Virtual events have been booming over the past few months. While some companies, like Comic-Con, did not see a benefit in putting their product online, other companies saw the opportunity to adapt and move forward with the digital output of content. Since putting a music festival online is a newer concept, some of them were met with disapproval. Most people hope that we resume in-person, large group gatherings next summer, however moving, at least partially, to a digital platform allows those who are far away or not yet comfortable with attending these gatherings to still feel connected to other like-minded individuals. 1. Music Festivals While we were all saddened by the cancelation of popular music festivals like Coachella, some, like Lollapalooza and CMA Best of Fest, took to a virtual stage. In order to operate online, Lollapalooza partnered with YouTube - along with TacoBell and Venmo - to Livestream their event. Having popular artists like A$AP Rocky, The Weeknd, and Paul McCartney helped promote the festival, as the lineup was so diverse that there was music for everyone. CMA Best of Fest aired on ABC. However, both events are hoping to continue as normal in 2021, CMA Best of Fest has already begun selling tickets to next June’s in-person event in Nashville. The iHeartRadio Festival will stream on the CW this weekend (September 18 and 19) and feature well-known artists such as Alicia Keys, Miley Cyrus, and Bon Jovi. 2. Conventions As for famous conventions, like VidCon and Comic-Con, unfortunately, Comic-Con San Diego was canceled for the first time this year in its 50 year history. On the bright side, however, while VidCon canceled their convention this year, the company has partnered with YouTube to put out a free series of online programming all summer - specifically targeting community, industry, and creator events. 3. New York Fashion Week One of New York City’s biggest yearly events is Fashion Week, which has also followed the trend of being online. The CFDA’s (Council of Fashion Designers of America) response to a virtual event is called “Runway360.” Runway360 is about making sure the product is seen by consumers, retail, and the media. New York’s version of Fashion Week has diverged from other famous Fashion Weeks, as it shows their strength in still making a statement. NYFW focused on the art they created, while Fashion Weeks in other major cities, like London and Paris, had interviewed about designers’ homes.

Throughout the past few months, there has been a pause on live sports. Sports-based social pages have been posting a variety of content, from highlight videos to pending rumors and everything in between. Now, over the course of the past few weeks, sports have slowly resumed, and this past weekend - football. Content on the varying social media platforms has grown to become interesting and new again, as more and more games continue to be played. An aspect of the football season many fans are really missing our pregame tailgates. Penn State was one of the most well-known leaders in starting virtual tailgates in April 2020. They had sponsored interactive events on their “Virtual Lot” like a trivia contest and a radio show, all within a very well-constructed schedule. Each of these special events was also sponsored by different companies, like Utz and AT&T. While Penn State was a driving force in making sure fans still enjoy all the traditions that come with football, it is expected that this season teams will be partnering up with a plethora of companies and celebrities/influencers to ensure their loyal fans have the best virtual experience possible. Due to this shift in how tailgates will be held, it is also expected that there will be a greater push to social media apps like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook for individuals to share their new “Game Day” experiences. Since social media has become a key component in making people feel connected in this time of isolation, people are now more than ever creating fan accounts to support their teams and to connect with other committed fans as well. Compared to years past, advertising has increased during football games over the weekend, with NBC reporting that they completely sold out advertising space for Thursday night’s game between Kansas City and Houston. This increase in content is attributed to the months of lag between sports, and the United States’ most-watched sport finally coming back to screens. A popular ad from the weekend was Frito-Lay’s partnership with director Peter Berg to produce a spot dubbed “Twas the Night Before Kickoff,” which included football stars like Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, and narrated by Marshawn Lynch. Combining America’s love for the holiday season with their love for football, this commercial is a beautiful combination of heartwarming and tradition. It gives its audience permission to have child-like glee about the return of football, and also an excitement that this may be the only sport this year not operating on a different schedule than normal. The spot allows the viewers to feel excited, motivated, and ready for game day festivities. While the feeling of a community of fans cheering on teams in a stadium will look different, devotees will be able to connect with more like-minded people than ever before this season. From social media groups to child-like joy over the Fritos-Lay commercial, organizations are gearing up to make sure this season is one to remember. While our world is changing every day, at least the teams and various football-centric companies are ensuring community safety, while also doing all they can to make sure people are still enthusiastic about this football season. #TalentResources #Sports #Football #InfluencerMarketing

