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9 Jul 2025

A recent BBC Breakfast segment has sparked backlash from the cycling community over its portrayal of e-bikes, with critics accusing the broadcaster of conflating legal e-bikes with illegal,...

8 Jul 2025

More than 30 locations across Scotland have seen a major rise in the number of people cycling, according to newly released data.

7 Jul 2025

Sixteen illegally upgraded e-bikes capable of speeds up to 40mph have been seized and disposed of in a joint enforcement operation in Birmingham city centre.

7 Jul 2025

Bristol-based Cytech training provider and ACT member Life Cycle has launched its award-winning Bikes Beyond Bars programme at HMP Bullingdon, expanding a project that has already impacted lives...

4 Jul 2025

New data from Strava reveals a major surge in cycling across the UK, with Gen Z and Millennials leading the charge.

3 Jul 2025

Shimano has launched an urgent investigation into what it describes as a “critical” shortage of skilled bike mechanics across Europe, warning that the situation threatens to...

2 Jul 2025

MPs have called on Amazon and eBay to tighten controls after e-bikes and chargers flagged as serious fire risks were found for sale on their platforms.

25 Jun 2025

The E-Bike Positive campaign has seen major success in the first half of 2025, with its message reaching nearly 8 million people across the UK through high-profile media coverage and growing...

20 Jun 2025

The House of Commons Business and Trade Committee has asked the ACT, and its parent company Bira, to help them reach out to small business retailers across the country, for their quick input on...

20 Jun 2025

Activate Cycle Academy has reopened its Cytech training facility in Darlington, offering a full range of courses from Home Mechanic up to Cytech Technical Three.
 

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Expanding Instagram Reels and lots more in the social media news

Posted on in Business News , Cycles News

If you're a fan of Instagram Reels and can't get enough of them, then worry not as changes are afoot to expand the feature. There is always so much happening in the world of social media, it can feel like a uphill struggle to keep up. Maybe* have collated the latest social media happenings so you can stay in the loop so read on for the latest social media news.

Join in the conversation with us over in the Maybe* Facebook group to talk all things social!

TikTok is testing a Snapchat-style stories feature

On a long enough timeline, every social media app trends to adding stories, and now it's apparently TikTok's turn: the popular video app is experimenting with a new stories feature. The feature was highlighted by Matt Navarra on Twitter, and a TikTok spokesperson confirmed the test in an email to The Verge.

The new feature, simply called "TikTok Stories," appears to work similarly to other stories functions on apps like Instagram or Snapchat. Stories live in a newly added slide-over sidebar, where you'll be able to see stories posted by accounts that you follow on TikTok for 24 hours before they're automatically deleted. Other users will be able to react and comment on your story, too. And just like on Instagram and other platforms, you'll also be able to tap on a user's profile picture to load a story.

 

Instagram adds new examples of top brand creative to its professional dashboard element

Instagram is looking to help brands improve their posting approach by highlighting top examples of both organic and promoted posts from other businesses in the app, which may help to spark creative thinking and consideration.

The new element has been added to Instagram's Professional Dashboard, which it launched back in January, and is accessible within the app to those who have Business and Creator accounts.


Twitter reacts to fleets being gone

And just like that, one Twitter feature is on the way out.

On Tuesday (Aug. 3), Twitter officially discontinued their fleets, which was a feature that gave users the option to post images, videos or screenshots of their tweets to an Instagram story-esque space above their timeline. With the feature officially removed, Twitter users reflected on the soon-to-be-lost and possibly under-appreciated feature.


Instagram Reels expand to 60 Seconds

In an utterly unsurprising update, Instagram has today announced that the Instagram Reels length limit is being extended from 30 seconds to 60 seconds for all users.


WhatsApp 'view once' brings disappearing photos and videos

WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that allows users to have photos or videos vanish after they are seen.

After the recipient opens the image for the first time, "view once" deletes it, without saving it to a phone.

WhatsApp said the feature was aimed at "giving users even more control over their privacy".

 

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