Human speech and presence help drive Reels engagement

Videos that include a person talking or that feature a highly visible person in the first three seconds have better retention, according to new data from Emplifi.

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 22, 2026

Meta replaces moderation staff with AI, expands access to AI support bot

The company says that its AI systems are getting better at performing moderation tasks. 

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 19, 2026

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from Social Media Today

A look at the recent top stories in social media and what they mean for marketers.

By Social Media Today staff

Meta rolls out Manus AI assistance tools for marketers

Meta has added Manus, the AI agent platform it recently acquired, into several business elements.

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 18, 2026

Instagram adds ability to pause Reels with a single tap

Rather than muting a Reel when you tap, it will now pause the playback.

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 18, 2026

Meta switches up its ad transparency labels in-stream

The change will reduce the presence of Meta's ad disclosure labels.

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 16, 2026

Meta switches to Comscore Markets data for auto ads

The change will provide more insight into local audiences and relative reach. 

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 16, 2026

Meta ends end-to-end encryption on Instagram

Privacy advocates have criticized the move, while some regulators will welcome increased transparency.

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 15, 2026

Meta adds more measures to ensure original creators get credit

It's the latest step in Meta's efforts to develop strong relationships with original content creators, including by providing more recognition and opportunity.

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 15, 2026

Instagram tests links in post captions for paying users

As part of the test, select Meta Verified subscribers can add up to 10 links to their Instagram post captions each month.  

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 15, 2026

Meta hikes ad prices in 6 countries

The company announced location-based increases ranging from 2% to 5% and said it would no longer be covering the cost of digital service taxes and other fees.

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 10, 2026

Instagram, LinkedIn and Threads engagement declined in 2025

Facebook, Pinterest and TikTok rates increased slightly, while X post engagement grew significantly, according to a report from Buffer.

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 8, 2026

Meta updates Edits app with more creation tools

The company’s development team added video effects and improved the Ideas tab while also bringing in new text elements.

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 3, 2026

Meta tests shopping AI chatbot in US

The feature would allow users to request product recommendations, per Bloomberg, and is similar to functions being tested by Google and OpenAI.

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 3, 2026

Meta updates ad metrics to align with other platforms

The changes include simplified link-click attribution and new engagement metrics, which could impact how ad results are measured. 

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 3, 2026

Instagram opens up content scheduling to all users

The feature was previously only available to Professional Mode users, but this update will allow anyone on the app to access the expanded creator tool.

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 1, 2026

Instagram introduces thumbnail post editing for grids

The new feature allows users to choose how images and clips will be displayed, adding another element of profile customization.

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 1, 2026

Creators express frustration with Instagram’s latest AI experiment

A shopping test in the Meta-owned app is being criticized for displaying products influencers don’t endorse and tags that could compete with pre-existing brand deals.

By Andrew Hutchinson • Feb. 26, 2026

Meta takes legal action against celeb-bait scammers

The new filings are part of a larger effort to protect users by taking stronger legal measures against scam activity.

By Andrew Hutchinson • Feb. 26, 2026

Instagram will alert parents when teens search for self-harm content

The new safety measure will roll out on the Meta-owned app in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Australia over the coming weeks.

By Andrew Hutchinson • Feb. 26, 2026

Instagram’s connected TV app comes to US Google TV devices

The expansion will allow users to watch Reels on their televisions and provide big screen viewing capabilities for Instagram content.

By Andrew Hutchinson • Feb. 25, 2026

Instagram emphasizes Reels in new design update

Customizable feed options and a new Your Feeds center give users another way to access Reels content, according to an app researcher.

By Andrew Hutchinson • Feb. 23, 2026

Meta Updates Marketing API To Align With Latest Ad Shifts

The changes will ensure that third-party ad management tools are aligned with Meta's metric focus. 

By Andrew Hutchinson • Feb. 19, 2026

Meta Launches Manus AI Integration in Ads Manager

More AI tools to help streamline your Meta ads process.

By Andrew Hutchinson • Feb. 16, 2026

Instagram Looks To Tap Into the Mini Drama Trend

Mini dramas are having a moment on TikTok and Instagram is taking notice.

By Andrew Hutchinson • Feb. 11, 2026

Meta Faces Trial Over Teen Safety Measures

New court cases could lead to new laws governing social media apps.

By Andrew Hutchinson • Feb. 10, 2026