The Instagram Stories - Social Media News

On today's episode, Daniel Hill dives into the latest YouTube custom feeds and essential Instagram creator tips to help you optimize your content strategy.
First, we break down YouTube's new custom feeds for the homepage, allowing you to personalize your content experience. Rene Ritchie from the YouTube Creator Insider team explains how to use these new features, which replace topic chips and sync across mobile and desktop.
Then, Instagram's head, Adam Mosseri, shares his insights on testing new long-form video features, highlighting the challenges of creating both long and short-form content. Plus, Instagram's VP of Product, Tessa Lyons, answers crucial creator questions: she reveals why translations are a powerful growth tool, what metric she checks first in insights (follower vs. non-follower views), and how trial reels can help you grow your account by reaching new audiences.
We also hear from the TikTok team on video retention—it's not about length, but keeping viewers watching. Finally, YouTuber Hank Green shares his unique creative process for generating endless content ideas, emphasizing the importance of getting ideas out to make space for new ones.
Stick around after the music for Wednesday Waffle, and if you're a social media creator or strategist in the NY/NJ area, or have a story to share, Daniel is looking for podcast guests! DM @DanielHillMedia to connect.

Links:
YouTube: New! Custom Feeds & Updated Subs Feed Navigation (YouTube)
Instagram: Tessa Lyons Answers 3 Questions (Instagram)
TikTok: Short Videos or Long Videos? Neither. (TikTok)
YouTube: Hank Green: Ideas Need To Get Out (YouTube)






The Instagram Reach Playbook - Digital Guide (PDF)
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Daniel Hill welcomes you to a new episode of social media news and strategy. This week, we're diving into insights directly from Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram, as he discusses new Instagram features and clarifies crucial details about Instagram reach.
Adam Mosseri shares updates on the new long-form video content called 'Features,' explaining it's currently in limited testing and will take 'months' to roll out widely, giving creators time to strategize. We also tackle common questions about what impacts your reach on Instagram. Adam confirms that removing a post from your grid won't significantly affect your overall reach, and using third-party editing apps like CapCut is fine—unless they add watermarks. He encourages trying Instagram's own 'Edits' app, which is getting a desktop version 'really soon,' with rumors pointing to a November launch.
Ever wondered why links in comments aren't clickable? Adam Mosseri explains Instagram's stance: it's to prevent spam and maintain the platform's focus on visual media. You can still use links in your bio and via story stickers. Plus, we cover the frustrating lack of a search option in saved collections (Instagram is experimenting with it), whether you can post multiple different trial reels in a day (yes), and a surprising detail about trimming videos in stories. Adam also acknowledges ongoing work to improve the Android app, which most Instagram users rely on.
If you're struggling with your Instagram strategy or reach, Daniel offers a 30-minute session to analyze your content and develop future strategies. Alternatively, check out the *Instagram Reach Playbook*, a 19-page guide to understanding reach, retention, and traffic sources. Find links to both in the show notes. Thanks for listening, and come back next time for more social media news and strategy.
Links:
The Instagram Reach Playbook - Digital Guide (PDF)
Book a Strategy Session (30 minutes)

The Equipment I Use:
Phone: Samsung S25 Ultra with S-Pen included (Amazon)
Microphone: Shure MV7+ USB-C & XLR Podcast Dynamic Mic with Stand (Amazon)
Headphones: Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds (Amazon)
Laptop: Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable Detachable 2-in-1 Laptop Tablet Touch | 13" (Amazon)

Leave a Review of the Podcast: Apple Podcasts

Connect with me on Instagram: @danielhillmedia
Connect with me on Threads: @danielhillmedia
Connect with me on YouTube: @danielhill_media

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Daniel Hill breaks down Instagram's new long-form video strategy, featuring insights from Adam Mosseri and Tessa Lyons on how it integrates with Reels and the TV app to compete with YouTube.
This episode also covers key takeaways from Adam Mosseri's weekly 'Ask Me Anything' (AMA). Hear Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram, and Tessa Lyons, VP of Product, explain their pivot to longer videos, emphasizing its potential for creators like podcasters and comedians. They discuss the vision for a symbiotic relationship between short-form Reels and long-form content, allowing discovery on mobile and deeper engagement on TV.
Daniel shares his perspective on Instagram's commitment to new features, recalling past initiatives like IGTV and NFTs, and raises questions about monetization for creators.
Later, Daniel dives into Adam Mosseri's AMA, addressing critical questions from the community. Find out if the Instagram algorithm favors negativity (and Daniel's take on the answer), whether scheduling posts hurts reach, and how photographers can still grow without relying solely on Reels by leveraging carousels and music. Mosseri also explains why some users get new features before others, the balance between improving existing features and adding new ones, and the availability of AI dubbing and translations for Reels, including lip-syncing for global reach. If you're struggling to grow on Instagram, book a time on Daniel's calendar or access his Instagram Reach Playbook via the links in the show notes.
Thank you for listening, and come back next time for more social media news, strategy, and other things you should know.