1. Video Content Variations of video content have been the gatekeeper of all social media trends this summer. From TikTok’s whipped coffee to Justin Bieber’s Instagram Live concerts, we were never short of entertainment even while quarantining. The popularity of TikTok and Triller even sparked the launch of a new form of video content, Instagram Reels. Our favorite movie and television casts like The Parent Trap, 30 Rock and Lord of the Rings gathered via Zoom, webinars and virtual events were hosted, and the rise of virtual connection allowed us to see celebrities come together like never before. 2. Micro-Influencers While the world has been on pause, people have been turning to social media to still feel connected. During these months, individuals have found their different niches and have created profiles to match. Whether this involves fitness journeys, pastry creations, or refining their personal profiles, there has been a myriad of brands to connect with these budding influencers, and their popularity has soared. 3. Verifying Information In the media landscape, everyone has a platform to voice their opinions. In the midst of the pandemic, social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have instituted a fact-checking feature. Topics that are commonly fact-checked are information about COVID-19, politics, and economic issues. The landscape of social media has shifted in which it is not just somewhere to post your photos, but now influencers and celebrities are using their voice to raise awareness on these issues and current events. 4. Re-evaluating Metrics For almost a year now, Instagram has been testing removing likes on many users’ profiles. Influencer marketing agencies have been wondering how a total switch will impact their strategies - as people obsess over the number of likes they get on posts, from accounts with 100 followers to accounts with 100 million followers. Instagram has been making this shift to get the app back to what it was made for - sharing creative content and how many people like it being because they actually like, not because of who has liked it or how many likes it has received. Many users are still left with the inability to view likes, which can really take a toll on how they view the success of a profile. 5. Instagram Shop Due to quarantine measures put into as a result of COVID-19, online shopping has been booming. To expand on their usage and features, Instagram wanted in on the online shopping action. The release of Instagram Shop allows businesses to tailor their company profile to their liking while providing users with an easy to use storefront to purchase products within the app. According to Sprout Social, after seeing a product or service on Instagram, 79% of users searched for more information, 37% visited the retail store and 46% made a purchase. Along with more Instagram users willing to shop on the app, advertisements have increased on the app. Companies are now more willing to allocate more of their budget for Instagram ads due to the amount of engagement they can provide. #TalentResources #SocialMedia #InfluencerMarketing

From new TikTok trends to the launch of IG Reels, this summer in the media world has been something that we have never seen before. Quarantine has allowed us to explore new ways to express and entertain ourselves while being at least six feet apart. Video-based apps have become increasingly popular over the past few months, dominating the media industry. Even with threats of getting shut down and other platforms such as Triller and IG Reels competing for the crown, TikTok continues to come out on top. The success rate of TikTok is like no other. In addition to popular content creators such as David Dobrik and Jojo Siwa dominating the app, TikTok created stars of its own. Teens like Charli D’Amelio, Addison Rae, and Noah Beck are taking the platform by storm one dance at a time. These stars get millions of views on their videos, which is a great representation of how powerful and influential TikTok is. As a result of TikTok and Triller’s popularity, Instagram wanted in on the mix. This past August, the photo-sharing up launched a new feature called IG Reels. Similar to TikTok and Triller, Reels allows users to create and shoot video content for up to 15 seconds while having the ability to add filters and music. Connecting with people digitally became more popular than ever this summer, and artists and celebrities were quick to find ways to keep fans entertained safely. Virtual concerts such as Global Citizens Together at Home were held, and stars such as Billie Eilish, Shawn Mendes, John Legend, and many more broadcasted live from their homes. Celebrities also have used Instagram Live to their advantage. According to Vox, Google searches for Instagram Live have increased rapidly ever since quarantine rules have been instituted. This new way of participating in lives has allowed for many creators to exponentially grow their fanbase. Having the ability to archive Instagram lives and post them to YouTube is just another way celebrities are keeping up with the times. John Legend and Sam Smith’s archived Instagram Live from Global Citizen’s Together at Home has reached up to over 2 million views. As the summer months progressed, creators kept pushing the boundaries of new ways to host events socially distant style. The MTV Video Music Awards are a great example of what the future of live events may look like. The mixture of live and pre-recorded performances from stars such as The Weeknd, Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, BTS, and more graced our screens in August, giving us a sense of normalcy. The VMA’s also incorporated fans by broadcasting their faces around the set of the show to get live reactions from them. This summer showed the importance and strength of the digital world, and its ability to thrive during unprecedented times. #TalentResources #DigitalTrends #SocialMedia #InfluencerMarketing

