Q1 Roundup: Key Themes for TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, & More

Today marks the end of the first quarter of the U.S. fiscal year, and social media platforms have been busy rolling out new features and updates over the past three months.

With so much happening, here’s a look at some of the biggest themes and updates from TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Pinterest this quarter. Plus, what to watch for next.

TikTok

The biggest news of the year so far has been TikTok’s temporary 12-hour shutdown, which occurred as the platform faced the threat of a U.S. ban.

The app quickly resumed operations, but with an Executive Order giving parent company ByteDance a new deadline to divest, TikTok's future in the U.S. remains uncertain. While rumors of potential buyers continue to circulate, no concrete deals have been confirmed, and the divestment deadline, April 5th, is fast approaching.

Amid these challenges, TikTok has been working to address concerns around child safety and privacy. The platform introduced new Family Pairing features, launched a Security Checkup, and rolled out Amber Alerts, all aimed at easing concerns among parents and regulators.

Takeaway / What to Watch For: If TikTok faces another shutdown, even temporarily, it could further erode trust among creators and marketers.

However, if a deal is reached that ensures TikTok’s long-term presence in the U.S., its ban woes may be quickly forgotten. The challenge TikTok faces now is that some creators and marketers have already started investing more time and ad dollars into other platforms, making it harder to retain their full attention.

Instagram

At the beginning of the year, Instagram head Adam Mosseri outlined the platform’s priorities for 2025: creativity and connection. Throughout Q1, Instagram has largely stayed true to those priorities. On the creativity front, the platform announced Edits, a video editing app designed to rival CapCut. While the launch has been delayed, Instagram has teased sneak peeks, giving creators an early look at what to expect.

On the connection front, Instagram has been enhancing Direct Messages (DMs) with both launched and tested features. These include message scheduling, translation support for 99 languages, and the "With Friends" tab for Reels, which shows users Reels their mutual followers have engaged with. Instagram is also testing a Blend feature, which could enhance engagement by allowing users to share a feed of recommended Reels in DMs based on mutual activity and shared posts.

While Instagram has been working to make the platform more social and engaging, not every feature has been a success. The platform recently announced it would be shutting down the Notes on Feed Posts and Reels feature due to low adoption.

Takeaway / What to Watch For: All eyes will be on the launch of Edits, scheduled to arrive at the end of April. If Instagram delivers a strong, free alternative to CapCut, especially if CapCut becomes unavailable due to a second TikTok shutdown, it could encourage more creators to produce content directly on Instagram and build goodwill for the platform. If it falls short, Instagram risks reinforcing the perception that it’s still chasing TikTok without successfully carving out its own identity.

Facebook

Upgrade to a Paid Membership to Unlock the Rest