Your Weekly Scroll: Digital Media's Newest Features + What To Do About Them

👋 Welcome back to The Scroll Down, your weekly for social media shifts, feature rollouts, and updates that matter to communicators, creators, and brands.

AI tools, ad updates, and algorithm insights — here’s what’s trending across every major platform this week.

Let’s jump in.

👥 Meta (Facebook, Instagram, & Threads)

Instagram Algorithm Guide: Adam Mosseri shared new insights on how Instagram’s different algorithms work across Feed, Stories, Reels, and Explore. Key signals: saves, shares, and relationships matter more than likes.
Locked “Secret Code” Reels: Instagram is testing gamified “locked” Reels that followers can unlock using hints or codes.
Teen Safety Controls: Meta is introducing PG-13-style filters by default for users under 18, limiting exposure to mature or risky content.
Threads Ad Expansion: Meta’s updated Marketing API adds new creative variations, aspect ratios (4:5, 9:16), and placement options for Threads ads.
Meta AI Targeting Update: Meta will soon use user interactions with its AI chatbot to personalize ads (excluding sensitive topics).

💡 What to Do About It

Audit your Meta mix: Make sure content is optimized separately for Feed, Reels, and Stories — each has its own ranking rules.
Segment youth content: If your audience includes teens, review captions, visuals, and tone for compliance with the new under-18 filters.
Prep ad creatives for Threads: Check your Meta library for tall assets (4:5, 9:16) and short copy that fits Threads’ style.
Test conversational content: Use Messenger or Threads replies intentionally, knowing Meta AI could use that context for ad signals.

🌟 Trend to Try

🎯 “Secret Code” Reels Challenge: Drop a Reel that can only be unlocked with a code shared through your Stories or newsletter. It builds exclusivity and drives cross-platform traffic.

🎶 TikTok

AI Creation Tools: TikTok added AI assistants for idea generation, caption writing, and clip editing.
Expanded Creator Subscriptions: More revenue options, fan tiers, and analytics to help creators monetize directly within the app.

💡 What to Do About It

Use TikTok’s AI to speed up brainstorming, but keep your tone human and your storytelling personal.
Review your subscriber perks (early access, bonus clips, or exclusive Q&As) before these become standard.

🌟 Trend to Try

🎬 “One Clip, Three Cuts”: Take one video idea and use TikTok’s Smart Split or AI edit tools to create three different versions. Test which format lands best with your audience.

🎥 YouTube

Livestream Leaderboard Opt-Out: Creators can now remove public “top supporter” rankings from livestreams.
Copyright Tab Update: YouTube Studio’s copyright tab is being renamed and expanded to include broader IP management tools.
Adobe Premiere Integration: New export presets simplify Shorts creation and direct upload from Adobe tools.

💡 What to Do About It

Evaluate whether your livestreams benefit from public rankings - turning them off might boost comfort and participation.
Streamline your Shorts workflow in Adobe or CapCut to publish faster.
Check rights on older uploads - the updated tab may reveal new claims or monetization options.

🌟 Trend to Try

📹 “No-Leaderboard Live”: Run one live stream focused entirely on audience participation (polls, Q&A) without public donor rankings. Compare engagement against your usual format.

🤖 Reddit

Reddit × G2 Partnership: Software brands can now reach verified Reddit communities through G2 integration - connecting peer reviews with community discussions.

💡 What to Do About It

Claim your G2 profile and create a Reddit Pro account if eligible.
Host an AMA or discussion thread linking to your review page.

🌐 Google

AI-Generated Brand Promotions: Google’s new AI tool lets SMBs generate complete ad campaigns (visuals, copy, and targeting) straight from a website URL.

💡 What to Do About It

Test the tool with one campaign to benchmark time saved vs manual setup.
Layer your human-written copy and brand tone on top of AI output before publishing.

🌎 Policy & Global Risk

Australia’s Under-16 Ban: Starting December 2025, users under 16 will be restricted from most major social platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
Meta’s Teen Filters: PG-13-style defaults rolling out globally for under-18s.

💡 What to Do About It

Audit your ad targeting and content segmentation by age and geography.
Prepare compliant “16+” creative templates now for smoother rollout in regulated markets.
Update privacy disclosures and parental consent policies on brand websites.

🧭 The Big Picture

AI is running the show - powering content creation, ad optimization, and even community influence.
Short-form video keeps leading engagement (Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, TikTok), while exclusivity and private communities (locked Reels, subscriptions, Reddit AMAs) drive connection.
Meanwhile, global regulations are tightening. The smartest move? Stay nimble, compliant, and human.

💾 Missed a week of updates?

No worries - you can scroll through our newsletter archive to catch up on past updates or double-check anything you want to revisit. Everything’s saved in one place for easy browsing.

NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE

You’re not the only one. Platforms change faster than most teams can keep up with, and it’s easy to feel like you’re always two steps behind. The truth is: you don’t need to chase every new feature or stress over every algorithm tweak. You need a strategy that helps you focus on what matters most for your brand and your community.

That’s where we come in. At 989 Creative Group, we help mission-led businesses, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs cut through the noise with:

📌 Clear strategies tailored to your goals

📌 Content that actually connects with people (not just feeds the algorithm)

📌 Ongoing support so you can stop guessing and start growing

👉 Whether you need a one-time reset or a long-term partner, we’ll help you stay confident, consistent, and ahead of the curve. Schedule a call with us today to learn more.