Instagram has joined the 21st century, TikTok could be in trouble but continues to boost funds for creators, LinkedIn launches tools to help you create, Meta is making things easier for creators, and Twitter starts driving video. Instagram GIF lovers rejoice! You can now post GIFs in the comments. Does this mean anything? Twitter Twitter Blue subscribers can now upload videos up to 2 hours long. Because nobody uses YouTube? Continuing the video news, non-blue users can now change playback speeds on videos within the app. Coming up over the next few weeks are picture-in-picture playback so you can scroll while you play, automated transcripts of video content, a dedicated video tab, and download options. A recent study showed some interesting stats including 25% of Twitter users don’t expect to be using the platform in 12 months time, 60% have taken a break in the last year, and the top 20% of Tweeters are posting 25% less. Hmmmm, the Musk effect? What does it all mean? Facebook/Meta New lead generation tools for Facebook to make it easier for users to claim an advertised offer in-stream plus dynamic question flows, and overlaying feedback forms on your website direct from Facebook. Meta verified has landed in the UK. It comes without the increased reach US users initially saw but with direct account support (which is worth it in itself!), proactive account protection, and exclusive stickers. Meta is getting rid of Kustomer, the customer service platform it was going to be integrating into DMs and WhatsApp. The social media giant has added new resources to the Professional Dashboard, including educational topics to help you grow your audience rather than referring you to Meta Blueprint. Yeah, so what? TikTok Is a full US ban of TikTok coming? Montana has officially banned the app. Which is less than great news for them and many businesses who rely on it. In other news, TikTok has announced a $6 million fund for creators in France, Brazil, or the US with 10,000 followers or more and a minimum of 100,000 views in the last 30 days. A good example of how much they value their creators. May is Mental Health Awareness month and TikTok has announced a range of initiatives including in-app access for those who need it. Why should I care? LinkedIn If you’ve switched over to Creator Mode, you’ll find a bunch of new tools to help make it easier for you to manage your content in the app. The most exciting part of this is Post Ideas. What is the meaning of this?!