Guides
The platforms’ rules, read closely.
How the platforms work, from their own documentation: video length limits, who can see what on Instagram, TikTok LIVE, blocking and reposts, and what the ad libraries show, with what our data says about using them.
Video length
- How long can a YouTube Short be?A YouTube Short can be up to three minutes long. We measured 1,503 Shorts from 40 top channels: under 15 seconds did best.
- How long can an Instagram Reel be?An Instagram Reel can be up to 20 minutes long. We measured 820 Reels from 45 top accounts: under 15 seconds did best.
- How long can a TikTok video be?A TikTok video uploaded in TikTok Studio can be up to 30 minutes long. We measured 877 videos from 41 top accounts: under 15 seconds did best.
Instagram privacy
- How to hide followers and following on InstagramWhat a private Instagram account hides from your followers and following lists, what stays visible to anyone, and how to remove a follower.
- Does Instagram notify when you screenshot?Instagram describes a screenshot alert only in vanish mode chats, none for stories, posts or Reels, and blocks screenshots of disappearing photos.
- How to know if someone blocked you on InstagramInstagram doesn’t tell you when you’re blocked. The signs a block leaves, from Instagram’s own Help Center, and what else can look like one.
- How to turn off active status on InstagramTurn off your Instagram Activity Status in five taps, who sees when you’re online while it’s on, and what you stop seeing when it’s off.
TikTok how-to
- How to go LIVE on TikTokHow to go LIVE on TikTok in four taps, and who can: 18 or older with 1,000 followers, which TikTok says may vary across regions.
- How to block someone on TikTokBlock someone on TikTok from their profile or several at once from your comments, what a block changes for both of you, and how to unblock.
- How to repost on TikTokRepost a TikTok in two taps, who sees your reposts on a public or private account, and how to remove a repost and its replies.
- How to turn off profile views on TikTokTurn TikTok’s profile view history off or on, who sees your visits while it’s on, and why some accounts can’t use it at all.
Ad libraries
- LinkedIn Ad Library: how to search it and what it showsHow to search LinkedIn’s Ad Library by company, payer, keyword, country and date, and what it shows: impressions, targeting and run dates for ads aimed at the EU.
- How to see your competitors’ adsHow to see your competitors’ ads in Meta’s Ad Library, Google’s Ads Transparency Center, LinkedIn’s Ad Library and TikTok’s, what each shows, and what none of them do.