your February trends and news recap

February was all about connection (duh), and it’s the same in the marketing space—whether it's strengthening relationships with your audience, refining your strategy, or staying ahead of the latest algorithm change. A lot happened this month from emerging trends to key updates—let’s dive right in:

trend alert: long-form REELs

Since Instagram's new update (or TikTokification, as K calls it), I've seen many accounts gravitate toward long-form REELs, which should become your new go-to! They give you more time to connect, educate, and engage without cramming everything into a few rushed seconds.

how to use it:

Share a step-by-step tutorial, a behind-the-scenes look at your process, or a success story. Keep it engaging with clear visuals, smooth transitions, and captions that guide viewers through the content. Remember a strong hook -grab their attention early so they stick around until the end.

trend alert: photo dumps in business accounts

Photo dumps aren't just for personal accounts any more brands are using them to showcase behind-the-scenes moments, team highlights, and product lifestyle shots in an effortless and authentic way. This is an easy trend to keep your audience engaged and informed.

how to use it:

Share a celebratory photo, a graphic highlighting the achievement, or a behind-the-scenes video of the process. Pair it with captions that acknowledge the effort involved and thank your audience for their support, giving them a front-row seat to your success.

Instagram update: focus areas

Meta is stepping up its AI game with new memory features, allowing its assistant to remember your preferences and tailor responses accordingly. This means a more personalized experience—if you mention you’re vegan, for example, it’ll remember and recommend only vegan recipes in the future. It’s all about smarter, more intuitive interactions designed just for you!

how to use it:

Start by enabling them in your settings, allowing the assistant to remember key details over time. The more you interact and share preferences—like dietary choices or favorite topics—the more personalized your experience becomes. If you ever want to update or remove stored information, you can easily manage it in the settings.

Instagram news: Meta's safety process

Meta is shifting away from its strict data privacy controls to focus more on innovation. The company is reducing the influence of privacy concerns in product development and reassessing past decisions. This comes despite having spent $8 billion on privacy initiatives since 2019, and aligns with increasing AI competition and a return to its "move fast and break things" approach!

how to use it:

Users should take a proactive approach to managing their personal information. Start by reviewing and updating your privacy settings to ensure they align with your comfort level. Regularly check for changes in Meta’s data policies, as the company reassesses past decisions. With Meta’s renewed emphasis on fast innovation, staying informed and proactive is key.

Whew! For February being the shortest month of the year, it sure was jam-packed. I’m excited to see what March holds, see you next month!