August brought significant changes across social media, with platforms rolling out features designed to improve content creation, discovery, and engagement. From Instagram enhancing social connections to TikTok making scheduling simpler, these updates are ones marketers and creators won’t want to miss.
1. Instagram Rolls Out New Features
Instagram is leaning heavily into social connection. Users can now repost Reels and feed posts, which get their own dedicated tab on profiles. Businesses benefit too, as reposts make it easier to amplify user-generated content.
In addition, Instagram has introduced the Friends Map, which allows users to see friends’ locations in real time on an opt-in basis, and the Friends Tab in Reels, which highlights content that friends have liked and engaged with. Together, these updates expand how users discover content while encouraging more shared experiences.
2. TikTok Introduces In-App Scheduling
Planning content on TikTok just got easier. The platform has launched post scheduling directly inside the app, removing the need to juggle drafts, TikTok Studio, or third-party tools.
This means creators and brands can now prep and schedule content for specific dates and times without leaving the main app, making campaign management far more streamlined.
3. Instagram Tests Carousel Slide Insights
Instagram is experimenting with like counts for individual slides in carousel posts. Instead of just seeing total likes for the whole post, creators can see how many likes each specific frame received.
While early frames may still skew higher, spikes in engagement across later slides can provide valuable insights. This gives marketers a clearer picture of which visuals are truly resonating and can inform smarter content strategies going forward.
4. TikTok’s US Ban Deadline Approaches
TikTok faces a potential full ban in the US if a sale deal isn’t finalised in the coming weeks. Despite earlier talks with American investors, no buyer has been confirmed, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has said TikTok will “go dark” if a deal isn’t reached.
For UK businesses, TikTok remains a powerful platform, but the situation is a reminder not to build strategies too heavily around a single channel. Diversification is key.
5. Instagram Edits App Gets a Creative Boost
Meta has upgraded its Edits app, giving creators more tools for content production and project management. The app now includes an updated interface for easier navigation, Safe Zone mapping to prevent text or visuals from being cut off, and Keyframe curves for finer animation control. Creators also gain new options like animated stickers, text overlays, and voice effects, alongside improved project management features such as sticky notes, task filters, and reminders. These updates make Edits an even more powerful tool for producing polished, platform-ready videos.
Final Thoughts
From Instagram’s discovery-driven features to TikTok’s streamlined scheduling, August delivered updates that highlight a common theme: platforms are making it easier to create, measure, and amplify content. For marketers, the key is to experiment with these tools early while maintaining a diverse channel mix.
