Tesla's social media platforms have been growing at an impressive rate
Not a Tesla App
Tesla's innovative approach to the electric vehicle and renewable energy sectors has been well-documented, but its exceptional success on social media platforms is another story worth telling. With a strong presence on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn, Tesla has managed to create a powerful and influential online presence that captures the attention of millions worldwide.
Musk's Twitter Influence Fuels Growth
At the forefront of Tesla's social media success is CEO Elon Musk, who boasts more than 136 million followers on Twitter. His candid and occasionally controversial tweets have helped to generate interest in Tesla's products and initiatives. This direct approach to consumer engagement allows the company to foster a more personal connection with its audience and avoid relying on traditional advertising channels.
In addition to Musk's influence, Tesla's official Twitter account has seen substantial growth, with a 53% spike in follower growth, reaching 19.9 million followers. The company also achieved 1 billion views on its Twitter posts, showcasing its expanding reach and influence on the platform. Many other official company accounts exist in different regions and for different products. For example, there is a Twitter account for Tesla Charging.
Impressive Numbers on Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn
Tesla's strong presence extends to other social media platforms as well. The company boasts 9.5 million followers on Instagram, which is just for the headquarters. There are several other Tesla official accounts in different regions. Its YouTube channel has attracted 2.38 million subscribers. These figures demonstrate Tesla's ability to create and maintain a dedicated following across multiple platforms, further highlighting the effectiveness of its social media strategy.
LinkedIn has also been a successful platform for Tesla. Despite its users generally belonging to a different demographic than those on Twitter, Tesla's presence on the platform was impressive in 2022, experiencing a 16% rise in follower growth and 75.5 million post views. The company's LinkedIn followers now total 10.9 million, showcasing its growing influence among professionals and industry leaders.
Social Media as Tesla's Primary Marketing Strategy
Tesla's decision to use social media as its primary marketing tool has allowed the company to connect with and educate people worldwide about its products and mission. By providing direct and immediate access to company updates, news, launches, and more, Tesla effectively eliminates the need for traditional media or influencers to filter its message. It also relies on its strong fan base.
Tesla's social media success has also played a crucial role in building a global community of electric vehicle enthusiasts and renewable energy advocates. By sharing engaging content, highlighting user-generated stories, and promoting sustainability initiatives, Tesla has created a loyal fan base that actively participates in online discussions and shares the company's vision for a cleaner future.
The company's commitment to social media as a primary marketing strategy has not only reduced its dependence on traditional advertising but also established a more direct line of communication with its audience. As a result, Tesla has fostered trust and transparency, essential components for building strong relationships with customers and stakeholders.
Tesla's social media domination is a testament to the power of a well-executed online marketing strategy. By leveraging the influence of its CEO and creating engaging content across multiple platforms, Tesla has successfully reached millions of consumers without the need for traditional advertising. However, without paying a dollar, the company was well placed during the most watched TV event - the Superbowl.
As the company continues to innovate in the electric vehicle and renewable energy sectors, its social media presence will undoubtedly play a vital role in shaping its public image and driving brand loyalty.
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In last year’s holiday update, Tesla introduced the much-needed Dashcam Viewer in the Tesla app. The feature allows owners to view Dashcam and Sentry Mode footage directly from the Tesla app, eliminating the need to review videos in your vehicle. Unfortunately, the feature was limited to iPhone users, but Tesla is now changing that.
With Tesla app update 4.43.5, Tesla is officially launching the Dashcam Viewer on Android devices.
Dashcam Viewer
The Dashcam Viewer makes it easy to access and manage your car’s Dashcam and Sentry Mode videos. Accessing videos on your phone is faster and more convenient, but it does come with a few requirements.
The Dashcam Viewer in the Tesla app allows you to view, delete, or save video clips right from your device. This should result in higher quality content being shared online and fewer videos of owners recording their Tesla’s screens with their phones.
How It Works
Dashcam footage remains stored locally on your vehicle’s connected USB drive, so Tesla isn’t streaming videos to your phone from the cloud. Instead, the videos are streamed directly from your vehicle to your phone—similar to how Actually Smart Summon delivers a live feed to your phone.
Because of this, your vehicle must be connected to cellular data or Wi-Fi for the Dashcam Viewer to work. Unfortunately, this may limit access for owners who park in underground or large parking garages where connectivity is poor.
How to Access the Dashcam Viewer
To view Dashcam and Sentry Mode footage in the Tesla app:
Navigate to Security & Drivers > Dashcam Viewer.
Wait a few moments for your phone to connect to the vehicle.
From there, you’ll be able to view, save, or delete clips right from your device.
Requirements
To use Tesla’s Dashcam Viewer, you’ll need a vehicle with MCU 2 (Intel) or higher. All models are supported except for the legacy Model S and Model X (2020 and older). However, we expect support to be added in the near future.
The legacy Model S and Model X are expected to receive support for Actually Smart Summon, which requires the ability for those vehicles to stream video to the Tesla app — the same capability the Dashcam Viewer needs. Once Actually Smart Summon is added to the legacy Model S/X, we expect those vehicles to also receive the Dashcam Viewer at the same time or shortly afterward.
Tesla has imposed some viewing limits to prevent high data usage. The viewing limits apply to streaming video from the Dashcam Viewer or viewing live video from the vehicle’s cameras. Tesla will limit video streaming from the vehicle to 15 minutes or 1 hour, depending on your region.
Android Support
Tesla typically releases support for newer features to iPhone users since they make up the majority of users. Recently, Tesla has added more features to Android. In January, Tesla added support for ultra-wideband to Android, which added support for the improved phone key and the hands-free trunk and frunk feature.
Did you know the Cybertruck’s air suspension automatically levels the truck, even while it’s asleep? This is a great feature, especially for camping or off-road adventures. However, it can be an issue when lifting a wheel to change a tire.
Fortunately, there’s a solution: Jack Mode.
Jack Mode
Jack Mode is made for jacking up the truck and prevents the Cybertruck from self-leveling.
To enable Jack Mode, you’ll first need to set the Ride Height to Medium from Controls > Dynamics > Ride Height. You can also set it from the Tesla app by navigating to the Controls section and sliding up until you see Ride Height. This will give you enough clearance for most jacks to get under the truck and lift it.
You can also activate Jack Mode in Low or High, but Tesla recommends a Medium ride height for best control of the vehicle and sufficient tire clearance to safely remove and reinstall the tire. However, once the vehicle is in Jack Mode, the Ride Height cannot be changed.
Next up, go to Controls > Service > Jack Mode to enable Jack Mode. The vehicle will warn you that Jack Mode is enabled and can either be disabled by pressing the button again or by putting the vehicle into drive.
For the duration that Jack Mode is active, it is safe to lift your Cybertruck, even on one side only. It will not self-level for the duration that Jack Mode is enabled.
Automatic Jack Mode
Jack Mode can also activate automatically to protect the suspension from potential damage. For example, if the vehicle’s bumper is resting on a curb, Jack Mode may engage on its own.
Once the obstacle is cleared, or if you shift into Drive or Reverse, Jack Mode will automatically be disabled.