The latest social media updates in 2025 include Instagram testing a merge between Reels and Stories, Threads introducing 5-link bios and ad tools, TikTok rolling out a sleep-focused feature, and Instagram adding auto-translated Reels captions. Influencer trust now outranks brands, and shared account access plus independent Threads profiles are also being tested.
Social media is an environment that constantly improves. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, X are quite popular, and these platforms improve user experience by occasional social media updates so that they refresh the feed!
Today, we are going to talk about the recent updates that you should know! Let’s not waste any time and get right into it!
Reels & Stories Are Merging!
Instagram’s doing it again, testing your patience and the UI in a single swipe. Word on the street has it they’re moving the Story tray inside the Reels tab. That’s right, if this becomes real, the entire user experience shifts. Less Stories, more short-form overload.
It is an important update for content creators who rely heavily on Stories however, nothing is confirmed yet, but if you’re planning content months ahead, keep that in mind!
Influencers > Brands: The New Normal
Deloitte’s 2025 State of Social report broke this down and found consumers look at a mean of seven brands. 13 creators/influencers, and twice as many customers follow on average. We can see here that people trust personalities over brands.
If your brand has not yet got a face or a voice, this social media post should be a wake-up call. Provide your content with a personality to increase your engagement; otherwise, things can get slower.
Switching Up Your Content? Don’t Start Over!
A great tip from Adam Mosseri on Instagram is that you shouldn’t make a new account if you’re changing your style or specialty. Instead:
- Post a quick heads-up video
- Archive the old posts
- Use “trial” Reels to test new directions
In this way, the formula can change without affecting your current reach and algorithm favor. It’s easy, well-thought-out, and effective.
Threads Adds 5-Link Bios + Analytics
The creators can now add five links on their Threads bio, including individual link analytics. If you have a product stack or a couple of campaigns going on, this is pure gold for your business.
Meta wants Threads not to be an afterthought anymore. This refreshment of the social network might finally make it more useful.
TikTok: From FYP to Zzz
With the social media update, TikTok’s coming up with a brand-new feature: meditation and sleep. This new feature was tested earlier this year among teens. This feature is designed to take people off from the app when it’s late at night, which is quite ironic, considering TikTok hooks over 90% of its users for hours every day, easily one of the most addictive apps in the entire social media industry thanks to its short format videos.
Auto-Translate for Reels
For content creators who are aiming to be successful in global markets. Instagram now will automatically translate texts and captions to different languages. It is now live, yet not quite perfect, but it is an amazing social media update!
Threads Ads Now Open to Third-Party Tools
Another step for Threads to being a proper social media platform. Right now, third- party tools can create and manage Threads Ads. This step allows media buyers and agents to experiment for new opportunities on Threads.
Shared Access Is Still in Testing
The Shared Access feature is now being tested, which allows users to manage any Instagram account without sharing any passwords. Users have been asking about this feature for quite some time now; still, it’s not fully functional however, it’ll be perfected in the near future.
Threads Wants to Be Separate from Instagram
Threads is taking steps to give more freedom, privacy, and control to its users by removing the obligation to link Instagram accounts. When it is live, users can use the platform without connecting their accounts to Instagram.
About ASA Ban Speculations
The Advertising Standards Agency did not actually ban brands from participating in trends. That last social media update caught lazy copy-paste content creators off guard. And yes, it did succeed.
Well done to Annie-Mai and Beth Thomas on the stunt. It can be a helpful reminder: double-check your sources before sharing anything to prevent any trouble.
Lastly
All things change on platforms. Some of it makes sense, and some of it doesn’t. And if this cycle of social media updates has taught us anything so far, it’s that everything changes. Whether you’re a creator, a brand, or a 2 a.m. scroller, be nimble or be left behind.
You don’t necessarily take every trend onboard, but you do keep a sense of alertness about what’s changing. Understand what’s shifting, experiment with what succeeds, and don’t let conventional ways of doing things destroy your social media impact.
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