As the digital world keeps changing at pace, social media platforms are rolling out new features to improve user experience and gain a competitive edge. In early 2025, many of the major platforms updated their algorithms, introduced new tools and made moves that could reshape how content is consumed.
📱 Instagram Refreshes Its Algorithm: New Dimensions and Discovery Settings
Instagram has brought two notable updates for creators:
1️⃣ Post dimensions are changing! Posts now use a 4:5 format. The new ratio fits mobile screens better and aims to make visuals more eye-catching for brands and creators.
2️⃣ Carousel posts move to the front! Instagram's updated algorithm gives more weight to carousel posts. When a user sees a carousel and doesn't engage with the first image, Instagram will now show the same post again — this time leading with the second or third image.
3️⃣ With the "Reset Suggested Content" feature, users can reset their algorithm and redefine their interests. A real opportunity for anyone unhappy with their Explore feed or looking to see something different.
🎬 X (Twitter) Makes More Room for Video
Under Elon Musk's leadership, and with TikTok's position in the US still uncertain, X has started investing more heavily in video. A new Video tab will sit in the platform's bottom menu, offering a TikTok-like discovery experience. The move is seen as part of X's effort to attract creators and audiences drawn to short-form video.
🎥 YouTube Brings New Tools to Premium Users
YouTube is introducing several features to speed up how Premium subscribers consume video:
✅ 4x playback speed – Videos and podcasts can now be watched at four times the speed.
✅ Jump Ahead – Viewers can skip past the parts they don't need and go straight to what matters.
✅ 256 kbps high-quality audio – A better experience, particularly for people listening to music.
These features make video consumption more efficient and more personal, and may also mean more watch time for creators.
🚀 Group Management Gets Easier on WhatsApp
WhatsApp is testing a new feature to keep communication tidier, especially in busy groups. Users will be able to set a personal role within a group. In a school group you might label yourself "Class President"; in a work group, "Project Manager". A small but effective update that could make managing large communities far more practical.
Also in testing: the ability to add other social media accounts to your WhatsApp profile. Soon users will be able to share their Instagram and Facebook accounts on their WhatsApp profile, building a more integrated digital identity.
📊 How Does Following These Updates Affect Ad Strategy?
With social platforms in constant motion, following these updates closely has become critical to the success of a brand's digital advertising strategy. New algorithms, format changes and developments in ad tools directly affect how brands reach their audiences.
📌 For example:
✅ Instagram giving carousel posts more prominence means brands need to revisit their content strategies.
✅ YouTube features such as 4x playback and Jump Ahead change viewer behavior, forcing a rethink of ad length and placement.
✅ X (Twitter) moving to fill the gap left by TikTok with a video tab raises the importance of investing in short-form video.
🔎 At SameUp we follow every update in the social media world closely and help our partners optimize their advertising strategies as effectively as possible. Using new features well, so brands grow in digital — that's our priority. 💡