New Facebook data analysis has revealed what we’ve all expected, “haha” is the new “LOL”. The study has shown a staggering 51.4% of people use “haha” and 33.7% use an emoji to laugh on the internet. The research did have limitations, only including posts and comments on Facebook and excluding Facebook Messenger. The entire study is a fascinating look into e-laughter.
G is for Google
Google has created a new parent company, Alphabet. The two Google co-founders will run the company, with Larry Page as CEO and Sergey Brin as president. Internet-centric services including Chrome, Youtube and Google Maps will continue to be run by Google. Other projects such as X Lab will now run as separate entities. #Tech Twitter is having a field day.
I can’t want for other tech companies to create tech companies that own their tech companies. #itwillhappen
Snapchat has released a new update that will prevent the app from using too much of your data. “Travel Mode” will turn off snaps including Snapchat Stories or Discovery from automatically downloading. Another additional feature from the update is more emoji support. Using a feature called Sticker Picker, emoji can be placed all over your snap, not just on a text line.
The YouTube versus Facebook video debate continues
Although Facebook is fast becoming a real rival to YouTube with its video offering, a debate has started around which metric is most useful to brands when measuring effectiveness on both platforms. Facebook places emphasis on ‘views’, which are logged after three seconds of watching, a strategy which has seen their results publicly scrutinised. YouTube on the other hand thinks ‘watch time’ is where it’s at.
Facebook lets users respond privately to local-awareness ads
In a move that pushes Facebook further into the direct response channel realm, a local-awareness ad service has been introduced that lets users message businesses directly with customer service queries. Businesses that respond quickly to users’ rants and raves will also get a public badge rating them as ‘highly responsive’.
Facebook adds live streaming – but it’s not for you
Unless you’re reading this Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson *waves*. A live streaming service has been introduced on Facebook but at this stage it’s ring-fenced just for the famous. Facebook has not commented on whether it will eventually be rolled out for brands or us, the lowly non-famous.
Instagram finally switches on its money jets (advertising API)
Following what has been described as “one of the most anticipated moments in the evolution of advertising”, marketers will be able to advertise on Instagram just as they do on Facebook and Twitter. Now brands can sidestep phone calls with Instagram sales reps and instead self-serve ads with third-party platforms.
Twitter to roll out ‘breaking news’ tab
Twitter wants to get serious about news. How serious? Making a new tab serious, that’s how serious! When you click the tab, you’ll see curated top stories from major news publishers like The New York Times and CBS. It’s unconfirmed when this feature will be fully rolled out, so watch this space.
LinkedIn proves itself further for B2B advertising
It has been announced that LinkedIn’s native Sponsored Updates has accounted for 45% of its ad revenue in the second quarter of this year. This is a result of the platform’s move away from supplying traffic to third-party publishers and instead becoming a publishing platform in its own right.
Social Selling Index helps LinkedIn users measure personal brand health
Sales professionals on LinkedIn, or anyone else interested in ‘social selling’, will now be able identify key areas for improvement using its new Social Selling Index, which rates users out of 100 based on four categories. I won’t tell you what they are here but will reveal that none of them are based on how dashing you look in your profile picture.
Republican presidential hopefuls’ social media offerings
Behind every self-respecting politician nowadays is a social media-savvy twentysomething with a smart phone and a Vine account. Ad Age has kindly compiled a look at the best, or the worst (I just can’t tell anymore) of the Republican presidential candidates’ new media attempts. #DontMessWithTheInternet
Tweets that made #NationalUnderwearDay weirder To end my inaugural mash-up, it was National Underwear Day last week, I know! Did you not celebrate? Brands like Calvin Klein and Spanx also didn’t but luckily for us Justin Bieber’s package gets re-aired virtually by Vevo and two Postman Pats encourage you to ‘keep it clean’. Here are some of the best, but for a post mash-up treat, search Lenny Kravitz on Twitter to see how he (unofficially) celebrated. You’re welcome.