COVID-19 first emerged in the United States in February andhas since been a consistent and substantial piece of the news. However, its presence in the news is only a small portion of the effect that it has had on the media landscape as a whole. This includes the impact on news outlets as well as people that are in the news, and their corresponding public relations agencies and publicists. As a result of this, media teams have had to take on additional roles and efforts such as providing assets that are traditionally a role of media, such as b-roll and professional photos. The pandemic as a whole has shown how quickly the media landscape can adapt, learn and grow. 1. News Outlets News outlets including print, magazine and television are the foundation of the media industry and have arguably taken the hardest hit during COVID-19. Many have been forced to make difficult business decisions, and even some of the most successful outlets have struggled. Some of the major publications that have been affected by the pandemic include Group Nine Media, Vice, Bleacher Report and Playboy. W Magazine is a leading fashion publication that was substantially affected by the pandemic, before an ownership group led by supermodel Karlie Kloss obtained the magazine to prevent its downfall. 2. Interviews Interviews have taken a direct hit since the pandemic due to quarantine and social distancing, but with the aid of a skilled publicist there are still opportunities. The industry has adaptedand interviews have turned virtual using platforms like Zoom and StreamYard. Media training is more important than ever with virtual interviews, and making sure that an open line of communication between the client and their media team remains clear so that they are as prepared as possible for their interview. 3. Events Lockdown measures put a halt to events entirely, although restrictions have since eased up and media product launches and announcements are slowly coming back to life while abiding by social distancing. This has changed how a reporter is able to cover a story, or their ability to interview on the spot at the event. Creative virtual events are an example of innovative ways to host events that are traditionally in person, virtually. #TalentResources #InfluencerMarketing #SocialModia

Every brand has a story to tell, and the narrative of the story can be highlighted in many different ways by the press. It is important to prepare as much as possible before debuting your story, to gain control of your brand's narrative and present it in the right way. Media training in some form should always take place before an interview, or an event where an interview has the possibility of taking place. Nowadays, most interviews are taking place virtually one way or another so it is more important than ever that your team is on the same page to strategically prepare for the interview. Remember that every interview will affect the press that comes next. Our number one media training tip is to be as prepared as possible. There are many aspects that you need to prepare for and consider before your interview. The first step is to try to get a hold of the questions that will be asked ahead of time, which is usually attainable. Once you have the questions, schedule a mock interview between the client and the public relations team. It is always helpful to take notes on the responses, however, avoid speaking from a script. DO remain authentic and honest. Practice as if the mock interview is the real one. This includes attire, and for virtual interviews lightning, film and audio. Don’t wait until the last minute to make sure your set-up is interview ready! Do take into account the type of interview that is taking place, because this determines the length. Don’t just expect that there will be unlimited time to answer questions. Prepare accordingly, so that all-important points are touched on appropriately. For example, a TV interview will most likely be shorter than being a guest on a podcast. Be prepared for the amount of time available. Don’t just try to wing the interview. Even if the interviewer is not able to provide questions beforehand, your team should still work together to draft at least 5 questions along the lines of what the interviewer may ask. Always review your answers to these questions with your team prior to the interview itself, as it is best to get feedback to make sure your answer covers the important aspects of the question and avoids anything that could be misconstrued or misinterpreted. Don’t steer too far away from the central message you want to get across. It can be difficult to stay on topic during the actual interview, as conversations usually aren’t scripted and nerves can come into play. Aim to practice keeping answers only to provide the necessary information, as veering off-topic can sometimes lead to information about the brand being shared that could be jeopardizing. Don’t be afraid to also stay true to your central message by not always jumping to agree with the interviewer, being honest if you are unsure of an answer instead of guessing, and correcting yourself if you make a mistake. After your interview is over, do review your performance or your clients and take this as an opportunity to do even better next time. #TalentResources #InfluencerMarketing #SocialMedia #MediaTraining

