Streets Ahead: Tiktok Ban Looming, Trial Reels
In this week’s Streets Ahead update, SOCi discusses the looming TikTok ban and the Instagram roll out of Trial Reels.
TikTok Ban Looming
The News The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled on Friday in favor of the government, affirming that TikTok must divest from its parent company, ByteDance, by January 19 or face a nationwide shutdown under a law passed earlier this year. On Monday, ByteDance’s legal team filed an emergency motion seeking a delay, arguing that the case is likely to be overturned by the Supreme Court and that additional time is necessary for proper deliberation.
Meanwhile, incoming President Trump has pledged to “save” TikTok, but he will not take office until January 20, the day after the ban is set to take effect. President Biden could issue an order delaying the ban by 90 days, but such an action would require TikTok to have already made significant progress toward divestiture—a condition that reports indicate has not been met.
Why This Matters This is a high-stakes story with an uncertain outcome. The court is expected to decide on ByteDance’s emergency request by today (Dec 16) . However, even if an extension is granted, it remains unclear whether the legal process already in motion can be halted.
In a recent column for Slate, Scott Nover suggests several potential actions President Trump could take: petition Congress to repeal the law, direct the Justice Department to refrain from enforcing it, or negotiate a “qualified divestiture” as a compromise. Nover also highlights the practical challenges of enforcing a ban, noting that while users might retain the app on their devices, they would be unable to receive updates.
This evolving story is one to watch closely.
Instagram Rolls Out Trial Reels for Creative Content Testing
The News Instagram has introduced Trial Reels, a new feature that allows creators to test content with non-followers before sharing it with their main audience. The global rollout begins today, with broader availability to eligible creators in the coming weeks.
This feature is designed to help creators experiment with new ideas or formats without the pressure of immediately sharing them with their followers. If a Trial Reel performs well, creators can choose to share it manually or set it to be automatically shared with followers if it gains strong engagement within 72 hours.
To use the feature, creators can toggle the “Trial” option when uploading a Reel. Trial Reels will not appear in followers’ feeds or on the creator’s profile grid unless made public. Engagement metrics, including views, likes, and shares, become available approximately 24 hours after posting. Creators can also compare these metrics with previous trial performances, offering valuable insights into a Reel’s potential success.
This tool gives creators the freedom to innovate and refine their content strategy with confidence.
Why This Matters Trial Reels underwent testing earlier this year, with Instagram incorporating feedback from beta participants into the feature’s final design. Creators in the beta reported success in reaching new audiences while staying relevant to their existing followers. This launch underscores Instagram’s dedication to providing creators with tools that encourage creative experimentation and drive audience growth.
