Curious what’s happening with social media platforms this week? Read more about the new features on Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube.

1. Youtube Kids Launches Approved Channel, New ‘Older’ Kids Section 

by @adhutchinson via @socialmedia2day 

Parents, ever worried what content your kids are looking at? Good news, YouTube has announced some new tools to help parents have better control on what their kids are watching, while also separating Youtube Kids listed content into new, age-appropriate categories. It enables parents to hand-pick, exclude, and choose specific channels within the app.

2. Instagram Expands Shopping Features to Take on Amazon

by @karissabe via @mashable 

Let’s go INSTA SHOPPING! Instagram just announced two important updates to its growing e-commerce business: shoppable posts in stories, which it first began testing in June, will launch globally, and Instagram’s Explore tab will get dedicated shopping channels. Watch out Amazon: there are new competitors in the market!

3. Twitter Will Let You See Your Tweets in Chronological Order Again

by  @Hamilbug via @businessinsider 

After two long years of social media retaliation, Twitter finally decides to wave its white flag and allow users to view tweets in chronological order again. Within the Twitter app, users can turn off the setting that prioritizes tweets using an online algorithm. Twitter users rejoice!

4. Instagram Will Use Ads to Help Users Register to Vote

by @cgartenberg via @verge 

Practicing your civic duty just got a whole lot easier. Instagram is incorporating the voting registration process into the app. Registration ads will now allow users to update their voting registration, look up state voting rules, and even get up-to-date info on how to register.

5. You Can Now Send GIFs Within Instagram Direct

by @nickstatt via @verge 

Instagram is slowly building out its Direct platform, a do-it-all messaging product, with their new features. Their newest feature will allow you to send animated GIFs in a direct one-on-one message or group chat. Instagram is also including a “see all by creator” option to help promote creators and their work on the platform. This feature is arriving on iOS and Android.

MM’s Pick of the Week!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnXIqKtAo6C/?utm_source=ig_embed

This week’s buzz is all around the new Captain Marvel trailer that aired this Tuesday, and the Instagram post actress Brie Larson shared to promote the film. The sexist comments that followed claimed she should smile more. Larson responded by posting an Instagram story with photoshopped smiles on the male Marvel characters, which naturally spread on social media. Now *that* is a clapback. #GirlPower 

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