If you live in Poland, Bolivia, Colombia and Lithuania, you’re in luck – you can now unsend messages on Facebook Messenger, whether accidental or otherwise. Available on iOS and Android, this “unsend” feature can be taken advantage of for up to 10 minutes after the message is delivered. However, threads that the original message appeared on will still inform users that a message was deleted. To address the concern of potential misuse by users violating community standards, Facebook also indicated that they would be keeping deleted messages on file for a short period of time to ensure that there were no breaches of conduct. For users not living in the above countries, fret not – the feature will be rolling out globally soon.
Snapchat’s Bitmoji takes on the world and e-commerce and comics
Snapchat has launched a Bitmoji store available to iOS users in the U.S., featuring items ranging from stickers, coffee mugs and notebooks, to shirts and sweaters. Accessed through the “Settings” menu of the app, the store allows merchandise to be customized just like the Bitmojis themselves, with users free to add up to two friends’ Bitmojis to the design.
Also launched in the U.S., Bitmoji Stories will showcase bite-sized stories in the form of comic strips, featuring users by themselves or with a friend. These stories will be published weekly, appearing in the “Discover” section of the app.
Facebook launches a new education portal
Dubbed “Learn With Facebook,” this education portal will initially contain thirteen 10-minute “modules” to help with professional development. From introductory topics around social media marketing, digital storytelling, to resume and interview tips, these modules will also cover more specific information for professionals who use Facebook for work, or who are looking to Facebook to find potential job opportunities. Fatima Saliu, head of policy marketing at Facebook, announced the company’s plans to eventually partner with third parties such as the Goodwill Community Foundation as well as with community colleges in order to provide a more diverse range of modules for individuals looking to expand their professional skills.
While this e-Portal has still a long way to go before it can compete with the the 13,000 courses available on LinkedIn’s own equivalent feature – LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda .com) – its continued development may cause a significant shift in the direction and use of Facebook in the near future.
