This Week in Social and Digital (Week of December 5)
This Week in Social is a weekly digest of some of the biggest stories in social media marketing news. These stories are the show notes for the Brave Ad World Podcast. Each story is discussed at a deeper level on the podcast.
Facebook Working on Snapchat Discover Competitive Feature (Read more at Business Insider)
Facebook is in the works of developing a new publisher program aimed to compete directly with Snapchat Discover called Collections. Collections will include curated stories from select publishers in the Facebook News Feed. Facebook’s already discussed the feature with media and entertainment companies.
For its part, Snapchat has created a prime outlet for publishers to reach daily users through Snapchat Discover, generating revenue for both Snapchat and publisher partners.
Facebook has not confirmed Collections, but the move could prove to be interesting. First, it continues to confirm ongoing criticism aimed at Facebook for copying Snapchat, but it also reaffirms Facebook’s position as a media company, a categorization Facebook protests. And at a time when Facebook’s under criticism for spreading fake news, that title could prove to be more problematic.
Still, Facebook is looking to cement its position as the leading social platform and that includes offering features users have found on other platforms. Facebook doesn’t seem to mind copying features if it gives its users one more reason to stay on the platform.
Amazon Launches Amazon Go (Read more at AdAge)
Amazon is ready to take another step in changing the face of retail as we know it with the launch of Amazon Go. Amazon Go is a grocery store that allows users to open a mobile app, grab what they want from store shelves and then leave without checking out.
Amazon Go is currently in beta, but it offers an 1,800 square foot store selling pretty much everything you’d expect from a grocery store. Beyond the app, experts are guessing other technology such as cameras, beacons and motion capturing technology is in place in the store.
This has the potential to really change the retail landscape, and it raises several ethical questions around jobs. Still, if Amazon is able to remove even more friction from the shopping experience, it stands to benefit consumers who are looking more and more online to make their purchases, rather than going in-store.
Instagram Changes Up Comments Features (Read more at Mashable)
Instagram has made some major updates to its comments.
In the next few weeks, users will be able to like comments from others by tapping a heart icon next to the comment with the goal of creating a simple way to encourage positivity. Beyond that, users will be given the ability to turn off comments on photos and videos, which will be particularly helpful for individuals inundated by trolls. The next update allows users to remove followers if they have a private account. Up until this point, they could just block them. When they are removed, the users will not be notified.
Lastly, users can anonymously report any posts that hint another user may be about to inflict self harm. For its part, Instagram will have teams monitoring these reports.
The changes are small, but for some users they could have big implications. Trolling behavior is something that has plagued Twitter, and Instagram hasn’t been immune. These will be welcome additions for those users.
The ability to like the others' comments is another small one, but brands will definitely be able to put it to good use and be active in the comments by not only responding to people with comments as they have been but also interacting through a more casual ‘like.’
Facebook Continues to Copy Snapchat Features (Read more at Mashable)
Once again, it looks like Snapchat features will be making their way into Facebook. The first feature, "location frames,” is being tested in Facebook’s camera app, which is also being tested in Ireland. That app opens directly into the camera and allows users to privately take and share photos with friends, a la Snapchat. That app has been in testing for weeks now.
Location frames have been added to the camera app, and they allow users to add geofilters to their photos that serve as visual overlays, much like Snapchat’s geofilters.
Beyond these location frames, Facebook is also testing a navigation bar that looks almost exactly like Snapchat Discover’s initial navigation before it made a recent update. That navigation is being tested within Facebook’s video tab. The navigation allows users to tap different publisher logos laid out as circular icons and interact with the publisher’s content.
It’s worth noting that these features are only in testing, but copying Snapchat is something Facebook has done quite a bit. It’s actually kind of shocking how shamelessly Facebook is copying Snapchat features, but taking inspiration from the Snapchat app is clearly working for them. Facebook’s earning reports show that it’s having no problem retaining users, and these moves are clearly meant to retain users and keep defectors to Snapchat to a minimum. But it also creates opportunities for marketers to experiment and engage audiences with Snapchat features without needing to adopt Snapchat should they decide they’re not ready to embrace another platform.
News Quick Hits
- Snapchat Spectacles have been all the rage, but what if you already wear and need glasses? Now Rochester Optical is partnering with Snapchat to make prescription lenses starting at $99. (Read more at AdWeek)
- Twitter has acquired app developer Yes in an effort to fill its role of head of consumer product. Yes founder Keith Coleman will join Twitter as its vice president of product. The rest of the Yes team will also be joining Twitter. (Read more on Yes’ Website)
- Business Insider has been looking at new roles joining Snap, and the new roles point to a potentially new direction for the company to explore, gaming. Positions like performance capture specialist, character designers and others point to Snap expanding beyond what it is known for today. (Read more at Business Insider)
- Periscope users on iOS now have the ability to save their broadcasts to their devices in HD using a feature in the settings menu. This could be nice for specific users who want to reuse their content by, for example, uploading it to YouTube or Facebook after streaming live. (Read more at SocialTimes)
- LinkedIn is now suggesting conversation starters within its messaging feature. The tool provides information on new jobs, promotions, shared experiences like working at the same company or joining the same group and any shared connections one may have that someone sending a message can use to strike up a conversation. (Read more on LinkedIn’s Blog)
- A previously announced feature is now available on Pinterest that lets users know how many users have tried different pins with a green smile icon. The goal is to show ideas that others have successfully done and liked before other users take something on for the first time. (Read more on Pinterest’s Blog)
- Facebook has added dynamic ads for mobile app installs. This means marketers will be able to drive users to download their apps by targeting them with products they may have recently viewed from the brand. For example, you may spend time on a retailer's website and browse a few products and then leave. That advertiser can then encourage you to download its app by featuring the products you were browsing. (Read more at SocialTimes)
- Slack and Google have launched a strategic partnership that will bring Google services into Slack, such as document previews, Team Drives and more. Features will continue to roll out in the future. The move comes at a time when Microsoft is increasing its efforts with Slack competitors Office 365 and Skype. (Read more at TechCrunch)
- Microsoft has completed its LinkedIn acquisition for $26.2 billion. The acquisition was announced six months ago, but it has now been confirmed as final. The move allows Microsoft to have a presence in the social networking realm, while tying in LinkedIn services into its other business services. Acquisitions like this have a rough track record, so we’ll see how these two come together. (Read more at TechCrunch)