New apps are popping up everywhere, aiming to take advantage of embattled TikTok, X, and Meta market share. Bluesky has launched its answer to Instagram, and Instagram is rumored to be spinning off Reels into its own app. Lots of craziness. Meanwhile, LinkedIn is staying the course and improving its product.
Here’s the news for this week.
1. Flashes is like Instagram—without the DMs, shopping, or Stories
Flashes is now available in the iPhone app store. What’s Flashes? We’re so glad you asked. It’s essentially Bluesky’s answer to Instagram.
Here’s a little on how it works from Engadget:
When you first open Flashes you’ll be prompted to login with a Bluesky account or create a new one to use exclusively with Flashes. If you use your existing account, the app essentially repackages image and video posts from whoever you’re currently following into an Instagram-style feed. This setup also works in reverse: Any post you put on Flashes will also show up in your normal text-focused Bluesky feed.
2. LinkedIn’s pivot to video
Video matters. It can matter even more in the business space as a tool to build trust with your audience, become more approachable, and display your value concisely. LinkedIn is making big changes to bring video to the foreground on the app, and you should pay attention.
LinkedIn has been making video a more prominent part of its platform, rolling out a suite of new features to make video content more engaging and easier to find. Although LinkedIn recently retired the popular Cover Story feature (the ability to add a brief video that played in your headshot – which was one of my favorite video features), they’ve committed to rolling out new features and improvements to enhance their rich media capabilities, including:
- Full-Screen Vertical Video on Desktop.
- Updated Design for Vertical Videoa in Feed.
- Improved Profile Discovery Tools Within Full-Screen Video.
- Enhanced Video Search Functionality..
- Video Follow Enhancements.
- New Video Analytics – Average Watch Time.
3. Instagram’s separate Reels app?
Instagram’s Reels haven’t yet matched the power of TikTok—largely because the algorithm is unmatched. However, a spin-off app is reportedly in the works that could solidify Meta’s attempt at stealing market share.
In the dizzying arms race of social media, Instagram is reportedly considering an important move to gain an advantage: spinning off its short-form video feature, Reels, into a standalone app.
According to The Information, Meta, Instagram’s parent company, is exploring the idea of creating a dedicated platform for Reels, which would allow the company to enhance user experience and engagement while capitalizing on the uncertain future of TikTok in the U.S.
4. Trump says TikTok is getting closer to a deal
The saga continues.
ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE, March 9 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that his administration was in touch with four different groups about the sale of Chinese-owned social media platform TikTok, and that all options were good.
