Buffer - Dear TikTok Global...

Hi there, 

Happy Friday morning! 🌞 It's another week filled with social media news (yes, I'm talking about TikTok), platform updates (Instagram is making tweaks to Reels), and useful tips for social media marketers.

In today’s newsletter:

• Instagram launches new updates to Reels
• Everything you need to know about TikTok Global
• How to make the most of YouTube's billion-user network
• And much more!

Let’s get started! 👇

• Pinterest's new 2020 guide to holiday sales
• Facebook outlines how to use its new Video Insights within Creator Studio
• Pinterest announces expanded launch of Pin Stories and new Pin Analytics Tools
• TikTok proposes global coalition to protect against harmful content
• Facebook shares new insights into Gen Z and how COVID-19 has changed their outlook [Infographic]
• 10 of Marketing Brew’s favorite Twitter follows
• Kevin Systrom probably won’t take over TikTok, but it’s fun to dream
• Pinterest taps Marie Claire’s Aya Kanai as Head of Content and Editorial Partnerships
• Facebook threatens to leave Europe due to proposed new data-sharing regulations
• Google is shutting down paid Chrome extensions
• YouTube is about to age-restrict way more videos
• Pinterest's six types of holiday shoppers, which one's the right one for your holiday ads?

Instagram is looking to maximize the appeal of Reels by making a few tweaks to the features that have received a lot of negative feedback. Most of the reviews criticized its design, editing tools, and video length. 

Instagram is now giving Reels users the ability to create longer videos, up to 30 seconds. Thus far, Reels had been restricted to 15-second videos, which is quite a bit less than TikTok's one-minute restriction. According to Tech Crunch, "this could force users to create original content for Reels, instead of repurposing their longer TikTok videos on Instagram." 

In addition, Instagram will also now allow users to extend the timer up to 10 seconds and will allow users to trim and delete clips to make editing simpler. 

“We continue to improve Reels based on people’s feedback, and these updates make it easier to create and edit. While it’s still early, we’re seeing a lot of entertaining, creative content,” said Instagram Reels Director, Tessa Lyons-Laing.

Takeaway: Instagram Reels are now double the length and easier to edit. Although these tweaks will increase Reels' adoption, Instagram still has a lot to do to simplify some of the more troublesome pain points. 

Here's what you need to know:

• Last Friday, the U.S. government announced that it would bar people in the US from downloading the TikTok app starting at midnight Sunday and that it had planned to bar the app entirely on November 12.
• As of last Saturday night, President Trump gave "tentative approval to a deal that will keep TikTok alive in the US." As part of the deal rescuing TikTok, Oracle would join hands with Walmart to form a new entity called TikTok Global, which will be headquartered in the US. 
• As of last Sunday night, President Trump delayed the ban on new downloads of TikTok until September 27 (this upcoming Sunday). 
• On Wednesday, TikTok asked a court to block the download ban of the app, saying the action "will inflict direct, immediate, and irreparable harm" to their app.

What now? Either TikTok finalizes its deal with Oracle and Walmart or a federal judge issues an injunction to temporarily halt the app download ban by Sunday. If none of these two things happen, then it's likely that the TikTok app will be banned from any further downloads in the US.

See how easy it is to get your YouTube account set up and running, and find out some quick wins on how to optimize your profile for maximum reach.

In this webinar, we’ll do a walk-through of Buffer's latest feature that allows you compare your boosted posts against your organic posts at a glance so that you can optimize your ad spend.

We’ll also talk about how you can move your followers from your Instagram feed to your website in just two clicks using our Shop Grid feature.

Woohoo, you made it to the end! 

Thanks for reading this far. If you ever come across a neat article or a cool trend, I'd love to hear about it. Feel free to reply to this email directly to get in touch or DM me on Twitter.

Stay safe!

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