As a small business owner, I know that staying on top of the seemingly-constant social media updates can be tough. Never fear, this in this post I’m giving you a run down of the social media news and updates you need to know. Let’s dive in.

Update number 1 :Massive changes to social media are underway in Europe.

The EU is set to pass a new law that will force social media platforms to combat misinformation, disclose how their services amplify divisive content, and prevent the use of demographic information for ad targeting. Given how well Russia has been able to game social media to spin alternative narratives, it’s clear that the way social media currently operates needs to change.

What does this mean for your business? Well, if you’re a company doing business in the EU and you advertise on social media, your ability to create highly-targeted ads may be drawing to a close. While this proposed legislation is strictly for the EU at the moment, I foresee a possibility of similar legislation making its way across the pond. Ultimately, I believe that in the future, a company’s success, or failure, on social media won’t depend on ads, but rather, their ability to humanize their brand and build community.

Update 2: WhatsApp is launching a community-building tool

WhatsApp recently announced that they will be launching a new Communities Feature. I personally am really excited about this because there currently aren’t a lot of free online platforms outside of Facebook groups where people can easily organize and build community.

A Launch date has yet to be announced for this feature, but if you are someone looking for a tool to connect your online community, this may be right for you.

Update 3: TikTok Interactive Add-Ons

TikTok, which has quickly begun to dominate paid social, is upping their add game again with interactive add-ons. Interactive Add-ons offer a unique way to entice engaged viewers with popups, stickers, and other visual elements. With both free and premium add-ons, TikTok is making it easier for brands to increase clicks and conversions and also drive brand awareness and community building.

What does this mean for your business? If you are brand that is already creating video content, I strongly suggest you start building a presence on TikTok. Not only is it a great platform to showcase your brand identity, but it is also a good place to advertise if paid social is part of your strategy.

Update 4: New Instagram Messenger Features

Instagram recently launched new messaging features. These include the ability to share music previews and send messages silently without without notifications. As a business owner, the most interesting update is the ability to see who is online.

Remember, your social media channels can and should help you grow your business. 1:1 authentic conversations are often the best to convert an audience member into a paying customer. Knowing when a fan is online gives you the ability to start and carry on a conversation in real time.

Update 5: LinkedIn Newsletters

Rounding out our list of social media updates is news from LinkedIn. LinkedIn Pages, the website’s option for businesses and organizations, now lets users publish their own articles and recurring newsletters directly on the platform. Previously this option had only been available to those using “Creator Mode”

Not only will your subscribers get a notification every time you publish a newsletter, but LinkedIn will also a notification to all of your Page followers when you start your newsletter, helping your content gain immediate traction. As a small business owner, newsletters can be a great way to demonstrate your thought leadership and grow your brand presence. Now, you can leverage the power of your page followers to get more eyeballs on your content.

I’ve dropped links below so you can learn more about each of these updates.

Comment below. Which of these are you most excited about?