Content houses originally became popular when social media stars like Jake Paul and FaZe banks created a central location for their teams to live and work together. While some of the houses date back to 2016 with their main channels being YouTube, the popularity of TikTok has brought the hype back to life all over again. Now, the content houses are most well-known for their top gen-z influencer members, and it is hard to miss their group content while scrolling through TikTok. The concept of these houses has set the stage for creators to be able to work together, building their team's brand while also becoming popular influencers and promoting their personal brands. More recently especially, content houses have given inspiration for social media talent that may have before gone unrecognized. Influencers like Addison Rae and the D'Amelio sisters quickly grew their presence on TikTok and have since become famous in the world of social media after joining one of the houses. The D’Amelio sisters have since opted out of the Hype House to pursue more personal business opportunities, yet the impact of content houses on influencers and the world of social media remains stronger than ever. 1. Team 10 The Team 10 house is arguably the most widely known content creators' house, and one of the first to come about. This is most likely due to its co-founder Jake Paul, who has shifted the social media landscape over the years from Vine to YouTube, to reality television. The team's YouTube channel has 2.49 million subscribers, while all of the members also have their own personal channels. Paul told Forbes that the house is “an incubator for social media talent”, that has built its own brand while helping others grow and build theirs. Influencers like Erika Costell and Alissa Violet who had a relatively small following before joining Team 10 quickly grew their following to over a million over a short period of time, showing the opportunities that the house brings for creators. 2. Sway The Sway house was originally founded by Josh Richards alongside Bryce Hall and is run by TalentX. This unique agency is made up of the house's members, with an effort to create an agency for creators, by creators. The content produced by the Sway house is TikTok heavy, with members like Blake Grey and Noah Beck only producing short video content. Despite this, the house often defines itself as a YouTuber house with most other members showcasing their content to millions of YouTube subscribers every week. More recently, Sway House has signed a deal with Triller shifting much of their TikTok content onto the new platform. This is also due to the house's co-founder Josh Richards being hired as Triller's new Chief Strategy Officer, setting up a relationship with the house's creators and the platform. 3. Hype The Hype House, founded by creators such as Daisy Keech, Thomas Petrou, Chase Hudson, Alex Warren, and Kouvr Annon, is one of the newer houses and includes members from many backgrounds. Some of its most famous members include the Lopez Brothers and Nikita Dragun. The Lopez Brothers made their name as a dance duo from Las Vegas while Nikita is a prolific beauty guru with her own line of beauty products. Despite their popularity, the house has come under a backlash for their lack of diversity. The house continues to show high engagement with their audience and continuously partners with companies like Bang Energy and Walmart to sponsor products. The members create content for TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, and work together to support each other’s following and merchandise. There has also been talk about the possibility of a new reality show about them called “The Hype Life.” 4. Clout The Clout house was most popular for being a major competitor to Team 10, as it is made up of some of the most popular YouTubers. This house was started by FaZe Banks, who later went on to create his own “FaZe House.” Some other famous members of the houses included influencer Alissa Violet who joined the Clout house after leaving Team 10, RiceGum, and Sommer Ray. However, the activity of the Clout house creators has recently died out, leaving audiences in the question of what really happened. 5. FaZe The FaZe house is another one of the most original houses that really set the stage for the creation and popularity of creators living in a house together for business opportunities. FaZe Banks, the original member, known for his gaming videos and Twitch live streams, started living in the house around 2016. The house then became a hub for some of the most popular esports gamers, who all have “FaZe” in their screen names. The FaZe Clan YouTube channel carries 8.23 million subscribers, excelling in its own personal niche. #TalentResources #SocialMedia #ContentHouses #InfluencerMarketing

