What’s Actually Changing in Social Media Right Now

While most platform updates are distractions, some industry shifts do matter:

• Political agendas are influencing platform policies. In the health and wellness space, this has been restrictive for years but moderation has loosened slightly. Topics like psychedelics are no longer automatically penalized. That said, some users and brands are still leaving platforms like X, Instagram, and Facebook due to political or ethical concerns.
  

• Meta has ended third-party fact-checking. The program was officially discontinued in early July. But that doesn’t mean a free-for-all: expect continued content moderation, deamplification, and shadowbanning, especially around certain health-related topics and claims.
  

• TikTok’s future remains uncertain. Legislation to force a sale or ban of the platform in the U.S. has passed, though enforcement timelines are still unfolding. There’s a real risk it could disappear or change hands. Platforms rise and fall. Brands should diversify now to avoid future disruptions.
  

• Mass platform exoduses are unlikely—but decentralization is happening. More people are exploring alternative platforms such as BlueSky in lieu of X, making cross-platform strategies even more critical.
  

• Bottom line: Brands or influencers that rely on one platform and neglect to build their owned channels (e.g. email list) are putting themselves at risk.