Love is in the air, and so is a wave of fresh updates across social media platforms!
Instagram Unveils Love-Filled Features
Instagram is no stranger to seasonal updates, and this Valentine’s Day, it has rolled out a host of love-themed features aimed at making interactions more heartfelt and engaging.
- Stories Reactions Revamped: For a limited time, Instagram has replaced the usual Stories reactions with six love-themed emojis, including heart eyes and floating hearts, allowing users to express their emotions with a more affectionate touch.
- Romantic DM Effects: Sending a Valentine’s-related message in Direct Messages (DMs) now triggers charming animations, such as floating hearts or bursts of love-filled visuals, making conversations more visually dynamic.
- Heartfelt @Mention Stickers: Instagram has also introduced a special pink, heart-themed @mention sticker for Stories. Tagging someone with this sticker triggers a cascade of floating hearts, adding a romantic flair to shared moments.
These limited-time features are available only until February 15th, so users are encouraged to make the most of them before they disappear.
BuzzFeed Aims to Create a ‘Happier’ Social Media Experience
While some platforms are focused on Valentine’s-themed updates, BuzzFeed has announced a much larger ambition—creating an entirely new social platform designed to prioritise joy and creativity over engagement-driven negativity.
CEO Jonah Peretti recently criticised mainstream social networks for their reliance on algorithms that amplify anger, fear, and controversy. He dubbed this style of content “SNARF,” which stands for Stakes, Novelty, Anger, Retention, and Fear—key engagement triggers that social platforms often prioritise to keep users hooked.
BuzzFeed’s new platform, still in development, aims to offer an alternative experience—one that fosters genuine human connection, creativity, and joy rather than stress and outrage. While details remain scarce, the concept of a ‘happier’ social network has certainly piqued interest in an era of increasing digital fatigue.
Giphy’s Valentine’s Day Insights: Love, Loneliness, and Everything In-Between
GIFs have become a staple of digital communication, helping people express their emotions in a fun and relatable way. In celebration of Valentine’s Day, Giphy has shared some fascinating insights into how people use GIFs to express their feelings on this love-filled day.
- The Loneliness Factor: While one might assume that Valentine’s Day is all about romance, data tells a different story. Searches for “alone” spike by a staggering 455% on February 14th, showing that many people use GIFs to reflect feelings of solitude.
- Emotional Rollercoaster: There’s a notable surge in searches for “crying” (+144%), “eye roll” (+441%), “lonely” (+321%), and “sad” (+155%) GIFs. Clearly, not everyone is celebrating love—many are expressing frustration, heartbreak, or even sarcasm about the holiday.
- Romantic Gestures Still Win: That being said, love isn’t entirely lost. GIFs featuring kisses, hearts, and romantic embraces remain highly popular, proving that many people still lean into the affectionate spirit of the day.
This data highlights the diverse range of emotions that Valentine’s Day stirs up—while some revel in romance, others turn to GIFs to share their cynicism, loneliness, or even amusement at the holiday.
TikTok Shop’s ‘Most Loved’ Tag Helps Users Find Fan-Favourite Products
In a bid to enhance its e-commerce experience, TikTok has launched a ‘Most Loved’ tag within TikTok Shop. This new feature highlights top products based on customer engagement, reviews, and sales volume.
TikTok Shop has been gaining traction as a major e-commerce player, with viral trends often driving massive sales spikes for certain products. By introducing a ‘Most Loved’ tag, TikTok aims to help shoppers discover products that are genuinely adored by the community, making it easier to find high-quality and popular items.
The move also aligns with TikTok’s broader push into social commerce, positioning itself as a serious competitor to traditional online retailers. With its ability to drive impulse purchases through engaging short-form content, TikTok Shop continues to evolve as a go-to destination for trendy, must-have products.
Stay tuned for next week’s social media updates!