Links:
Instagram announces long-form video (Instagram)

The Instagram Reach Playbook - Digital Guide (PDF)
Book a Strategy Session (30 minutes)

The Equipment I Use:
Phone: Samsung S25 Ultra with S-Pen included (Amazon)
Microphone: Shure MV7+ USB-C & XLR Podcast Dynamic Mic with Stand (Amazon)
Headphones: Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds (Amazon)
Laptop: Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable Detachable 2-in-1 Laptop Tablet Touch | 13" (Amazon)

Leave a Review of the Podcast: Apple Podcasts

Connect with me on Instagram: @danielhillmedia
Connect with me on Threads: @danielhillmedia
Connect with me on YouTube: @danielhill_media

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Daniel Hill breaks down the recent interview with TikTok CEO Shou Chew, where he revealed how AI is shaping content creation, search, and user safety on the platform. Shou Chew highlighted a surprising gap between the volume of AI-generated video clips created and the low single-digit percentage of views they receive. He explained that while AI is transforming short dramas and micro-series (Duanju) similar to how Photoshop enhances magazine photos, human authenticity remains key for consumption.
The CEO also detailed TikTok's built-in AI search tool, which includes a chatbot experience for users to have conversations about video content and trends. Crucially, Shou Chew shared how TikTok leverages AI for user safety and content moderation. He described how AI agents can quickly analyze content across diverse user experiences, and how advanced video recognition models convert live streams into text narratives to detect guideline violations, like dangerous driving at 160 km/h, which humans might miss.
If you're looking to enhance your own social media strategy, Daniel offers 30-minute consulting sessions for $99 and the Instagram Reach Playbook Digital Guide for $9.99. Find links to both in the show notes.
Links:
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew at DBS Asia Future Forward Conference (YouTube)




Links:

The Instagram Reach Playbook - Digital Guide (PDF)
Book a Strategy Session (30 minutes)

The Equipment I Use:
Phone: Samsung S25 Ultra with S-Pen included (Amazon)
Microphone: Shure MV7+ USB-C & XLR Podcast Dynamic Mic with Stand (Amazon)
Headphones: Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds (Amazon)
Laptop: Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable Detachable 2-in-1 Laptop Tablet Touch | 13" (Amazon)

Leave a Review of the Podcast: Apple Podcasts

Connect with me on Instagram: @danielhillmedia
Connect with me on Threads: @danielhillmedia
Connect with me on YouTube: @danielhill_media

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to The Instagram Stories! Host Daniel Hill brings you the latest insights on Instagram reach directly from Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram. Adam answers your most pressing questions: Do paid ads affect organic reach? Does hiding likes harm your distribution? Is AI-generated content throttled?
He also clarifies if what you watch impacts your content's visibility and shares a key strategy for increasing your audience: always use translations for your Reels. Plus, get Adam's take on trial Reels, how to find blocked users, and the future of the Edits app with upcoming cloud storage for drafts. Daniel also introduces his new Reach Playbook to help you improve your content's visibility. Tune in for essential platform updates and strategy.

Links:

The Instagram Reach Playbook - Digital Guide (PDF)
Book Me for a Consulting Session (30 minutes)

The Equipment I Use:
Phone: Samsung S25 Ultra with S-Pen included (Amazon)
Microphone: Shure MV7+ USB-C & XLR Podcast Dynamic Mic with Stand (Amazon)
Headphones: Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds (Amazon)
Laptop: Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable Detachable 2-in-1 Laptop Tablet Touch | 13" (Amazon)


Leave a Review of the Podcast: Apple Podcasts

Connect with me on Instagram: @danielhillmedia
Connect with me on Threads: @danielhillmedia
Connect with me on YouTube: @danielhill_media

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.