Apollo Strategic Communications’ Post

The other day, while reading about TikTok’s potential ban in the U.S., I stumbled upon something fascinating. As the ban looms, millions of users are migrating to another platform—Xiaohongshu (a.k.a. Little Red Book). Backed by giants like Tencent and Alibaba, Xiaohongshu has over 300 million monthly active users globally, and it’s now making waves in the U.S. Known for blending lifestyle content, short videos, and e-commerce, the app appeals to a younger audience, with over 70% of its users being female. Here’s what’s wild—Xiaohongshu recently shot to #1 in the social networking category on the U.S. App Store, even surpassing major platforms like Instagram and Snapchat. This spike in popularity came after it gained over 700,000 new downloads in just two days, as users sought alternatives to TikTok. This sudden rise raises some interesting questions. Was TikTok prepared for this scenario? Did ByteDance anticipate the ban and quietly encourage a pivot to Xiaohongshu? Or is this just a natural shift as users avoid fully embracing Reels or Shorts? Its standout feature is the ability to discover, engage, and shop all within the app, creating a personalized and interactive experience that sets it apart from other networks. Regardless, it’s amazing how quickly people adapt. But the irony of moving from one Chinese-owned app to another is hard to miss. What do you think? Is Xiaohongshu the next big thing in social media, or just a temporary trend?

✨ 5 in 5 Social Media Updates from SMMs  ✨ 🤩 Instagram increases the carousel limit to 20 slides. 👀 "Views" will become Instagram’s main KPI for all content formats. 📔 LinkedIn now allows brands to sponsor user-generated newsletters. 🎬 Facebook launches "Clip Hub" in Stories, letting users manage clips from their smartphones or drafts for future posts. 📈 Polls on LinkedIn generate the highest impression rates. What other update have you spotted this week on social media?

What's new in social this week 📲 🕺TLDR: ByteDance (owner of TikTok) now has nine months to sell its stake in TikTok. If they don't, it will be prohibited in the U.S. 📸 Similar to Snapchat's subscribed stories format, these larger icons will likely encourage more engagement on users pages. ⏯️ This new format has been under testing since last year, and was found to show positive results in gaining user attention. 🙅Users that repeatedly post content such as conspiracy theories, dieting or extreme fitness will be restricted from appearing in the For You feed. 🕹️ Shareable and refreshed daily - these new games from LinkedIn include "Pinpoint", "Crossclimb", and "Queens". 📱Elon Musk posted a poll on X, asking users if he should bring back Vine. This poll has now sparked conversation about the potential return of the iconic app from the 2010's. 🔎 This integration is utlized to give users the most up-to-date answers possible in their inquiries. 🏝️ Using data from searches throughout the past year, Pinterest has compiled a report with predictions for all things travel this summer.

I'm going to miss tiktok should we lose the app. It's going to be hard. AND Social media trends shift, algorithms evolve, and platforms come and go. I have been viral on almost EVERY social media platform-even ones Im not active on. LOL! One thing remains constant: the need to connect with your audience. 💡 Here’s how to keep your community engaged, no matter where you are: -Whether it’s education, entertainment, or inspiration, give your audience a reason to stay. - Your voice and story are your superpowers. People connect with relatability, not polished perfection.. -Its still SOCIAL media. You cant "post and go" all the time. Community is a two-way street. Respond to comments, ask questions, and join the conversation. Remember, it’s not about the platform—it’s about the relationship. And if youre good at building relationships, wherever you go ,your audience will follow.

Social Media Just Did a WHOLE LOT (And We've Got the Scoop! 💅🏽) Feeling overwhelmed by all the constant social media updates lately? Well, hold on tight, because this week's news is a doozy! ➡️ Swipe through to see the HUGE UPDATES that’ll change the way you use your favorite platforms! ☕Get ready for: 📝 Long-form posts on [Platform X]! (Finally, ditch the character limit!) 🤝 TikTok's DMs just got a group chat upgrade! (Squad goals on the rise!) 📍 Know where your BFFs are (with their permission!)—Instagram's testing a "Friend Map" feature! 🤩 Snapchat just made advertising easier! (Get your campaigns going faster!) 🛍️ Shop directly on TikTok! (Say hello to seamless Amazon integration!) But wait, there's MORE! We’ve got juicy details on: 😉 Meta connecting your business across platforms! (Manage everything in one place!) 🎵 More music is coming to Facebook and Instagram! (Get ready to soundtrack your stories—Meta and Universal Music just struck a deal!) 🎮 TikTok taking over gaming! (Gamescom partnership brings the competition to the platform!) ✨ Tell your story in 20 frames! (Instagram expands carousel options!) 🔒 Disappearing messages with extra privacy? (Instagram might block screenshots in DMs!) This is just the tip of the iceberg! The social media landscape is evolving faster than ever. Drop a comment with the update you're most excited about (or that has you scratching your head)! P.S. Feeling confused or overwhelmed by all the changes? HMU! We can help you craft a social media strategy that thrives, not just survives. 💌 #socialmedia #newfeatures #stayaheadofthecurve #socialmediamanagement

