Bluesky is working to integrate the coveted blue check of other platforms. Meanwhile, Instagram is launching its own video editing app. Meta is expanding the Instagram age verification process, including parental prompts. Meanwhile, YouTube is the new cable, and is still dominating the streaming market.
Check out what’s going on this week in social media.
1. Bluesky verification could be on the horizon
Bluesky may soon get a new blue checkmark verification system, according to changes to the app’s public GitHub repository spotted Friday by reverse engineer alice.mosphere.at.
The blue checks may have a similar look to the system pioneered by Twitter, now X, but Bluesky’s version seems like it will work quite differently.
2. Instagram launches its video editing app
This has been in the works for a while, and it’s here today. This allows creators to capture, edit, and publish unwatermarked video, all within the Meta universe.
Edits has the tools you need to support your creation process, all in one place. The process of making and editing videos can be challenging, often requiring multiple apps and complicated workflows. With Edits, you now have a dedicated space with powerful capabilities for video creation, such as the ability to:
- Enjoy a more flexible process with longer camera capture, easy project management and high quality, watermark-free export.
- Create with powerful tools including a frame-accurate timeline, auto-captions, video overlays, AI image animation and a high-quality camera with built-in green screen.
- Share directly to both Facebook and Instagram, or export and post wherever you’d like without a watermark.
On day one, Edits will be seamlessly integrated with your Instagram account — including profile data, analytics, and inspirations. This means you will need an Instagram account to log in to the new tool and begin creating.
3. Instagram’s expanded age-checking process
Instagram is enrolling more teens into protected Teen Accounts and adding parental notifications. Their AI has long identified suspected teens and enrolled them in protected accounts, but they are working to make sure their technology is accurate and effective. From Meta:
Starting today, we’ll begin sending notifications to parents on Instagram with information about how they can have conversations with their teens on the importance of providing the correct age online.
SMT also has some more background on protected accounts and how Meta is using them.
4. YouTube is still dominating the streaming market share
The Nielsen ratings are out, and YouTube is still at the top. Holding over 12% of the market share, they’re solidly ahead of Disney+ and even Netflix.
YouTube’s actually been rising up the rankings on this front for some time. According to Nielsen data, YouTube was the top streaming platform by watch time in 2023, while last July, it reached a then record of 10% of overall streaming view time, as noted in that month’s “The Gauge” report.
