Social media never stands still, and July has already brought plenty of updates for marketers to keep an eye on. In this month’s social media news round-up, we’ve picked out some of the biggest platform updates and industry developments you need to know about. Whether you’re managing social media for your business or simply trying to stay ahead of the latest trends, here’s what happened in July so far.
New Insights Help TikTok Shop Sellers Understand Performance
TikTok has introduced new analytics for TikTok Shop sellers in the UK, giving businesses a much clearer view of how they’re performing. New metrics include detailed traffic sources, customer behaviour, conversion data and sales insights, helping sellers identify what’s driving purchases and where shoppers are dropping off.
The update is designed to help brands make more informed decisions about their product listings, content and live shopping strategy. Sellers can now better understand which videos are generating sales, how customers are finding their products and which areas need improving. With social commerce continuing to grow in the UK, having access to more detailed performance data is a welcome addition.
Google Images Gets a Pinterest-Inspired Makeover
Google is testing a redesigned Google Images UI that looks remarkably similar to Pinterest. The new layout places greater emphasis on discovery, recommendations and visually related searches, making it easier for users to move between images without leaving the platform.
For marketers, this could have a bigger impact than it first appears. Brands that invest in high-quality, optimised imagery may have more opportunities to appear in visual searches, while businesses in industries like fashion, travel and food could benefit from increased image discoverability as Google continues to prioritise visual search experiences.
The EU Wants Stronger Protections for Teen Social Media Users
The European Union is taking further steps to strengthen protections for children and teenagers using social media. Proposed measures include stricter age verification, greater parental controls and additional safeguards to reduce young users’ exposure to harmful or addictive content.
While these measures are still under discussion, they reflect a growing global trend towards increased regulation of social media platforms. Similar conversations are taking place in the UK, meaning brands should expect conversations to continue around youth safety and responsible platform design.
The EU Says Meta's Platforms May Be "Addictive"
The European Commission has issued preliminary findings that Meta may be breaching the Digital Services Act by using platform features that encourage compulsive behaviour. Regulators highlighted elements such as infinite scrolling, autoplay, personalised recommendations and continuous content feeds, arguing that they could negatively impact users’ mental health, particularly younger audiences.
Meta disputes the findings and says it has already introduced a range of safety features, including Teen Accounts and parental controls. However, if the Commission’s conclusions are upheld, Meta could be required to redesign its user experience across Facebook and Instagram.
Meta Introduces Paid Access to Public Content
Meta has announced that companies wanting to use public Instagram content to train AI models will now have to pay for access. Although the change won’t affect everyday Instagram users directly, it shows a broader shift in how social platforms value the content shared by their communities. As AI development accelerates, access to large-scale social media data is becoming increasingly valuable, and platforms are beginning to treat it as a commercial asset rather than something that’s freely available.
Talk To Victress About Social Media
At Victress, we’re all about helping brands focus on the updates that actually make a difference. If you’re feeling unsure what any of this means for your social media or wider marketing strategy, we’re always happy to chat. Drop us a message and we’ll help you make sense of all these updates and more.
