Social Media Trends — 2026-09-14
Social media platforms continue to refine creator tools and privacy features, with TikTok testing new visibility controls and Instagram introducing post-publishing editing capabilities. Meanwhile, the "2026 is the new 2016" nostalgia trend persists, and regulatory pressures in France regarding youth access remain a key topic for platform compliance.
Social Media Trends — 2026-09-14
Platform Updates
TikTok is currently testing a new feature on iOS called "Don't Show on TikTok Profile." This option allows creators to keep a video off their main profile grid while still permitting it to appear in the "For You" feeds of users who do not follow them. This update offers creators more granular control over their public portfolio without sacrificing potential reach.
Instagram has rolled out a feature allowing users to rearrange the order of images and videos within a carousel after publishing. Using a drag-and-drop function, creators can now update the sequence of media in existing posts to optimize performance or correct errors without deleting and reposting the content.
Trending
The "2026 is the new 2016" social media trend continues to gain traction. This movement involves users recreating or referencing cultural moments from 2016, such as the Mannequin Challenge, Pokémon Go, and the Chainsmokers' music. The trend reflects a broader nostalgia for mid-2010s internet culture, with users contrasting current digital norms with those of a decade ago.
Another ongoing viral format is the "Saxophone Gets Louder" meme. This trend involves dramatic, often humorous scenarios where a saxophone sound effect intensifies, used to underscore awkward or escalating situations. Its simplicity and universal relatability have kept it active across major platforms throughout September 2026.
Creator Watch
Regulatory & Policy Shifts: France’s government has presented a bill proposing a ban on social media access for children under age 15. While the debate was expected to take place in early 2026, it remains a critical regulatory development affecting platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, with ongoing implications for age-verification technologies and compliance strategies.
Creator Tools & Strategy: Instagram has shared a five-step video editing playbook based on insights from Meta’s Edits app. The guide emphasizes using hooks, cutting to the beat, adding on-screen text for sound-off viewing, and utilizing Insights to identify drop-off points. This aligns with broader platform efforts to help creators optimize short-form video performance.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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