Being bold and experimental is the only way to stand out in the fast-paced social media space.
Breaking all the “rules” of traditional formats, ultra-wide 5120x1080px Reels are taking over Instagram.
The super slim video format leaves a lot to be desired, as there is very little room to show off products, text, or faces. But these videos are grabbing attention simply by being unexpected.
At first, the stretched out videos can look like a glitch when you’re scrolling, making viewers stop scrolling. The format is bold, disruptive, and instantly different from everything else.
The best use case for this Reels format is to tease a new product, or to hook audiences in with sa lim snippet of something that is instantly recognizable, just like Magnum did when showing their signature ice cream crack.
Although this Reels trend is slightly confusing to many, the format cannot – at present – be replicated on TikTok. The two platforms are constantly battling to introduce features that make them unique, so it could be just a matter of days until TikTok follows suit…
There have been whispers that Meta may have introduced this new format so that more ads can be seen on the feed within less scrolls, benefiting the platform and the brands using it to advertise.
Brand opportunity
Beauty brand Glossier could highlight a new skincare or makeup product in a panoramic Reel, focusing on giving viewers a closer look at textures and application rather than prioritizing packaging and full face application. This would be a great opportunity to emphasize how their formulations stand out compared to competitors.
What is the most important deciding factor when choosing a new mobile phone in the social media era? A top-quality camera, of course.
The newly released iPhone 17 is making headlines and featuring heavily in social media content, not because of the device's inner workings or technical capabilities, but because the camera's ability to zoom in and produce HD imagery is like having binoculars at your fingertips at all times.
Creators are showing how the camera is going to be game-changing for filming content while travelling, at events, and for day-to-day vlog content.
There’s even been some cheeky clips of people zooming into their partner's phone to see who they’re texting…
However, those committed to Samsung devices have been quick to share how the Samsung s25 Ultra had these capabilities long before Apple’s newest release.
Brand opportunity
Samsung could partner with creators already loyal to the brand to showcase the S25 Ultra’s camera features, highlighting how it’s offered these capabilities for longer. They could also challenge iPhone users to compare cameras side-by-side, encouraging social audiences to reconsider which device gives the best content creation experience.
It’s been more than a year since Charli xcx released her album “Brat”, and it’s becoming more and more apparent that “Brat summer” will never end. Fans have not tired of the music, and Charli continues to make a huge cultural impact.
The “Apple dance” had its moment, then Charli released a music video to Party 4 U thanks to fan demand, and now her song Everything is Romantic is in the spotlight.
When the trailer for the new Wuthering Heights film featuring Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie dropped at the beginning of September, audiences were in awe that a period drama-esque remix of Charli xcx’s Everything is Romantic was used as the trailer's soundtrack.
Creators are now using the song on their TikTok videos that showcase romantic moments in their lives, like recapping summer, wholesome moments with friends, or loving moments with their partners.
Charli herself shared clips of her Sicilian wedding featuring the remix and hit 5.4M views in just 3 days. The timing of her song about romance blowing up at the same time as her wedding is impeccable timing.
Fans are begging Charli to release the remix officially, emphasizing how the exposure to music on social media continues to shape audiences' listening behaviors.
Brand opportunity
Ring doorbells could partner with creators to share heartwarming moments captured at home, like surprise gestures, family reunions, or new parents bringing their newborn baby home from the hospital, using the song as the soundtrack. The content would feel emotive and relatable, and highlight how the product helps preserve life’s most romantic and joyful moments.
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