3-25-26 - Strategy to Improve Watch Time and Retention in Videos
25/03/2026 | 13 mins.
It's frustrating when people drop off watching your videos. However, there are some steps you can take to help address that. Also Meta has lost 2 landmark legal battles and the YouTube team changes BrandConnect to YouTube Creator Partnerships and I do Wednesday Waffle.
Links:
Meta: Meta misled users about its products’ safety, jury decides (The Verge)
Meta: Meta and YouTube found negligent in landmark social media addiction case (The Verge)
Instagram: Instagram and Facebook are about to be filled with affiliate content (The Verge)
Instagram: How you can use Insights to understand content performance and improve content strategy (Instagram)
YouTube: BrandConnect is now YouTube Creator Partnerships, Affiliate Program Eligibility Expansion, and more! (YouTube)
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3-23-26 - Reach on Reels - What's the Ideal Length of a Reel?
23/03/2026 | 11 mins.
The Instagram team just added the ability to re-order the slides in a carousel post! This is long overdue but nice to see.
Today on the show, the Head of Instagram answers questions about longer Reels getting reach, posting Instagram content to Threads to help growth on Instagram, and if Stories about new posts get suppressed.
Links:
Instagram: Re-order slides in a carousel post! (Instagram)
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Follow Me on Instagram: @danielhillmedia
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3-19-26 - Does Scheduling Instagram Posts Hurt Your Reach?
19/03/2026 | 9 mins.
Instagram adds the ability to pause Reels, the ability to change your voice in a voice memo, removes End-to-End Encryption from DMs, and we discuss if scheduling posts hurts your reach, along with a new Meta AI feature that's actually worth your time.
Instagram: Pause a Reel by Tapping On It (Instagram)
Instagram: Does Scheduling a Post Hurt Your Reach? No. (Instagram)
Podcast: AI News You Should Know About (Podlink)
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Follow Me on Instagram: @danielhillmedia
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3-16-26 - Instagram Tests Links in Post Captions for Meta Verified Subscribers!
17/03/2026 | 13 mins.
Today's episode features an Instagram user who has the ability to post links in post captions (up to 10 times per month!). Also the Head of Instagram answers questions about how to know if your hooks are working, correcting misconceptions creators have about growing on Instagram, how to maintain your content creation process when dealing with burnout, and more.
Links: Instagram: Meta is testing clickable links in Instagram captions for verified subscribers (Threads)
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Follow Me on Instagram: @danielhillmedia
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3-12-26 - Report on State of Social Media Engagment Based on 52 Milion Posts Analyzed
12/03/2026 | 12 mins.
The Buffer team compiled a report called "The State of Social Media Engagement" and Tami from the Buffer team stops by to share the highlights. Also the Head of Instagram shares 3 tips to speed up the content creation process, and I share an article about the lack of privacy from Meta smart glasses . Links:
Buffer: The State of Social Media Engagement in 2026: 52M+ Posts Analyzed (Buffer)
Instagram: 3 Tips To Make Content Creation Faster (Instagram)
Meta: She Came Out of the Bathroom Naked, Employee Says (Svenska Dagbladet)
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Follow Me on Instagram: @danielhillmedia
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The ultimate destination for the latest in social media news, focusing on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Threads, and Edits. The show features exclusive audio clips from the voices behind the platforms, giving updates and insider insights. Whether you're a creator, marketer, or social media enthusiast, stay ahead of the curve and on top of social media news with 'The Instagram Stories - Social Media News'.Instagram and the Glyph are trademarks of Instagram, LLC in the U.S. and other countries. The publisher, author, and contributing photographers are independent and not affiliated with, endorsed, or sponsored by Instagram, LLC. Instagram and the Glyph are used with permission by Instagram, LLC.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-instagram-stories-social-media-news--6900254/support.
Ireland