Here’s everything marketers, creators and brands need to know about the biggest social media updates for December 2025.
As the festive season takes over timelines, platforms are leaning hard into AI-powered creativity, creator protection, shopping features, and a surprising amount of digital wellbeing tools…just in time for those “New Year, less scrolling” resolutions.
Missed last month’s roundup? Catch up on the November social media updates here.
TikTok updates its AI toolkit for creators
TikTok’s latest move in the AI space is a big one. They’ve introduced Smart Split, an intelligent tool that automatically clips, reframes, captions, and transcribes long-form videos into short-form content, perfect for TikTok’s fast-paced nature.
And with AI Outline, creators can now get help generating titles, hashtags, and hooks based on trending content, taking the guesswork out of crafting viral posts.
Threads introduces Ghost Posts
After months of testing, Threads has launched Ghost Posts, a disappearing text-based update that vanishes after 24 hours. It’s a fresh twist on Stories, but for text, making it easier for creators to share spontaneous thoughts and moments without the pressure of permanence.
Posts appear in a bubble-style display to signal their short lifespan and are saved to a private archive for the original creator.
Threads adds new ad variations
More tools for brands! Threads has added 4:5 image/video rendering and static 1:1 carousel ads. These new ad formats give you more ways to create attention-grabbing visuals, optimising them for better performance in-feed.
- 4:5 image/video rendering
- Video ads supporting multiple aspect ratios
- Static 1:1 carousel ads
- Placement asset customisation
Threads introduces reply approvals
Creators now have more control over their community interactions. Threads now allows creators to approve, or filter replies before they appear publicly.
For brands or creators, this helps maintain a positive comment environment and reduces risk of negative threads impacting brand perception.
Reddit introduces new interactive ads
Reddit has launched exciting new interactive ad formats, including countdowns, quizzes, and dynamic reveals. These features are perfect for engaging audiences during the holiday season and driving those all-important conversions.
What’s new:
- New interactive ad formats include countdowns, quizzes, and dynamic reveals.
- Automated targeting and WooCommerce integration make ad management easier.
Pinterest curates festive gift guides
Pinterest is getting into the holiday spirit with curated gift guides, including categories like “Thoughtful gifts under $50” and “Gifts for the Chronically Caffeinated.” A great opportunity for brands to showcase their products in front of eager shoppers
Instagram Edits expands creative tools
Instagram’s Edits app just got a whole lot more powerful. Now you can create customisable captions with animations, adjust colour sliders for hue, saturation, and more, plus choose from 28 new video effects. Perfect for making your content pop during the festive season.
Threads tests podcast integrations
Users can now link podcasts to their profiles and generate previews when sharing links.
Brands with audio content can increase discoverability by sharing previews in posts, driving listeners back to full episodes.
Reddit holiday shopping insights
Reddit has reported that shoppers are researching and buying earlier than ever. The platform has become a go-to for gift ideas and deals, with many turning to Reddit for unique holiday suggestions.
Pinterest AI assistant
Pinterest now offers an AI assistant that provides product suggestions based on conversational or visual queries.
This social media update helps users find products from Pins quickly and it is a chance for brands to feature products in AI-powered recommendations.
YouTube updates for creators
YouTube is testing several new features to help creators optimise their content:
- Paid vs. Organic Metric Splits: Gives creators better insight into paid and organic performance.
- AI-Assisted Editing (Testing): Simplifies the editing process with AI-powered tools.
- Product Timestamps and Notes: Allows creators to add timestamps and product details.
- Pre-Publish Content Checks: Ensures content is compliant with community guidelines before going live.
These updates will help creators refine their content and improve performance.
Meta updates
Meta is rolling out several updates across Facebook and Instagram:
- AI-powered ad recommendations are now integrated into all campaigns.
- Facebook Content Protection for Reels to help creators protect their content.
- Instagram Reels has added features for longer recordings, an undo option for clips, and smoother green screen functionality
Google introduces new AI tools
Google has introduced several new AI-powered tools:
- Pomelli Business DNA: Generates campaign ideas from branding elements
- Nano Banana Pro: High-quality image creation you can try it in Google Gemini
- Ads & Analytics Advisors: Provide actionable insights for campaigns
TikTok wellbeing and holiday updates
TikTok is rolling out a variety of wellbeing and holiday-themed updates, including:
- Time and Wellbeing Space: mindfulness missions, journaling, breathing exercises
- Manage Topics slider: control AI content visibility
- Shop Safety report: screening, moderation, returns/refunds
- Holiday Hub: festive marketing guide and tips
- Trending seasonal audio: Gossip Girl x Wham!’s “Last Christmas” , Sia’s “Snowman”
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About the author
Niamh Conneely | Junior Account Manager
With experience across beauty, lifestyle, and tech, working with both B2B and B2C brands, Niamh is passionate about all things social and loves turning strategy into engaging campaigns.
