What's New?: Instagram and TikTok Updates You Need to Know

Social media is forever changing, and if you aren’t keeping up, you’re falling behind. Whether you are chasing internet fame, plotting your brand’s industry domination, or trying to make your feed more aesthetic, the most recent updates on Instagram and TikTok are serving some real main character energy. Let me walk you through it. 

Instagram’s New Glow Ups

IG Friend Map:

Instagram just dropped its own version of Snapchat’s Snap Map, and we are loving it. The Friend Map lets you see where your friends are (and where they’ve been), but with actual privacy controls. There will be no “omg my ex is at the bar we are going to!” unless you want that (I’m not judging). 

You can leave notes on places too, like restaurants and shopping recs. Only mutuals or Close Friends can see your check-ins, which means no stalkers, just besties. For you and your business, Instagram’s Friend Map can be perfect for meetups, IRL plans, or just getting to know your community better. 

Reposts to the Main Grid (because sometimes Stories aren’t enough)

The time has finally come! Reposting to your main grid is a thing. Forget using third-party apps and having weird watermarks, you can now boost someone else’s content and add your own take. This is great news for brands wanting to boost user-generated content, and even better news if you are wanting to hint at a collab. 

By adding a caption to a repost on your main grid, you can call it community engagement. Go you! 

“Lately” Highlights Mean Longer Lasting Stories 

For all of my story-lovers, IG’s new auto-updating “Lately” highlight means your Story content lives longer than 24 hours without having to manually curate highlights. 

Use it to promote your brand’s flash sale or show the world what you’ve been up to this week. Also, all of them do not have to last forever. Clean up the messy ones by removing unwanted Stories from “Lately”. 

Lockable Posts= Creating a Super Secret Community

Everyone wants to be in VIP and with a secret code, your followers can unlock access to your favs, sneak peeks, or locked promo codes all for your ride-or-dies. 

Lockable posts can be used to build hype and exclusivity surrounding your big updates.

Reorder Your Grid: Everyone Loves a Refresh 

You can now rearrange your grid posts without deleting and then reposting. We’ve all been there, sometimes after you hit post you realize your account just doesn't flow the same. Now with IG’s new update, it can now all be rearranged with ease. 

Reordering your grid finally gives the opportunity to switch up your visual flow whenever you need. 

Edits App: Instagram’s Newest Spinoff App

Instagram dropped its own standalone editing app, “Edits”, and it’s taking the spotlight from CapCut. With multi-

layer editing, trending audio discovery, AI scene changes, and even longer video creation. It’s changing the game for creating content 

“Edits” provides no watermark and content analytics, making it a one stop shop for slaying the IG game. 

Search That Actually Works

Instagram’s search function has gotten a major glow-up, meaning you can finally find more than just usernames, hashtags, and random posts from across the world. We now have real keywords, AI personalization, and comment-sourced insights. 

This new update means searching “travel tips” might finally show you content that actually hits. 

Reels at 2x Speed

A new option to watch Reels at double speed, because let’s face it: our attention span is basically gone. 

This means content you create still needs to slay even when people are flying through by paying detailed attention to pacing and utilizing text overlays to aid in your viewer’s understanding and engagement. 

Even With A Ban Looming, TikTok’s Still Moving Up 

Carousel Posts: TikTok’s Instagram Cosplay

TikTok is testing photo carousels. Upload multiple pictures and users can swipe through like it’s a Tinder date with your content. 

Step-by-step guides, infographic slideshows, travel recaps, and aesthetic photo dumps? We are here for it all! 

Business Reviews in Comments

Yelp, but make it TikTok. You can now review businesses and popular spots directly in the comments. It’s giving local guide meets comment section chaos. You can upvote the best reviews! 

Reputation management just got real. You better bring good vibes and good service. 

Keep Up: TikTok’s Ban is Still Pending

FYI, the U.S. government extended TikTok’s ban deadline to June 2025. But that doesn’t mean you should kick back and relax. 

Get ahead of the game and start cross-posting your content like your business depends on it (because it kinda does).

Final Thoughts: Don’t Just Scroll, Start Strategizing 

Whew. That was a ride. 

TL;DR: Instagram is dropping updates like it’s New York Fashion Week and TikTok’s shapeshifting from travel guide to visual blog all while maybe getting banned? Whether you’re an influencer, entrepreneur, or just a social media lover, now is the time to try new things. 

So go and schedule those locked posts, speed up your Reels, create your carousel, and leave a hot take in a TikTok comment review. 

In 2025, we don’t just post. We plan. 

Have any questions? Ready to step up your content game? Reach out. Let’s make it happen. Let’s get you RAIDED. 

Inquire about my content creation packages! 

Book a discovery call here.