YouTube’s content has been evolving since the early 2000s, and now includes an abundance of influencers and creators, many that have become very famous from their channels. Content creators who have started off on this platform have set the stage for years to come by creating a space that welcomes creativity, a range of content, and the opportunity to build a community as well as a brand. YouTube has become a place that creators and influencers can either use to build their following or bring their audience over from a different platform. For example, Logan and Jake Paul first gained a following on the once favored app, Vine. After Vine was discontinued, they brought their individual fan bases over to YouTube, where Jake Paul created his very own vlog team, “Team 10.” The channel has over 2 million subscribers, separate from Jake’s 20 million subscribers on his personal channel. Jake Paul eventually used his platform to start streaming music and even appearing on MTV’s Ridiculousness. The Paul brothers and Team 10 are only one group inside the YouTube world that is thriving with millions of subscribers. Other “vlog style” personalities include David Dobrik and the Vlog Squad (18.1M), Casey Neistan (12.2M), Emma Chamberlin (9.28M), and many more. The range of content and the different fan bases that the platform offers to showcase its diversity and how quickly the space can evolve. Some of the most famous YouTubers range from video game streamer PewDiePie (106M) to kid’s channel Vlad and Nikki (48.5M), to beauty vloggers like Yuya (24.6M). One of the main differentiators of YouTube now and then is the length of the videos. For example, the lengths of vloggers videos used to range anywhere from 15-20 minutes, and now they have shifted to as short as 5 minutes, 10 max. While the Dolan twins still present longer videos, David Dobrik’s signature vlogs always end precisely at 4 minutes and 21 seconds. Many of these vloggers have been on the platform since it started becoming popular. They’re responsible for much of its success and creating the base for its most popular trends. Like any platform, the landscape always continues to evolve. YouTube continues to remain a popular social media platform because of its short, easy to watch content and the fact that basically every consumer can find their niche. Not only are the viewers getting what they want, but creators also have the ability to make a substantial amount of money through YouTube and make connections with people around the world. This is why it has also become a major outlet for influencers to produce ads, promote brands, and upload sponsored content. #TalentResources #InfluencerMarketing #SocialMedia #Vloggers #YouTube

Podcasts have soared in popularity over the past few years. There is a podcast for just about every genre or topic that may interest you, from current events to celebrity gossip. Podcasts are easy to follow along and because of the lack of visuals, making them the perfect companion for commuters, road trippers, and anyone who has to focus their eyes on something but wants to enjoy more than music. Podcasts started by influencers, celebrities, or figures in the business world can automatically draw attention to themselves by bringing their existing audience over to the new format. Hosts will sometimes invite a guest onto the show for an episode, which can benefit the guest’s brand and the podcast simultaneously. In the social media marketing industry alone, there is an abundance of podcasts with hosts and guests from all different backgrounds and brands. In this industry, it is important to always stay up to date with the latest trends and concepts, and we believe that podcasts are one of the best and easiest ways to do so. 1. The Influencer Podcast Our top pick this week is the Influencer Podcast hosted by Julie Solomon. This podcast encompasses the whole influencer experience, discussing trends in the industry, engaging your audience, growing your business's online presence, and much more. The podcast is available to listen on iTunes and Stitcher and often features guests within the industry that offer tips and advice. 2. Hashtag Authentic Hashtag Authentic is a podcast available on iTunes and hosted by Sara Tasker. Tasker herself has over 200k followers on Instagram, the platform that she used to build her audience and business. She offers an inspirational perspective to the online world, and interviews experts in the space every couple of weeks. 3. The GaryVee Audio Experience Gary Vaynerchuk, author, vlogger, and successful entrepreneur took his content to the podcast by creating The GaryVee Audio Experience. With 2.78 million subscribers on YouTube alone and expertise in marketing and business, Gary reaches a wide audience with his episodes that air daily. 4. Casual Fridays Casual Friday's podcast is available on Apple, focusing on current digital trends and social media marketing. Hosted by Tyler Anderson, the podcast interviews top brands and leaders in the industry, discusses ad strategy, formulating copy, and more. 5. Reply All Reply All podcast, launched by Gimlet Media, is downloaded about 5 million times per month. Available on Apple and Spotify and hosted by PJ Vogt and Alex Goldman, the technology podcast details unique feature stories that explore how the internet and people have simultaneously shaped each other. Exploring theories on everything from Jeffrey Epstein to Venmo, it was named the sixth-best podcast of the year in 2019 by The New Yorker.

