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Text reads: September Social Media and Online Safety Updates. Illustration of girl with blue hair and the word 'wow' reflected in her sunglasses appears on the right.

September can be a crunch point for those of us in comms and safeguarding, as Q4 content planning collides with back-to-school spikes in online activity. Against that backdrop, one theme cuts through: trust.

Platforms are cracking down on automated engagement and audiences continue to seek out practical, human content. Read on for the latest social media algorithm updates, engagement trends, and online safety developments.

🌱Community Building & Engagement

8 ideas for your next video

YouTube shares 8 strategies to help you spark your next brilliant video idea and get that creative momentum back.

TikTok metrics you should be tracking in 2025

A practical guide to the most relevant TikTok performance indicators to include in your reports.

21 Instagram Stories hacks To boost engagement

Creative tricks and new features to increase interaction on Stories.

Social media algorithms: 2025 guide for all major networks

The latest breakdown of how algorithms work across Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Facebook and X.

Instagram shares tips on how to grow your following

Instagram’s latest advice on content formats and frequency to help grow your audience.

5 trends shaping social media marketing so far in 2025

Andrew Hutchinson at Social Media Today points to the most important shifts in audience behaviour and platform strategy and their implications. 

Lend your support to World Suicide Prevention Day 2025 with these social media templates from Samaritans

Engaging, ready-to-use assets from Samaritans to help you mark this important awareness day.

🔐 Trust & Safety

Bluesky goes dark in Mississippi over age verification law

The decentralised platform withdraws from a US state due to new regulations affecting under-18s

Meta’s AI rules have let bots hold ‘sensual’ chats with kids, offer false medical info

An internal Meta policy document reveals the company’s rules for chatbots, which have permitted provocative behaviour on topics including sex, race and celebrities.

TikTok’s new guidelines add subtle changes for LIVE creators, AI content, and more

The company warns creators they’re responsible for anything that happens on their live session, even if it involves third-party tools, like real-time translation or voice-to-text tools to read out viewers’ comments.

‘Tamed’ algorithms and plummeting pornography views: Impact of new online safety rules revealed one month on

Sky News reports on the difference the Online Safety Act has made.

🔧 Platform Updates

As always, we’ll continue monitoring platform, policy, and user behaviour changes, and what that means for those of us working on the front lines of digital communities. If you’re looking for a trusted partner in moderation, safeguarding, or strategic online community support, get in touch with our team

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