Instagram adds in-app checkout
Instagram is officially a checkout tool. And no, we don’t just mean bikini models and Tinder prospects – Instagram is actually bringing a checkout feature to its mobile apps. Checkout allows users to store payment information with Instagram to make purchases more quickly in the app, charging retailers a selling fee. Brands like Adidas, Dior and H&M have already signed up – you’ll be able to spot items eligible for in-app checkout by the subtle blue “Checkout on Instagram” button.
Facebook changes ‘discriminatory’ targeting options
In the contentious smashed avo society we live in today, Facebook is making it easier to target people who – like myself and every other millennial – probably aren’t even close to buying a home but shouldn’t be denied the right to ignore ads about home buying on Facebook. As such, the platform has made changes to its targeting options after pressure from civil rights groups, who argued that Facebook’s targeting options violated laws barring discriminatory advertising so now, those placing ads for housing, job, or credit will not be able to target users by age, gender, or zip code. In a blog post about the changes, Facebook’s chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg said, “Housing, employment and credit ads are crucial to helping people buy new homes, start great careers, and gain access to credit. They should never be used to exclude or harm people.” Thanks, Sheryl.
Facebook admits to password security fail
Last week, Facebook came clean on a rather significant error – storing “hundreds of millions” of passwords in plaintext, unprotected by any encryption. Users of Facebook, Facebook Lite and Instagram were affected and fortunately, there was no evidence that the passwords had been internally abused or improperly accessed. Facebook will notify those affected, and security experts have recommended that everyone change their Facebook password to something ‘complex and unique’, leading to panic from various dads (sorry dad) scrambling for inspiration beyond their own date of birth. Can you imagine if this were Netflix? Exes everywhere would be seething.
Facebook adds quote-and-reply to Messenger
Facebook Messenger has taken inspiration from WhatsApp with its latest update – the ability to quote-and-reply to specific messages in a conversation. Probably very useful for those of you out there with many friends, less so for me and my one active Messenger chat with Grandma.
WhatsApp Business begins iOS rollout
WhatsApp Business has been available on Android since January last year, and it’s reportedly now rolling out on iOS in countries including Brazil and France. The app allows businesses to communicate directly to customers, along with other exciting features such as away messages, greeting messages and the ability to list info such as opening times and addresses. The best bit (yes, even better than greeting messages) – it’s free to download and use.
LinkedIn adds three new targeting options LinkedIn has ramped up its targeting capabilities with three new options. Firstly, lookalike audiences, which allow advertisers to target new audiences who are similar to ideal customers. Secondly, audience templates, which take some of the legwork away from advertisers by providing over 20 predefined B2B audiences options. Last but not least, the network is adding search data from Microsoft sibling company Bing (a search engine) to its interest targeting offering within LinkedIn’s Campaign Manager. This means that that advertisers can use a combination of their audiences’ professional interests on LinkedIn and their activity on Bing to reach them.
LinkedIn adds in-app planning tools LinkedIn is making it easier to schedule face-to-face meetings from within the app. The platform said its users have shared that they “often coordinate meetings with the people (they) chat with in LinkedIn Messenger” and that switching between apps to book in meetings is a pain. LinkedIn has streamlined this process by adding a new ‘Availability’ option within the message composer, which will access the user’s calendar and allow them to select a time. Soon, people will also be able to check and see whether their proposed time works, and send a confirmation. Nice touch, LinkedIn.
MySpace wipes all content (uploaded before 2016)
Say goodbye to your angsty teenage anthems, parents’ bathroom mirror selfies, frosted tips + peace sign pics, and other digital relics of your 14-year-old self. Last week, many people across the world discovered that MySpace does in fact, still exist, only to later find out that it’s managed to wipe all the content that was uploaded to the platform before 2016. The mass deletion was apparently down to a faulty server migration and the loss includes more than 50m tracks from 14 million music artists (or, those who claimed to be).
Apple launches bunch of services and a new status symbol at their showtime event!
Apple launches subscriptions across news, television, and video games just a week after Google unveiled the Google Stadia at the Game Developers Conference. Privacy and data sharing were the key differentiators for these services as they promise to be free of ads. But the real highlight of the event was a shiny titanium card just to make yourself feel better about the money you have.
Spotify urges Apple to “play fair”
Music streaming giant filed a complaint with European regulators arguing that Apple limits choice and competition in its app store, giving its own music streaming service an unfair advantage over rivals. They also launched a website called It’s Time to Play Fair, where it proceeded to lay out a timeline and “facts” about how Apple mistreats companies like Spotify. In my opinion, Apple is ‘playing fair,’ but Spotify doesn’t like the rules.
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