As an active space filled with millions of users who frequently use the platform to speak out on current events, it comes as no surprise that social media acts as a central outlet for a range of information. Many people, especially young adults, use social media as their sole source for news. Forbes published an article last year stating that 55% of U.S. adults get their news from social media either “often” or “sometimes”, which was an 8% increase from the prior year. As platforms continue to grow and expand, this number is most likely still on the rise. News on social media appears in many forms. It has become an essential part of journalism, with many journalists using Twitter to get headlines out quickly, or Instagram to repost an article they have published. Almost all major news outlets have their own social media accounts in which they use as an extension of their publication. However, any user has the ability to post content presented as fact, which in turn has the potential to be consumed by people worldwide. Major events have occurred in the past few years that have shifted the way that the public consumes and interprets their news, such as the 2016 election, COVID-19, and most recently the explosions in Lebanon. This has not only increased the volume of news but has made accuracy more important than ever. As a result of this, major social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook have all taken responsibility in identifying and combating misinformation, while also trying to remain true to the idea that social media is a space where freedom of speech and expression is highly recognized. One of the most recent steps Twitter has taken to create transparency with its users is labeling accounts. The accounts of key government officials will be clearly labeled as such, and there will also be state-affiliated media labels for higher-up journalists such as editor-in-chief and senior staff members. This is a big step for Twitter, as it will directly inform users of verified sources, as well as correspondingly holding these sources accountable. Twitter stated that they will no longer include tweets from these accounts in their recommendations, as a part of their efforts to support the free and independent press. Instagram and Facebook have similar tactics in their efforts against the spread of misinformation, however, Facebook especially has been accused of being a major hot spot for hate speech and false content for years without action. Recently, Instagram has enforced a system to label posts that may be false, while giving users the option to read why and choose if they still want to view it. Both platforms have employed fact-checkers to review posts, stories, ads, and more. This is where Facebook has received backlash, as many discuss the possible dangers of putting this major responsibility in the hands of a third party. Facebook has also declared that posts made by politicians are not subject to fact-checking, and only outside links included in posts made by politicians can be fact-checked, such as attached links or photos. The viral nature of social media can be harmful to the spread of misinformation, and posts can be seen by millions before their content is verified. Platforms are asking users to help them in their role to remain true to the facts by reading suggested articles to gain context, as well as being familiar with their guidelines and reporting posts that seem to be false. #TalentResources #InfluencerMarketing #SocialMedia

In the past few years, video-based content has become increasingly more popular among Gen-Z-ers with apps like Triller and TikTok growing in market share at an unprecedented rate. While IG stories could be considered the very beginning of large-scale short video use, the impact of this style of content was truly brought to light when TikTok went viral. Now, with the threat of how long TikTok will remain in the United States, and it’s ban from countries like Australia and India, users are taking a look at the advantages of the platform and its competitors on the rise. 1. TikTok TikTok is our number one pick this week. Despite the danger of it being banned in the US, the app currently stands with over 2 billion all-time downloads. It sets the stage and is the top player in the industry, broadcasting numerous challenges that have gone viral worldwide over the past year. The app includes all of the hit features one might need such as the For You Page, the ability to stitch videos together and allowing users to have direct access to audio from the videos that they are viewing. Influencers have had a large presence on TikTok, and it has even become the claim to fame for many. However, while its popularity has never been an issue, its copyright rules have turned many away. TikTok “owns” all snippets of songs used in its videos so one can use that specific sound byte on YouTube because of copyright infringement. This has angered many musicians who have grown on the platform and don’t see any recognition for their efforts. 