TikTok on the Brink?

TikTok’s uncertain future is already creating ripples. Instagram Reels uploads surged by 35% last quarter, and YouTube Shorts now attracts 2 billion monthly users. If the ban goes through, these platforms will see even more activity—and leave room for new contenders to rise.

At PopShorts, we’re prepared to adapt either way. Whether reallocating active TikTok campaigns to Reels and Shorts or adjusting timelines for pending RFPs, we have protocols in place to ensure active proposals and campaigns can transition smoothly and reach audiences where they’re most active.

Read More: NBC News

Here’s what’s new this month:

• Instagram Tests Trial Reels: Creators can now experiment with new content safely, reaching non-followers without risking their profiles.

• Teens Are Online ‘Constantly’: A Pew study finds 46% of U.S. teens are almost always online.

• TikTok Drives Grocery Trends: Viral food hacks boost sales of cottage cheese, cucumbers, and probiotic soda.

• Reddit’s New Tools for Businesses: AMA Ads and a Trends dashboard unlock fresh opportunities for brands to engage active communities.

• AI Bots on Social Feeds: Meta adds lifelike AI personas to Instagram and Facebook platforms.

• Nike Dominates Influencer Rankings: 84,300 mentions and 257M engagements secure its top spot for 2024.

Instagram Launches Trial Reels for Creators

Instagram is letting creators play in the sandbox with Trial Reels—a way to experiment without the stakes. These videos bypass a creator’s followers and reach non-followers instead, providing a safe space to test ideas, pivot content strategies, or try something completely off-brand.

It’s a clever move to combat a classic creator dilemma: staying fresh while preserving a polished profile for followers and brand deals.

Read More: TechCrunch

Nearly Half of U.S. Teens Are Online 'Constantly'

A new Pew study reveals that 46% of U.S. teens are online "constantly."

YouTube dominates, with 90% of teens using the platform, but TikTok and Snapchat saw slight declines. X hit just 17% of teen users, marking its sharpest drop yet. Meanwhile, WhatsApp rose to 23%, one of the few apps gaining ground.

Read More: Pew Research Center

As Seen On TikTok

TikTok has changed what makes it on the grocery list. Cottage cheese sales skyrocketed 166%, powered by recipe creators, while probiotic sodas like Olipop climbed 111% after the “sleepy girl mocktail” went viral. Even cucumbers turned into must-haves, thanks to a single creator’s trend.

Trends are easy to replicate and move product. We help clients pinpoint the moments and platforms that turn trends into measurable success.

Read More: Tubefilter

Reddit Unveils New Tools for Brands

At CES 2025, Reddit rolled out AMA Ads, a format designed to promote interactive Q&A sessions, alongside a Trends dashboard for real-time insights into what its 100 million daily users are talking about. These features give brands fresh ways to connect with engaged communities and uncover what’s driving discussions.

PopShorts is already exploring how AMA Ads can enhance paid social campaigns, offering clients new ways to engage their audience.

Read More: TechCrunch

Meta Adds AI Bots to Social Feeds

Meta is rolling out AI bots across Instagram and Facebook, giving them lifelike profiles and the ability to generate endless streams of content. These bots, already in limited use, have been quietly adopted by users experimenting with AI personas—but most remain private.

It’s an experiment that risks muddying the waters between authentic interaction and algorithmic noise. For now, Meta is betting that scaling generated content won’t come at the cost of real conversation.

Read More: TechSpot

Nike Leads Influencer Marketing Rankings for 2024

Nike topped Traackr’s 2024 U.S. influencer marketing report with 84,300 social media mentions and 257 million engagements. Its Brand Vitality Score (VIT) of 967,000 outpaced competitors like Louis Vuitton (803,000) and Adidas (622,000).

By activating 22,000 creators, Nike showed how effective a broad, diverse influencer network can be. At PopShorts, we specialize in building these kinds of high-impact partnerships, helping brands connect authentically and scale their reach.

Read More: Fashion Dive