Let’s be real—networking can feel cringe, career growth is confusing, and marketing a “boring” brand? Even harder. But don’t worry, we’re breaking it all down in today’s episode.

Whether you’re trying to:

💼 Land better opportunities (without chasing them)

📈 Make an unsexy brand go viral

🤝 Network like a natural (no awkward small talk required)

👩‍💻 Build a career that actually makes you money

…this episode is for YOU. 🎙️💰

Hit LIKE & SUBSCRIBE for weekly career & marketing hacks! 🚀✨

Latest Social Media Updates You Need to Know!

📱In this episode, we're diving into the biggest social media updates and trends that's reshaping the digital landscape. From Google's Gemini AI revolutionising YouTube consumption to Instagram's innovative ad formats, we've got you covered!

💡 Whether you're a content creator, marketer, or social media enthusiast, this episode is packed with insights you won't want to miss.

Google’s Gemini can now watch YouTube for you https://www.zdnet.com/article/gemini-can-now-watch-youtube-for-you-skip-the-video-get-the-highlights/

57% of marketers currently post on Threadshttps://mobilemarketingmagazine.com/threads-gains-momentum-among-brands-research-reveals/

YouTube AI-generated video clips in Shorts

https://www.theverge.com/news/612031/youtube-ai-generated-video-shorts-veo-2-dream-screen

Instagram is testing a new carousel ad format for reels

https://www.threads.net/@oncescuradu/post/DF03hiTsxbT?xmt=AQGzGnwbZ5PDvhyi2WDBEMszfNaGCqXv-lD77hX9IHcWG0A

TikTok release discover list

https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/tiktok-emerging-creators-discover-list-2025/739967/

Youtube Key Areas of Focus

https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/youtube-key-areas-of-focus-2025/739842/

🎉 It's Our Birthday Episode! 🎉

We’re celebrating this incredible year of our Social Commuter Journey by reflecting on our biggest moments so far! Plus, we’re diving into the latest game-changing social media updates, viral trends, and our top creators of the year 🚀

💬 What’s been your favourite moment from our journey? Drop a comment below!

📹 Shoutout to our amazing videographer, Louis Derricott (@louleroq) from LouDProductionz! If you're in Manchester and need top-tier video production, we highly recommend him!

📩 Contact: louis.derricott@gmail.com

📹 Special thanks to our creative director and montage editor, Bodhi Davies!

📩 Contact: bodhidavies@workmail.com

🔥 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode! This year we have some incredible guests, don’t miss out!

#SocialMediaTrends #ContentCreators #BirthdayEpisode #SocialCommuter

Join us for an insightful conversation with Paid Media expert Sophie Fell as we dive deep into career growth and mastering Google Ads!

In this episode, we explore how to advocate for yourself in your career, navigate the complex world of Pay-Per-Click advertising, and unlock the secrets of running successful Google Ad campaigns. Sophie shares her expert insights on maximising ROI, avoiding common PPC pitfalls, and building a strong professional presence.

Key Topics:

Whether you're a marketing professional looking to advance your career or a business owner wanting to understand paid advertising better, this episode is packed with actionable insights you won't want to miss.

Join us for your weekly social media marketing fix! We're keeping you up to date, on the go, ensuring you're READY to smash your digital marketing and social media strategies this week.

In today's video, we're breaking down the BIGGEST social media updates you can't miss! From meta fact checking ending to the new dislike button on TikTok and so much more.

Stay ahead of the curve with our insights on platform trends and updates from this past week!

Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn for all the latest social media trends, digital marketing tips, and behind-the-scenes content from the @socialcommuterpodcast! Don't miss out on our exclusive social media marketing hacks and industry insights.

Connect with us individually on LinkedIn for all things social media: @Eloise Fenwick @Georgia Smith

Links To What We Discussed:

Meta Fact Checking

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/07/meta-facebook-instagram-threads-mark-zuckerberg-remove-fact-checkers-recommend-political-content

Millennials Overtake Gen Z

https://mobilemarketingmagazine.com/millennials-overtake-gen-z-in-social-shopping-on-tiktok-instagram-and-facebook/

Meta plans to increase creator revenue

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1148900309933730&id=100044413150303&ref=embed_post

Lemon8

https://www.axios.com/2025/01/07/tiktok-lemon8-ban-sponsored-posts

Insta Donts for Maximum Engagement

https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/instagram-post-reach-tips-infographic/736874/

Youtube Expands 3 min Shorts To All Users

https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/youtube-expands-3-minute-shorts-to-all-users/736967/

