facebook Facebook and Twitter Restrict Trump Post Falsely Comparing Covid-19 to the Flu Major social media platforms take action against a post by President Trump that falsely claims the seasonal flu is more deadly than the coronavirus. Facebook removes the post entirely, while Twitter limits its visibility with a public interest notice.
facebook Facebook Bans QAnon and Militarized Movement Ads Ahead of Election Facebook prohibits advertising for QAnon and militarized social movements as part of its election security efforts. The platform also restricts the reach of QAnon group content in user News Feeds.
instagram Instagram Debuts Reels Feature to Rival TikTok Instagram introduces Reels, a new short-form video feature allowing users to create 15-second clips with audio and effects. The launch represents Instagram's latest effort to compete directly with TikTok for trending cultural content.
twitter Social Platforms Face Backlash Over Handling of Unverified Biden Story Twitter and Facebook restrict an unverified New York Post article about Hunter Biden, prompting swift accusations of censorship. Twitter's CEO apologizes and revises the platform's hacked content policy following the confusion.
twitter Twitter Explores Potential Merger With TikTok Amid U.S. Ban Threat Twitter and TikTok hold preliminary discussions about a possible merger of TikTok's U.S. operations. This potential deal emerges as President Trump threatens to ban the app and Microsoft pursues its own acquisition.
twitter Twitter Cracks Down on Election Misinformation With New Rules Twitter implements stricter rules targeting election misinformation, placing limits on how high-profile accounts can share content. The policy change directly impacts President Trump and other political figures ahead of the November election.
adobe Adobe Spark Introduces Simple Animations for Non-Designers Adobe Spark now allows small business owners and solopreneurs to easily add professional animations to their social media posts. The update eliminates complex timelines in favor of guided, template-based motion design.
snapchat Snapchat Sees Record August Downloads Amid TikTok Ban Uncertainty Snapchat experiences its largest month for new installs since 2019, likely benefiting from ongoing fears of a U.S. TikTok ban.
microsoft Microsoft Targets TikTok Acquisition to Challenge Facebook in Social Media Microsoft emerges as the frontrunner to acquire TikTok's U.S. operations, a move that would combine the video app with LinkedIn to create a formidable rival to Facebook. The deal also promises Microsoft a crucial entry point into the Gen Z market and the lucrative digital advertising space.
tiktok Twitter Joins Microsoft in Preliminary Talks to Acquire TikTok Twitter holds preliminary discussions about a potential acquisition of TikTok's US business, though Microsoft remains the leading contender. The talks come amid an executive order from President Trump banning transactions with TikTok's parent company.
facebook Facebook Unveils Instagram Reels as Direct Challenge to TikTok Facebook launches Instagram Reels, a new short-form video feature designed to compete directly with TikTok. The release strategically coincides with mounting political pressure and potential bans facing the Chinese-owned app.
instagram Instagram Bug Showed Anti-Biden Hashtags While Hiding Trump Suggestions A new report reveals that Instagram search queries for Joe Biden show negative related hashtags, while searches for Donald Trump display no suggestions at all. Instagram dismisses the discrepancy as a non-partisan bug and disables the feature platform-wide.
instagram Instagram Reels Expands to 50 Countries to Challenge TikTok Instagram launches its TikTok competitor, Reels, across 50 countries including the U.S. to capture short-form video creators.
instagram Instagram Debuts Reels Feature to Challenge Vulnerable TikTok Instagram rolls out Reels, a new short-form video tool built directly into its app to rival TikTok. The launch arrives as TikTok faces potential U.S. bans and forced sales over national security concerns.
microsoft Microsoft's Potential TikTok Acquisition Aims to Connect with Younger Users Microsoft is pursuing a deal to acquire TikTok's U.S. operations to address its existential threat of losing younger demographics to competitors like Google. Analysts suggest the tech giant will keep the TikTok brand intact while eventually weaving its features into enterprise software.