticker for Stories
Instagram has officially launched its new captions sticker for Instagram Stories. This provides another way to expand the accessibility of Stories content.
As can be seen from the tweet shared by Instagram, (link above.), when you add the new Captions sticker to a video, it will auto-generate text captions based on audio input. Although these won’t be 100% accurate all the time they can be edited, this includes text colour, position and font. This could open up a lot more ways to present content and connection opportunities moving forward.
Instagram chief Adam Mosseri has also suggested that the option will be coming to Reels as well.
As per his tweet:
“Sound off” is a request we get a lot so I’m excited that it’s coming to Reels too. We also hope to expand beyond a handful of countries soon.”
Also suggested here is the current limitation of the new Captions feature only being available in English and English- speaking countries. Although we expect this will change over time providing more and more countries as an easy, engaging way to add more elements to Stories and Reels. Yet another way to maximise engagement opportunities within the Instagram app.
This will of course provide brands and creators more options for reaching wider audiences and ensure Stories are understood whether the sound is on or off for the viewer. Another valuable tool to experiment with to see how it might fit within your social media strategy.
Pinterest Tests Coming Live-Streaming Functionality with New Creator Event
In other social media news, live-streaming is available on almost every major social media platform, so it comes as no surprise to see Pinterest now looking to offer its own live-streaming options for creators and to boost engagement.
TechCrunch reported earlier this month that Pinterest would host a three-day virtual event featuring a whole range of live-streamed sessions from creators and celebrities that was available to watch through the Pinterest app.
Pinterest gave some details on what viewers should expect when they tuned in:
“Pinners can join a session live with Pinterest Creator Jonathan Van Ness and learn new morning rituals and self-care routines or learn how to style your wardrobe with fashion designer Rebecca Minkoff. Other featured creators include Pinterest food Creator GrossyPelosi who will show Pinners how to make an easy summer dessert, Peter Som will show how to make his most saved recipe and Hannah Bronfman will show how to create the perfect at-home spa night, among others.”
Viewers were able to comment and interact with creators during their streams creating a very interactive experience. Unfortunately, this was a limited test limited to the US only. However, we’ll likely see a broader roll-out of Pinterest’s new streaming functionality sooner rather than later. Pinterest is clearly eager to enter the live-streaming space and this would have provided them with a lot of insight into the development of their own live-streaming platform.
TikTok Provides Video Creation Tips in New Series
TikTok has recently launched a two-part series of tips aimed at creators and brands to help them maximise content and bolster their communities on TikTok. This is a great opportunity to help fledgling brands trying to establish a firm understanding of posting clips on the TikTok platform.
TikTok describes this as:
“As part of an ongoing initiative to help small businesses elevate the creative they share on TikTok, we are pleased to announce “Behind The Camera,” a series of easy-to-follow instructional videos showing businesses how to take their TikTok to the next level through the latest creative trends and techniques.”
TikTok has accompanied these video tutorials with general tips on shooting great TikTok’s that include:
- Keep it simple.
- Shoot Vertically
- Have good lighting.
- Focus on your subject.
- Use effects and text.
- And finally, have fun.
Head through this link for the full description broken down for each of these tips in detail.
For the video tutorials themselves, TikTok has provided a whole range of clips that look at various areas of content creation. These include 360 video, camera drop, floating effect and seamless transitions. If you want to check out these videos yourself head to TikTok’s YouTube Channel and a new playlist titled ‘Behind the Camera.’
These tutorials will be of value to newbies and seasoned veterans alike with a lot of valuable notes and pointers to ensure you are making your TikTok content stand out ahead of the pack!
Well, that’s it for another month, we’ll see you next time for more social media news and updates. Ensure to come back regularly to keep your finger on the pulse and keep your social media marketing game strong!
