Changes and updates to Facebook and Instagram from the past 30 days. 

• Instagram has officially launched a new captions sticker for stories. The feature works to turn the video audio into text captions. The captions are not guaranteed to be 100% accurate, but there is an option to edit the captions after they’ve been generated to fix any mistakes. Users can adjust the colors, text position and fonts to fit branding, as well. This new feature is an easy and convenient way to boost the accessibility of your content. Caption stickers are not yet available for Reels, but Instagram has announced that it will be coming soon. 
• Facebook announces new initiatives to celebrate Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The rollout consists of new safety features on Facebook, additional creative tools such as stickers and graphics for stories and reels on Facebook and Instagram to help users celebrate and show support, as well as additional funding for API related groups. In the wake of increased violence against Asian Americans, Facebook has broadened its social media language monitoring tools and warning features to help decrease the amount of dangerous or hateful content surrounding the API community. 
• A new iOS 14.5 prompt on Facebook and Instagram has users raising eyebrows. The new prompt, which appears in correlation with Apple’s new update with a controversial data tracking feature, is being seen as a scare tactic to deter users from turning off data tracking. The prompt explains what the data tracking is used for in each, one of which being to keep the app free. This message to users has been a controversial topic of discussion since it’s release, with some thinking that the company is threatening users with subscription fees, should they turn off data tracking. 
• Instagram launches the first edition of it’s digital magazine, “Instagram Insider”, designed to inform users of trends, content ideas, popular content creators and more. The 9 page, PDF downloadable feature is intended to be a source of inspiration and discovery and is being described as a “zine”. The publication also answers platform specific questions sent in by users. Quick to read and offered free of charge, this publication is a great resource for social media managers. 
• Instagram has introduced new features for IG Live, allowing users to mute their microphones as well as turn off their cameras, similar to Zoom, during live streams. Located on the bottom left of the video screen, once users tap the “video off” button, their image will change to their profile picture until they turn the camera on again. Instagram is hoping that the addition of these features will help to ease any pressure to look and sound a certain way during live streams. 
• IGTV ads are now being tested in the UK and Australia. Instagram launched IGTV ad tests in the US last year and are now doing the same overseas. Select creators will be given the option to try this new feature, which, similar to YouTubes ad model, offers 55% of revenue to creators. The video ads will be built for mobile and will be up to 15 seconds long. The rollout of this feature is exciting for international brands who advertise through social media.