New social media features and updates to know this week

This week, we’ve got a sprinkling of new features from YouTube and Snap, some major price increases for X’s API and, of course, some Halloween fun across platforms.

Let’s see what’s new.

YouTube

YouTube has a flurry of small new features this week:

• Stickers for Shorts that allow viewers to complete a poll.
• A real-time channel filter in analytics to allow creators to better understand viewership across log-form content, Shorts and other content types.
• The ability to set goals in Super Chat, which will allow the community to come together to accomplish something, like a donation amount. Goals will come with a timer, a progress bar and rewards.
• Block certain kinds of advertisements from playing on your content at the channel level. Access this via YouTube Studio.

Ahead of next week’s U.S. elections, YouTube also reiterated its commitment to election integrity. There’s nothing really new here, save some information about sharing voter and candidate information, but the post re-states how YouTube combats AI misinformation, threats from foreign adversaries and more.

X

X has significantly increased the price of some of its API tiers. The monthly price for its Basic tier doubled, increasing from $100 to $200 in a move that is certain to price some users out of the market. The free tier includes the ability to post 500 times each month, and there is no fee for accounts that post weather, traffic or emergency services information.

The platform has also unveiled a redesigned Ads platform for SMBs. This new format incorporates AI targeting, automatic pixel tracking and bid optimization.

Meta

Meta is experimenting with the use of facial recognition in a variety of ways. First and most simply, they’re testing it to help people gain access to their accounts if they’ve forgotten a password or were hacked. The company said they’re seeing if video selfies, matched to profile pictures on the account in question, can help verify identifies and allow users to regain access to their accounts. Meta says they’ll immediately delete any facial data gathered in this process, regardless of whether or not there’s a match.

Facial recognition may also be used to combat a wave of celebrity impersonations, either for fake endorsements of products or for use in romance scams. Similarly, they’ll compare the celebrity’s public photos to the profile photo or video ads and block if they determine a  match..

Instagram

Instagram head Adam Mosseri said in a video update that videos that receive fewer views over time will have their visual quality downgraded. Keep that in mind the next time your video starts to look a tad grainy.

Instagram is also offering up a cauldron full of Halloween effects, including key words that trigger spooky animations in DMs and Notes, new themes for DMs and Broadcasts, and more.

Snap

Snapchat rolled out its October product updates, which include:

• Launch Snapchat directly from the lock screen on iPhone 16.
• New lenses and Bitmoji costumes for Halloween.
• New stickers focusing on Gen-Z vernacular, including “slay” and “the infamous Gen-Z heart,” which we are too old to understand.
• Footsteps on the Snapmap will show where you’ve been in the past.

Loops

A new video-focused Fediverse app is in the offing: Loops As Mastodon is to X, so Loops will be to TikTok. The app will be open-source and integrate with other apps that are part of the federated group. At the moment, it’s accepting signups – so this might be a great time to snag that username, just in case it becomes the next big thing.

Allison Carter is editor-in-chief of PR Daily. Follow her on Twitter or LinkedIn.