Social media is forever changing which makes it easy to miss an update from time to time. Twice a month, we look into three of the latest key updates from the past few weeks from the various social media giants. Here’s what’s been happening recently…

Instagram Officially Launches New Captions Sticker for Stories

After testing them out over the past few months, Instagram has today officially launched its new captions sticker in Instagram Stories, providing another way for you to expand the accessibility of your Stories content.

Sound off
…with sound off

Now you can add a captions sticker in Stories (coming soon to Reels) that automatically turns what you say into text.

We’re starting in a handful of countries and hope to expand soon. pic.twitter.com/OAJjmFcx4R

— Instagram (@instagram) May 4, 2021

As you can see here, when you add the new Captions sticker to your captured video, it will auto-generate text captions based on the audio input. The auto-captions won’t be 100% accurate all of the time, but you’ll also be able to edit the text, as well as the text colour, position and font, to best suit your presentation.

That could open up a range of new presentation and connection opportunities, through a simple, easy to use process.

Instagram added a similar sticker option to its separate Threads app late last year, which quickly saw Threads rise up the download charts, due to TikTok users creating videos using the captions option in Threads (which censors bad language with expletive marks), which they were then uploading to TikTok with the on-screen text.

As Instagram notes, the option is also coming to Reels as well, which was further reinforced by Instagram chief Adam Mosseri in a separate announcement: “Sound off” is a request we get a lot so I’m excited that it’s coming to Reels too. We also hope to expand beyond a handful of countries soon.”

Twitter Opens Audio Spaces to All Users with Over 600 Followers

The next phase of the audio social push is here, with Twitter announcing that its Clubhouse-like Spaces feature is now being made available to all users, on both iOS and Android, with over 600 followers.

mic on ️ tap in

Twitter Spaces is rolling out to more people! now everyone can tap in to join a Space and more of you can host pic.twitter.com/ReSbKTlDCY

— Twitter (@Twitter) May 3, 2021

That is a big expansion of Spaces, which, up till now, has been in limited test mode, especially on Android, which it started experimenting with back in March. The push to open up Spaces to Android users has been inspired, in part, by Clubhouse’s lack of Android option, and this new shift will heap a lot more pressure onto the Clubhouse team.

And the 600 follower limit is also a clever, Clubhouse-inspired move.

As explained by Twitter:

“We’re bringing the ability to host a Space to all accounts with 600 or more followers on Twitter. Based on what we’ve learned so far, these accounts are likely to have a good experience hosting live conversations because of their existing audience. Before bringing the ability to create a Space to everyone, we’re focused on learning more, making it easier to discover Spaces and helping people enjoy them with a great audience.”

Opening up the option to millions of new users who have 600 or more followers essentially suggests that Twitter could open it up to everybody straight away, as it’s not technical limitations that are restricting its expansion, as is the case with Clubhouse.

Which makes sense – Spaces is built on the existing Periscope infrastructure, so it’s not incredibly difficult for Twitter to provide support for audio rooms quickly and for all users – but by limiting it to certain accounts, it adds a level of FOMO and exclusivity, which will likely make those who do have access more likely to host their own Spaces and test it out, while it builds excitement among those without access before they too are able to create their own.

There are definitely some signs that the Clubhouse hype train is slowing down. Over the weekend, it was noted that several big name audio broadcasts were held on Spaces instead of Clubhouse, which seems significant. The expansion of Spaces to all users only looks set to exacerbate that trend.

Facebook Adds New Emotional Health Resources to Mark Mental Health Awareness Month

Facebook has added a new range of emotional health resources  to mark the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Month, which build on the platform’s existing range of self-help tips, exercises and external links available via its Mental Health Resource Centre.

As explained by Facebook:

“We’ve worked with leading authorities around the world to surface their resources on handling financial stress, parenting support, coping with loss and grief, managing substance use and taking care of overall emotional health. In the resource centre, people are also able to connect with organisations & groups, contact a helpline, or message a friend.”

As you can see above, the new resources include a range of specific exercises and tips, provided by WHO and other official health bodies. You can also search the Mental Health Centre for support by topic, while each element includes downloadable guides and the option to connect through to a real person to discuss your concerns.

It’s a good move by Facebook, and a timely one, given the ongoing mental pressures of a COVID-19 infected world.