This Week’s Social Media Marketing Updates (June 12–19, 2025)

Top 20 Social Media Marketing Updates

Welcome to this week’s social media marketing breakdown from Cool Nerds. From TikTok’s AI ad rollout to Meta’s push for full automation, the week of June 19, 2025, delivered major shifts across platforms. Whether you’re a social media strategist, marketing exec, or agency lead, this roundup gives you everything you need to stay ahead—fast, clear, and with all the source links included. Let’s get into the 20 biggest headlines shaping the social media world right now.

1. **Uber rolls out ads-funded rides**
   Uber introduces “Ride Offers” ads—brands sponsor users’ rides (Coors Light first) to boost in-app engagement.
   🔗 [Source: Business Insider] theverge.com+14businessinsider.com+14instagram.com+14
2. **TikTok ban delayed for 90 days**
   Former President Trump grants TikTok a 90-day reprieve to finalize a U.S. sale. Marketers get more breathing room.
   🔗 [Source: The Guardian] theguardian.com+1businessinsider.com+1
3. **Lyft CMO: customer-obsessed strategies**
   Lyft’s CMO Brian Irving emphasizes data and user feedback as core to differentiated brand marketing.
   🔗 [Source: Business Insider] licerainc.com+12businessinsider.com+12advertising.businessinsider.com+12
4. **Top 25 Most Innovative CMOs 2025 named**
   Business Insider recognizes CMOs who lead with GenAI, influencer marketing, and real-time content.
   🔗 [Source: Business Insider] businessinsider.com+1contentgrip.com+1
5. **TikTok AI avatars debut for product ads**
   TikTok’s Symphony now supports AI-generated influencer-style ads—fully synthetic campaigns that mimic human influencers.
   🔗 [Source: The Verge] umaimarketing.com+14theverge.com+14businessinsider.com+14instagram.com+3admonsters.com+3linkedin.com+3
6. **Nextdoor bans AI data scraping**
   Nextdoor CEO rejects AI licensing, opting instead to develop internal AI tools using local community data.
   🔗 [Source: Business Insider] en.wikipedia.org+2businessinsider.com+2en.wikipedia.org+2businessinsider.com
7. **Influencers take Cannes by storm**
   Cannes 2025 sees influencers like Emira D’Spain spotlight mental health and monetization issues.
   🔗 [Source: Page Six] pagesix.com
8. **Citi’s CMO redefines B2B storytelling**
   Citigroup refocuses its marketing on personalized digital platforms and agile content creation.
   🔗 [Source: Business Insider] businessinsider.com+1wsj.com+1
9. **Addison Rae pivots TikTok→pop success**
   Rae strategically rebranded, dropping daily vlogs for storytelling and music partnerships for mainstream credibility.
   🔗 [Source: Business Insider] en.wikipedia.org+15businessinsider.com+15businessinsider.com+15businessinsider.com+1contentgrip.com+1
10. **Starbucks paying $136K for global creators**
    Starbucks hires two influencers for year-long global travel content, ditching traditional agency model.
    🔗 [Source: Business Insider] businessinsider.com+3businessinsider.com+3businessinsider.com+3
11. **Meta to auto-create FB/IG ads by 2026**
    Meta CEO announces plans for AI-driven end-to-end ad campaigns: creative, bidding, targeting all automated.
    🔗 [Source: The Guardian] businessinsider.com+9en.wikipedia.org+9businessinsider.com+9theguardian.com
12. **BlackRock CEO warns on social media risk**
    Larry Fink suggests social platforms could threaten leadership credibility—advocates “guarded” messaging.
    🔗 [Source: Business Insider] en.wikipedia.org+3businessinsider.com+3en.wikipedia.org+3
13. **June’s big social trends previewed**
    Short‑form video dominance, social commerce, and AI content personalization are key June 2025 themes.
    🔗 [Source: Favoured] en.wikipedia.org+8favoured.co.uk+8hootsuite.com+8
14. **Short‑form video still 2025’s king**
    78% of users prefer short clips; TikTok ~2B users. Reels, Shorts, and Reels rules still lead engagement.
    🔗 [Source: Sendible] sendible.com+1favoured.co.uk+1
15. **Social listening = performance wins**
    Listening tools outperform vanity metrics: 62% of brands now connect social activities directly to ROI.
    🔗 [Source: Hootsuite] businessinsider.com+12hootsuite.com+12en.wikipedia.org+12
16. **AI content now accepted on social teams**
    69%+ of marketers call Generative AI “revolutionary,” using it for scalable content creation.
    🔗 [Source: Hootsuite] hootsuite.com
17. **U.S. visa seekers must go public on social**
    State Dept now requires foreign student visa applicants to share public social media as part of background checks.
    🔗 [Source: Business Insider] theguardian.com+12businessinsider.com+12instagram.com+12
18. **Media execs on AI transforming TV & social**
    Industry leaders say AI-powered recommendations are key to TV’s future, merging entertainment and social.
    🔗 [Source: Business Insider] businessinsider.com+7businessinsider.com+7theverge.com+7
19. **Business Insider cuts 21% staff for AI focus**
    BI undergoes layoffs to pivot toward live events and AI content efficiency—signaling big shifts in media.
    🔗 [Source: ContentGrip] licerainc.com+2contentgrip.com+2en.wikipedia.org+2
20. **EU age limits coming for social minors**
    Australia and Florida lead way; EU Social Media Bill restricts under‑16 access, affecting global policy.
    🔗 [Source: Wikipedia] en.wikipedia.org