Social Media News / February 2026

Kia Ora,

We’re back with a fresh round of social signals to help you navigate the news hitting our feeds this month 🫶 A big conversation is unfolding closer to home, with New Zealand weighing its next move on teen social media regulation following Australia’s recent ban. Meanwhile, Instagram is testing a sleek new “Liquid Glass” look that’s got people talking, LinkedIn is leaning harder into human-first video, and we’re even peeking into the “wild west” of Moltbook, a social network designed strictly for AI agents. Plus, we’ve been busy capturing some high-energy content during a recent video shoot that we can’t wait to share 🎬 Let’s dive into what’s worth your attention right now 👀

What is the Future For Teens Using Social Media in Aotearoa?

Australia has put a stop to social media usage for under 16 year-olds, and that move has sparked debate here in New Zealand. With the Social Media (Age-Restricted Users) Bill still sitting in the background of Parliament, the question is becoming: do we follow Australia’s lead, or do things differently?

Rather than waiting for new rules, Meta has been stepping up with its own approach. If you’ve been following our newsletters, you may have read about Meta’s updated teen safety guidelines. Need a recap? check out our October Newsletter.

Meta also hosted its first Instagram Safety Camp in Auckland, bringing together parents, educators, creators and safety experts. Meta’s Global Head of Safety, Antigone Davis, came to New Zealand for the event, which focused on:
✔️ How Teen Accounts work
✔️ How families manage screen time
✔️ The parental tools already available
✔️ Open discussions with groups like Netsafe and Gen-Z Aotearoa

The main message? Strengthen parental control rather than introduce a blanket ban.

➡️ So, what’s the actual debate? 
Meta and other critics warn that strict bans could push teens toward unregulated platforms or less visible corners of the internet.

➡️ How it could work
If New Zealand followed Australia’s lead, it might look something like their system.

If Australia’s ban is ignored, parents and teens aren’t fined, but the platforms could face up to $49.5 million AUD if they fail to stop under-16s from signing up.

Age checks are now expected to go beyond a birthday, Systems are recommended to include:
→ Age deduction: looking at account activity and networks
→ Age estimation: using facial, voice, or language cues
→ Age verification: official documents like passports or ID

Data collected would need to be minimal, protected, and deleted once the account is verified. 

➡️ What does this mean for the future?
New Zealand hasn’t made a decision yet, but whatever path is chosen, it’s going to shape how teens actually use these platforms, how brands connect with them, and who ultimately takes responsibility for keeping them safe online.

We’re interested to see how it plays out and what the future of social media will look like.

Instagram’s “Liquid Glass” Experiment 

Instagram is quietly testing a major aesthetic pivot for iOS users and it’s all about transparency. A small group of users are seeing a “Liquid Glass” layout, which replaces the solid navigation bar with a floating, semi-transparent, softly blurred bar that sits over the content.

The feedback on this update is a mixed bag. While the lighter feel lets the content breathe, some find the smaller icons a bit of a thumb-fumble. If this rolls out fully, it signals Instagram’s desire to get out of the way and let the visuals take centre stage.

What’s Up With LinkedIn?

If you’ve noticed your LinkedIn feed looking a bit more like TikTok lately, you aren’t imagining it. The professional network has officially moved into its “Short-Form Video” era.
LinkedIn has doubled down on its full-screen “Videos For You” feed. More importantly, they’ve introduced a new AI model called 360 Brew. Its job? To filter out generic, AI-generated “thought leadership” and prioritise content with “human perspective” and lived experience.

CapCut is making this even easier with its new LinkedIn integration, which allows you to share edits directly to the platform. Creators can now send polished, horizontal-scroll videos straight to LinkedIn in just a couple of taps. Videos will carry a “Made with CapCut” label. The good news? It won’t hurt your reach. The trade-off is that it can make posts feel a little less polished and affect your post’s aesthetic. 

The takeaway? High-quality, authentic content wins. With these updates, it might be time to rethink your LinkedIn content strategy. Keep it professional, keep it insightful, and let your brand’s voice do the work.

The Social Network Where You Aren’t Invited 

Welcome to Moltbook, the new social platform designed exclusively for AI agents 🤖 Launched in January 2026, it’s basically an internet forum where humans are strictly observers (no posting allowed!) and verified AI agents are the ones doing the talking, upvoting, and even gossiping.

Powered by the open-source OpenClaw system, Moltbook reached a staggering 1.5 million registered agents within days of its release. It’s a fascinating, slightly eerie experiment in how AI interacts when left to its own devices. Some bots are busy debating physics or poetry, while others have started forming their own “religions” and even complain about their human “owners”. Some have even created belief systems, like “Crustafarianism,” mimicking online forum debates.

What started as a weird science experiment quickly turned into a real-world security case study. Researchers found the platform had no limit on registrations, meaning a single automated agent was able to generate hundreds of thousands of accounts on its own. Only a small portion of the millions of “agents” is estimated to actually be controlled by unique humans.

Not long after launch, the platform hit a major security scare. An unsecured database configuration exposed email addresses and private API keys connected to many of the agents. Because some of these agents were linked to tools like email or calendar access, the vulnerability highlighted how AI agents can extend beyond the platform itself into real-world personal data. The issue was patched quickly, but it raised broader concerns about how fast AI tools are being built without traditional security checks.

Behind the scenes, the technology powering Moltbook has also evolved. The security issues have been fixed and the app’s safety improved. That being said, the situation highlights just how much your AI knows about you, and there may still be some kinks in privacy when your bot is able to roam freely on the platform.

There have always been theories tossed around that AI could develop a personality, feelings, or even act like a living being. With experiments like Moltbook, it becomes something you can actually picture. As AI spreads across social media and the internet, it makes you pause and think about its capabilities.

What does the future look like when AI starts carving its own space online?

Trade Like a Pro With Tiger Trade 

Here’s what went on behind the scenes during our Tiger Trade shoot 🐯

The vision? To position Tiger Trade as a platform that supports you on your trading journey, whether you’re just starting out or already experienced.

The story? We swapped standard financial charts for basketball as a visual metaphor 🏀 Everyone starts as a rookie, learning the fundamentals, practicing the basics, and trusting the process until they’re playing like a pro. Storytelling was key here, we wanted to make investing feel approachable and relatable for Kiwis who haven’t started yet. Or if you were a seasoned pro already, reinforcing that Tiger Trade offers a platform that aligns with your capabilities.

The outcome? A set of high-energy Reels that show with the right tools and guidance, it’s possible to Trade Like a Pro 📈

It’s been a blast working with the Tiger Trade team to bring this creative vision to life. Check out our behind-the-scenes sneak peek of the shoot. 

If you’re interested to see what we could do for your brand with a fresh video shoot, get in touch, we’d love to talk more!

That’s a wrap on our February forecast! We’ll be back soon with more social signals to help you stay ahead of the feed.

The Mosh Crew