New social media features and updates to know this week
Including updates from X, Threads, Bluesky and more.
After the holiday season, social media managers are back to exploring new features as they create and share content in the early days of 2025. And there are already a few new tools to test.
X has promised a revamped algorithm prioritizing entertainment and informative content. It has also adjusted its revenue-sharing model for creators.
Threads is now helping users create a more customized app experience. Bluesky has introduced a trending topics feature.
Despite its uncertain future in the United States, TikTok is expanding AI features.
Here’s what you need to know as we start the year.
X
X wants to ensure its users get content that’s more fun and informative. The social platform is changing its algorithm to promote more “entertaining/informative” content, as Elon Musk tweeted, rather than the heavily political content the platform is known for.
“Our goal is to maximize unregretted user-seconds,” Musk’s tweet reads. “Too much negativity is being pushed that technically grows user time, but not unregretted user time.” He did not specify how exactly regret is measured.
It’s not yet clear when the algorithm will be implemented.
In another change to the platform, X said it will now pay based on “the overall value they bring to X, not impressions of ads.” The new revenue-sharing model is the result of an increased price for the X Premium+ subscription tier by 30%, from $16 to $22 per month or $229 annually. The higher price point also offers users an ad-free experience and gives them greater usage limits for the Grok AI tools.
Threads
Threads’ first update in 2025 will allow custom display names. You’ll be able to change your display name once a week or twice within a 14-day span.
The update allows users to create a unique name that can be used to promote events, promotions, holidays or other major milestones without necessitating a full-on name change.
On that personalization front: Threads is also experimenting with profile cover images. There’s also a choice to turn off the Threads badge on your Instagram.
Bluesky
Bluesky has launched a trending topics view for both its desktop and mobile app platforms. On the desktop version, users can find trending topics on the right sidebar. On the mobile app, they’re available by tapping the search button.
Trends have been available on rival X for years. Threads rolled out the feature to its U.S. users in March.
On Bluesky, which just surpassed 25 million users, muted words or phrases will not appear as trending topics. If someone doesn’t want to see any trending topics, they can disable the feature altogether in the settings tab.
Currently, trending topics are only available in English.
TikTok
TikTok has expanded its use of AI to enhance the user experience with a variety of new features.
- AI Group Shot: Users can pick a template, upload a photo of themselves and invite up to two others to do the same. TikTok generates a group shot using AI, combining the photos based on the selected template.
- AI Self: This feature helps users create more personalized, realistic AI-generated avatars based on their actual images. Users can use TikTok’s templates or custom prompts.
- Caption suggestions: Among other video tools, TikTok is testing a resource that generates video descriptions based on a user’s previous content.
- Meme generator: The AI Meme tool generates several options for copy based on the content of the image. For instance, a photo of an old church led to options such as “This is where pigeons go to plan world domination meetings” and “Plot twist: The church bell is actually a dubstep DJ.” TikTok clarifies in-app that it may not always create suggestions that are “appropriate or relevant.” Right now, they don’t seem to be all that great either.
While the Meta team is recovering from the disastrous unveiling of AI profiles, that’s not stopping them from moving forward with new generative video tools on Instagram.
Soon, IG users will be able to make significant changes to their videos using Meta’s Movie Gen engine. They’ll be able to alter backgrounds, outfits and even create Muppet-like versions of themselves, according to Social Media Today.
IG also offers a new way to help mutual followers see your Instagram Story Highlights. The platform has started displaying unseen Story Highlights at the end of a user’s Stories tray. Users will be able to see unseen Story Highlights from the past week, TechCrunch reported. They’ll only get the highlights reel after they scroll through their entire Stories list.
The actual impact of the new feature will be most effective for content creators who generate a lot of stories and regularly curate their Highlights. This tool only works for Story Highlights, not standard stories that display after 24 hours.
If you’re interested in learning about the latest digital trends, plan to attend Ragan’s Social Media Conference at Walt Disney World from March 19-21. You can find more details on the event website.
Casey Weldon is a reporter for PR Daily. Follow him on LinkedIn.