TikTok Forecast Report

https://ads.tiktok.com/business/en/trends-whats-next

Join us for your weekly social media marketing fix! We're keeping you up to date, on the go, ensuring you're READY to smash your digital marketing and social media strategies this week. In today's video, we're breaking down the BIGGEST social media updates you can't miss! From Meta's ambitious AI plans to X's new payment system, and TikTok's game-changing AI features - we're covering it all! Stay ahead of the curve with our insights on platform trends and updates from this past week! Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn for all the latest social media trends, digital marketing tips, and behind-the-scenes content from the @socialcommuterpodcast! Don't miss out on our exclusive social media marketing hacks and industry insights. Connect with us individually on LinkedIn for all things social media: @Eloise Fenwick @Georgia Smith Links To What We Discussed: Meta AI Profiles to boost engagement https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/Meta-ai-bot-plan-boost-engagement-facebook-instagram/736242/ Blue sky reaches 25 million users! https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/bluesky-adds-trending-topics-reaches-25-million-users/736250/ X trend insights https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/x-formerly-twitter-key-discussion-trends-2024/736249/ TikTok Valentines Tips https://ads.tiktok.com/business/en/blog/2025-valentine's-day-tiktok-smb Threads Custom display names and cover images https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/threads-tests-display-names-profile-cover-images/736248/ Trump files supreme court bid to save TikTok https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/trump-files-supreme-court-bid-save-tiktok/736234/ X Plans to Launch ‘X Money’ in Limited Form This Year https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/x-formerly-twitter-plans-launch-x-money-payments/736375/ AI Group Shot https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/tiktok-adds-gen-ai-image-tools-caption-suggestions/736361/ Meta’s super keen to make AI a more prominent https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/instagram-previews-ai-video-generation-tools/736087/

Join us for your weekly social media marketing fix! We're keeping you up to date, on the go, ensuring you're READY to smash your digital marketing and social media strategies this week.

This week, we dive into the latest social media updates, including:

• If hashtags even matter!
• New YouTube comments feature
• Trends you should try

Stay ahead of the curve with our insights on platform trends and updates from this past week!

Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn for all the latest social media trends, digital marketing tips, and behind-the-scenes content from the @socialcommuterpodcast! Don't miss out on our exclusive social media marketing hacks and industry insights.

Connect with us individually on LinkedIn for all things social media: @Eloise Fenwick @Georgia Smith

Links To What We Discussed:

TikTok Ban In US

https://www.forbes.com/sites/emilybaker-white/2024/12/13/congress-warns-apple-and-google-they-must-ban-tiktok-in-january/

YouTube is testing “voice comments”

https://www.threads.net/@oncescuradu/post/DDpSviwoB9_?xmt=AQGzDYJV4nGvCuhHt2dM5u5aX0Gk9nDefeX1BFAVynzUJ9w

Snapchat Influencers

https://www.theverge.com/2024/12/16/24320402/snapchat-creator-monetization-program-stories-spotlight

Meta Video Seal

https://techcrunch.com/2024/12/12/meta-releases-a-tool-for-watermarking-ai-generated-videos/

Meta's new AI model

https://tech.co/news/what-is-meta-motivo

Instagram added a new “memories” sticker

https://www.threads.net/@oncescuradu/post/DDo64OVIUVq?xmt=AQGzhP4gitfh75vcUoUI3yE605KJiVvYX9XaMi32oFEfkiI

Threads rolls out its own version of Bluesky’s ‘Starter Packs’

https://techcrunch.com/2024/12/12/threads-rolls-out-its-own-version-of-blueskys-starter-packs/

Instagram users can now schedule DMs

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2514809/instagram-users-can-now-schedule-dms-heres-how

Should we still be using hashtags?

https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/do-you-still-need-to-use-hashtags/735983/

Meta Launches Affiliate Link Display

https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/meta-affiliate-link-display-updates/736083/

US supreme court to hear TikToks appeal over sell off bill

https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/US-supreme-court-approves-TikTok-appeal-against-ban/735962/

Creators:

@jayscotttttt

@lisa@corbo

Join us for your weekly social media marketing fix! We're keeping you up to date, on the go, ensuring you're READY to smash your digital marketing and social media strategies this week.

This week, we dive into the latest social media updates, including:

• Update on TikTok being banned in the UK
• How to go viral in 2025 on Pinterest
• LinkedIn top tips
• YouTubes new AI update

Stay ahead of the curve with our insights on platform trends and updates from this past week!

Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn for all the latest social media trends, digital marketing tips, and behind-the-scenes content from the @socialcommuterpodcast! Don't miss out on our exclusive social media marketing hacks and industry insights.

Connect with us individually on LinkedIn for all things social media: @Eloise Fenwick @Georgia Smith

Links To What We Discussed:

TikTok could be pulled from US

https://www.businessinsider.com/tiktok-ban-details-when-how-legal-cases-trump-options

YouTube previews AI-powered Inspiration Tab

https://www.searchenginejournal.com/youtube-previews-ai-tools-to-overcome-creative-blocks/533862/

Linked in slideshow banner

https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/linkedin-adds-revolving-slideshow-option-for-profile-banner-images/734691/

Youtube top trends 2024

https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/youtube-shares-top-trends-2024/734481/

Linked In posting tips

https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/linkedin-shares-posting-tips-boost-presence/734399/

Threads individual post analytics

https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/threads-tests-individual-post-analytics/734772/

Pinterest trend predictions

https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/pinterest-publishes-trend-predictions-for-2025/734765/

Creators -

@emmanielsen

@halliebatchelder