Instagramsteps further on Snapchat’s toes with new updates
The launch of Instagram Live and ephemeral Direct Messages certainly feels like a conscious change in positioning for the platform, which is moving from polished, curated, celebrity-focused content to the live, in-the-moment, disposable content arena currently bossed by Snapchat. The new updates let users broadcast video to their followers in real time but does not allow recordings to be viewed later. With Direct Messages, users can only view twice before they disappear.
Mum’s the word with Whatsapp video update
As is the case for many expats, Skyping your family on a Sunday evening is a regular (yet somewhat challenging) occurrence. I’ve been in Australia for nearly four years and still each Skype session begins with Mum and I doing the merry ‘the video isn’t working’ dance before it’s eventually turned on and I spend the rest of the call looking at my Mum’s Laura Ashley wallpaper…
Don’t get me wrong – Skype is fantastic – but I don’t feel they have cracked the user experience for sixty-plus women from Acton. Anyhow, with Whatsapp functionality relying on mobile numbers (something my mum has mastered) coupled with the latest introduction of video calls, I do hold up some hope.
Facebook launches a unified inbox for businesses on Facebook, Messenger and Instagram Businesses will soon be able to access their Facebook, Messenger and Instagram correspondence with a single email inbox. Currently in the testing phase, the inbox (located in the Facebook Pages Manager app) will include comments on Facebook posts, posts on the brand’s page, messages and comments on their Instagram posts and videos. There will also be individual tabs focused on individual channels. *collective fist bump from content and community managers*
Facebook launches review after admitting ‘bugs’ in measurement tools Facebook is promising an additional independent review of some of its measurement methods after uncovering more flaws. On Wednesday, the company admitted that “bugs” led to errors in a number of measurements including the weekly and monthly reach of marketers’ posts, the number of full video views, time spent with publishers’ Instant Articles, and so on. Facebook is now introducing a number of new tools to reassure advertisers that their numbers are legitimate. Most interesting to us is the ‘video watches to 100 percent’ metric, which tracks both completed views and completed audio. Have you been a victim of Facebook’s skewed reporting? Tell us in the comments.
Snapchat teams up with Foursquare to improve geo-filter targeting Snapchat has inked a deal with Foursquare to power its location-based geo-filters with more data. The move means a retailer could hone in on a specific store rather than zeroing in on the larger shopping centre. Snapchat says the deal will open “thousands” of locations and categories for brands to buy ads against, including parks, museums, and so on. Major key!
Twitter launches anti-troll tools
So long, online bullies. Twitter is rolling out a way for users to not just block a user, but also to mute keywords, phrases and entire conversations. In a blog post, Twitter said: “The amount of abuse, bullying, and harassment we’ve seen across the internet has risen sharply over the past few years. These behaviours inhibit people from participating on Twitter or anywhere. Abusive conduct removes the chance to see and share all perspectives around an issue, which we believe is critical to moving us all forward.” The tools will be rolled out in the coming days.
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