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In the last year and well into the first month of 2019, we were introduced to numerous social media updates that help in leveraging better business opportunities.
2018 in particular, had several substantial moments in the world of social media:
Facebook’s Algorithmic Update
It took specific aims at public content. This includes videos and posts from publishers and businesses, engagement bait designed to spark conversation, news-focused content; and an update on Facebook Groups as a source for brands to build better customer communities and increase reach, organically.
Instagram’s IGTV
It is a standalone app meant for longer videos. Facebook Watch, on the other hand, includes features for made-for-social TV shows and longer content.
Instagram’s Shoppable Media
Instagram created a giant leap for social commerce. This includes shoppable stories and posts creating smoother and direct shopping throughout the app.
Instagram’s Swipe-Left Scrolling
The platform introduced a “new way to move through posts” but faced backlash and near-unanimous outrage from the platform’s users.
LinkedIn’s Event Feature
This feature helped event organizers manage and provide event details, use unique hashtags, and communicate with event attendees.
The feature provides a huge professional social networking step, by enabling attendees to view the event guest list and network with fellow attendees in similar industries.
Twitter’s Reverse-Chronological and Top-Tweets First Mode
Twitter made it easier for users to access popular and new tweets, saving them from the hassle of finding fresh content on the platform.
This February, better social media updates and developments ensure businesses and brands quick and more pertinent improvements when delivering content and promotions while engaging better with their market. Here are the social media updates you need to know:
Facebook Introduces FOUR New Updates
The Unsend Option on Facebook Messenger
The app now allows users to retract previously sent messenger communications within a 10-minute window.
Unlike WhatsApp’s 60-minute window, Facebook’s reason for this time limit is due to the rise of cyberbullying.
According to Adweek.com, Facebook’s Vice President of Messenger Stan Chudnovksy noted that the 10-minute window was designed for ethical message deletion ensuring lesser openings of new venues for cyberbullying.
Facebook Page Admins can now respond to Instagram DMs from the Page Inbox
It helps unify its messaging app and improve account management.
Page Quality Tabs
show which content—whether shared or posted—has been removed or demoted by Facebook.
Posts may have been removed if the content has been rated by third-party checkers as “False,” “Mixture,” or “False Headline.”
The new guidelines include removing content that contains hate speeches, harassment, and bullying.
Brand Collaborations feature for groups
It enables associated groups to present relevant deals and partner with professionals for specific insights and assistance.
Instagram Introduces FIVE very Interesting Updates
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Direct Message Option on Desktop gives users the capability to access their DMs from the web version.
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Linking Feature for Multiple Account Management enables you to easily manage various Instagram accounts with a range of account management options.
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Quiz and Donations stickers on Instagram Stories help boost engagement and is a good avenue for fundraising and personal causes through story efforts.
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The “Collection” Feature lets users organize their favorites and saved IG posts into groups and share them with others. This even allows collection owners to allow other users to contribute to their collections.
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Removal of Self-Harm images/posts is a BIG indicator that Instagram is now actively being more socially aware. This means they will be removing any image or post that violates their self-harm regulations to protect vulnerable users from seeing them.
Twitter Editing Updates
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Image Editing Updates for Desktop enables the user to re-size, crop, and zoom images on their desktop which comes with Twitter’s recent roll-out on its desktop layout. Once fully implemented, this will enable better improvements for Twitter’s back-end functions.
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Editing tweets are being considered and may be available within a grace period of 30 seconds after tweeting. According to Jack Dorsey, Twitter’s CEO,
The reason Twitter does not have an 'edit' button is that people may change their opinions by editing the original tweet and then people who don't agree with the original view may have already retweeted the tweet, which is not an accurate representation of what they believe.
The push of Tweet editing seems more symbolic than its function--representing a wider critique of Dorsey’s management.
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Twitter’s Ads Transparency Center (ATC) allows users to view ads that have been served on Twitter. In May 2018, the platform launched its Political Campaigning Policy in order to provide clearer insights into defining political content. This policy rolls out on March 11, 2019, and will expand to all European Union member states, India, and Australia.
LinkedIn Goes Live!
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“LinkedIn Live” is the platform’s new live video tool and provides a broadcasting option for regular members and business additionals to share conferences, conduct Q&As, product announces, and many more.
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Interest Categories of around 200 have been added to allow businesses and brands to target groups of users based on their interests.
Google made headlines by announcing its plans to shut down Google+ due to Private User Data
This bug was first discovered in March 2018 but was not publicly disclosed until October 2018.
the discovery of the so-called bug has prompted them to expedite the shut down of all Google+ APIs, accelerating the sunsetting of consumer Google+ to ensure the protection of their users.
-David Thacker, Google's Vice President of Project Management
These updates are just some of the major roll-outs from the month of February.
While these may seem overwhelming, being in the know with these social media updates is a great opportunity to view social platforms as great tools to disseminate important news and messages, and open business opportunities for your brand.
And since these updates are constantly evolving, social is the perfect place to test content, forward ideas and judge interest and engagement.
When used the way they are meant to be, these platforms can be cost-effective, easy to use, and quick to deploy.
Looking to get a headstart with your brand’s social media?
We’d gladly help make your every social interaction an exceptional one!
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