☝️Instagram Picks, X Recs, and songs of the week…

Elon says X is better than ever…Here’s what else is going on:

📰 Content Creator News

 
☝️ Instagram Picks?

Instagram confirmed it’s prototyping “Picks,” an upcoming profile feature where users list favorite movies, books, music and more to find overlaps with friends. This focus on shared interests aligns with Instagram’s 2025 goal of sparking more personal connections.

📖 Read more: Instagram Experiments with ‘Picks’ to Connect Friends Through Shared Interests in Movies, Music, and More

 ❎ X has new Recs for Creators

Elon Musk says X is testing a new content-ranking algorithm powered by his AI startup xAI’s model (codenamed “Grok 4 Mini”). Musk claims the experimental algo is already producing “better” feed recommendations.

📖 Read more: Musk Says New X Algorithm Is "Definitely Better"

🤝 Tip: Foster Community

Short-form vertical video remains king (no surprise), but we’re also seeing a push toward more personal, “friends-only” content discovery. Instagram’s new Friends Reels tab and Maps are all about sharing posts among closer circles, countering the purely algorithmic feed.

The message for creators: fostering community and interaction (e.g. starting group discussions, niche interest content) can pay off as platforms prioritize friend recommendations.

📖 Read More: Instagram is developing a feature that helps users find shared interests

🎧 Trending songs of the Week

Breakin’ Dishes - Rihanna 🎶

It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over - Lenny Kravitz 🎶

Tuesday’s Gone - Lynyrd Skynyrd 🎶