Social Media Updates May 2025: Hot Features, Hidden Risks & One Massive Law You Cannot Ignore
Summer is flirting with us, and I am ready. But while you're out here manifesting sunshine and iced coffees, the platforms are doing what they do best—dropping updates like confetti and quietly shifting the rules of the game. As we dive into social media updates May 2025, it’s crucial to understand the implications of these changes.
Instagram alone coughed up ten updates in April. TikTok and Meta? Equally chaotic. And when you thought it couldn’t get more intense, the UK government casually drops the DMCC Act — a law with teeth, fines, and real consequences if you’re cutting corners in your marketing.
Here’s your brutally honest, no-fluff breakdown of what’s new on socials and why now is the time to get your digital house in order.
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 officially kicks in April 2025 — but don’t get comfy. It’s already shifting expectations around how businesses show up online. In short?
The days of shady marketing tactics are numbered.
The DMCC cracks down on:
And it’s not a slap-on-the-wrist situation. We’re talking fines of up to 10% of your global turnover or £300k, whichever is greater. Yes, global. Even the small fish need to swim smart now.
Let’s be honest — IG updates like it’s got commitment issues. Here’s what matters this month:
Instagram’s new video editing app is finally out, but CapCut hasn’t been fired yet. It’s fine, but it’s not groundbreaking.
IG wants to recommend Reels you and your mates like in a shared DM thread. Honestly, more noise, less joy.
AI is now recommending related searches based on your post and its comments. This feels a bit “hover parent,” but it could be helpful to for visibility.
You can now see view counts for all your posts, not just Reels. For now, it's just you, but you know that’ll change eventually.
A handy notification showing your monthly stats, top-performing content, and when your audience is most active. Finally, some valuable data in-app.
This is great for content that needs credibility (think team info, opening hours) but doesn’t need to hit the feed.
Want to drop VIP-only content? Locked Reels let you share videos that require a code to view. Think of giveaways, events, and member-only access.
See your most viewed Reels in one tap. Handy for auditing content performance — or reminding yourself you peaked in 2022. No judgement.
For the Notes-obsessed among you, now you can change the background colour. Does this matter? No. Will you use it? Probably.
A privacy feature that lets you hide sensitive locations like your home or office from IG maps. About time.
Before regulators and platforms do it for you, here's what to clean up now.
Stop asking your mum, cousin, or dog walker to leave five stars. If you reward a review? Disclose it. If it’s fake? Delete it.
No, they don't boost your numbers. No, they’re not worth a £300k fine or losing consumer trust. Engagement must be real—or it's misleading.
Whether it's gifted products or paid promotions, influencers must label them properly—and so should you. #Ad is non-negotiable now. Full disclosure should not be buried in hidden copy. It's also your responsibility to ensure those you work with are also compliant.
No more “From £20!” then slapping on £12 in “service fees” at checkout. That’s called drip pricing. It’s illegal now. Get your pricing house in order.
Unless you're actually #1 in your category, don’t say you are. Same goes for “best-selling”, “award-winning”, or “top-rated”. Back it up — or tone it down.
Social media is still one of the best free tools for growing your business, but it’s not the Wild West anymore. The DMCC Act is your sign to stop winging it and start getting smart:
✅ Audit your content
✅ Clean up your old posts
✅ Double-check any influencer or affiliate relationships
✅ Be transparent, truthful, and customer-first
You can still be creative, edgy, funny, and bold — do it in a way that’s honest and compliant.
Social Media Updates May 2025
Social Media Updates May 2025 Social Media Updates May 2025 Social Media Updates May 2025 Social Media Updates May 2025