2. Triller Triller is currently TikTok’s biggest rival having reached the top of the charts as the #1 app worldwide this past week. Triller company executives have stated that the app brings in around 64 million users each month, and it’s quickly gaining attention from many influencers. Josh Richards, who originally became famous on TikTok, has been recently hired as the Chief Strategy Officer at Triller bringing many of TalentX’s influencers onto the new platform. The app embodies a music-video type style with access to songs from Apple Music and the ability to stitch videos together. The fact that Triller uses Apple music is also more appealing for artists who can count song use on the platform as streams. 3. Instagram Reels Instagram Reels is expected to be a big competitor for platforms in video-based content. It’s built into arguably one of the most popular social media platforms and allows users to access without having to create other accounts. Instagram Reels was just launched on August 5 and allows users to produce 15-second clips with music in the background. Users can easily share their videos on Instagram Stories and the Instagram Reels explore page, which is similar to TikTok’s For You Page. The explore page does adapt similarities to the For You Page, along with its “use audio” feature. Many brands have already transitioned to IG Reels because of the low barrier to entry. If a brand already has an IG account, they can automatically have an IG Reels and begin posting immediately. Not only this, but users who already follow the brand will be automatically following the brand’s IG Reels. 4. Dubsmash Dubsmash’s numbers rose to over 500,000 downloads during the last week of June, all while TikTok’s correspondingly fell by 19%, according to Sensor Tower. The New York-based app includes similar features to its competitors such as the ability to upload and edit videos with stickers and filters. Users can also directly share the videos they create for other platforms. Dubsmash is not yet at the same scale as the first three competitors but with a more boutique vibe, they are trying to attract niches. 5. Byte Byte is US based and best known for its short-form video content. The 6-second-long videos differentiate the app from its competitors not only due to the length of content but also the absence of filters or effects. Although the explore page feature persists, Byte places a heavy emphasis on their creators, which is unsurprising considering that it was produced by the co-founder of Vine, where influencers like Jake and Logan Paul first became famous. A few months ago, Byte announced that they would pay their top 100 creators for producing videos on the platform. #TalentResources #SocialMedia #Influencers

It seems like yesterday that TikTok was the “next big thing” with hundreds of millions of users active on a daily basis. However, as its future becomes more and more uncertain, a new contender has risen. Triller shot to the top of the charts Saturday morning becoming the #1 app worldwide, shortly after President Trump announced that he would ban TikTok from the United States. Tensions began rising for TikTok after concerns circulated over its use of user data, and the app was subsequently banned from both Australia and India. For an app that quickly took off in the world of social media, it’s presence may become short lived. Triller, a U.S. based app, stated that user downloads have increased by 20x over the past week, reaching over 250 million downloads worldwide. The platform was originally created with the intent of supporting musicians. This is not a new concept for many artists as Cardi B, Chance the Rapper, Alicia Keys and Chris Brown were all posting to the platform last year. Recently, however, the app has gained even more traction as it has acquired Halogen Networks, which it will use to pay-per-view live stream Mike Tyson's return to boxing when he faces off with Roy Jones Jr. Leading up to Tyson’s return to the ring, famous YouTuber Jake Paul will be facing NBA star Nate Robinson. Paul has over 20 million subscribers on YouTube alone, making the fight guaranteed to boost Triller’s popularity as it is the sole sponsor of the event. Jaeson Ma, co-owner of Triller, had previously invested in Music.ly which later became TikTok. While Triller has begun to adapt to similar concepts as TikTok, such as hosting an array of creators and producing new and similar features, the platforms differentiate in many ways. On Triller, all songs are streamed through Apple Music, and each time a song is played it counts as a stream, and the creator is paid. Part of Triller’s push also happened through TikTok. Ma signed many influencers on the platform and had them promote Triller on all social media platforms. Sway LA is a great example of this with Griffin Johnson and Bryce Hall posting on IG stories and TikTok with Triller branded swag. To mitigate the situation, TikTok U.S. General Manager Vanessa Pappas posted a video to TikTok ensuring users that the app is not going anywhere. However, this promise could be threatened if Microsoft is not able to acquire ownership of the platform in the coming weeks. Other apps like Instagram Reels are also hoping to become the next TikTok, but with uncertainty over the future, nobody truly knows what the next few weeks will look like. #TikTok #Triller #SocialMedia #InfluencerMarketing