What’s new this week in #social 📲 🛍️ SKIMS consistently keeps its finger on the pulse of who's trending. They routinely capitalize through partnerships with buzz-worthy stars and their timely campaigns. 🟩 Lime green hues and lo-fi designs have invited people from every corner of the internet to embrace their inner brat. Charli XCX's most recent album has been dubbed "album of the summer" by social media users across the globe. 🤳 TikTok has just quietly launched its new app "Whee," which bears a striking resemblance to Instagram. ByteDance (TikTok owner) has yet to advertise the platform or comment on their plans for the new app. The timing is curious given the impending TikTok ban. 💬 In a new study from GWI, marketers have found that Gen Z prefers the unfiltered raw opinions that Reddit threads provide. The internet's source of "word of mouth" information is preferred nowadays over polished Google searches. 👩💻 X is including this series in a broader initiative "Originals on X" to drive compelling conversations on the app. 📸 Instagram users can now livestream to smaller audiences, giving the feel of a FaceTime call. 📱TikTok confirmed it’s testing the ability for users to take or upload a photo to find similar products in TikTok Shop — similar to Google image search or Pinterest Lens. ⏯️ YouTube is hoping to reduce the spread of misinformation online with this new feature. 🌎 According to Mashable, "EU regulators are presenting charges on the companies' failure to comply with landmark EU regulation known as the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Similar to anti-trust laws in the U.S., the regulations demanded Apple and Meta reign in their marketplace dominance by the summer."

It’s time for our weekly social media update, but we want to do things slightly differently this week...we want to know the social media update that you’ve picked up on over the last week, and what you think of it 👀 Of course, we won’t leave you completely hanging, so here are our top two picks to give you a head start: 📈 Meta has reported that Threads has now surpassed 150 million monthly active users, meaning it has gained 20 million users in two months. Does this mean X is a thing of the past? 🤯 It’s bad news for TikTok fans, as President Biden has signed a bill after months of speculation to force the app to be sold into U.S. ownership or be banned entirely in the region. Over to you...drop your update, and opinion, in the thread below! 👇 #PRAgency #MarketingConsultancy #CreativeConsultancy #SocialMediaAgency #SocialMedia #SocialMediaUpdates #TikTokNews #Threads #ThreadsNews #TikTok

Snapchat is a social media platform and multimedia messaging application that can be accessed via Android and iOS mobile devices. Snapchat users can share pictures and videos with each other while adding filters or other effects. Snaps, or messages, exchanged via Chat are meant to automatically delete after they are viewed unless users choose to save a Snap. Users can also select how long messages can stay visible after they are sent or if they want to save the messages. Snapchat user for:- Snapchat is used for exchanging messages, pictures and videos with other Snapchat users. Users can also share Snaps with their followers by posting content on their Snapchat profile. Snapchat is known for its camera features and filters. Businesses and brands often incorporate the app into their marketing strategy to take advantage of branded app filters and Snap ads . The app’s other widely used features include: * Stories * Facial recognition filters * Geofilters * Voice and video calls * Chat * Snap Map * Polls * Bitmoji What are streaks on Snapchat? A Snapchat streak means that two Snapchat friends exchange snaps, or messages, with each other within a 24-hour period for at least three consecutive days. According to Snapchat, the Snapchat number appears next to a fire emoji.

Did you know that 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝟗𝟖% of social media users are on their mobile devices? Here is a rough breakdown of the major platforms and their mobile usage: 📱 Facebook: 96% 📱 Instagram/Threads: 99% 📱 X (formerly Twitter): 93% 📱 LinkedIn: 57% (not surprised this number is more even with desktop usage) 📱 TikTok: 100% Here is what I'm getting at: QR codes in your social media posts may not be the most effective tool for driving engagement. Because when people are already on their phones, they can’t scan a QR code easily because they’d need a second device to do so. Instead, great content with engaging call-to-actions and direct clickable links are much more mobile-friendly. If you're just re-purposing a traditional media poster to toss up on your socials, your audience also may feel you are out of touch. Always think about how your audience is interacting with your content. Optimizing for mobile experiences will make your strategy more effective and user-friendly!

Can't stop thinking about how outdated it is for scheduling software to have universally recommend posting days and times... but here we are 😌 The truth is, there is a time where your brand's demographic will be most online or is typically most active. These are important numbers to consider... but they're also not the only factors to consider when it comes to posting all that content you've worked so hard on.