This week in social, Imgur launched an app that allows gamers to build up their audience, Instagram enforced a 13-and-over rule for new users, Reddit reported strong year in review performance and TikTok surpassed 1.5 billion downloads.

Imgur Launches Gaming Content App Rivaling Twitch Clips

According to The Verge, Imgur’s new app Melee lets players flaunt their best gaming moments as well as share favorite clips with other users. 

Why it matters: Imgur said that Melee was formed to give players a chance to build up their audience, something that is much more difficult to accomplish on Twitch without an already-established presence.

The details: Melee contains sections dedicated to different games and uses. For example, there’s a Fortnite group, a FIFA group and sections where YouTuber influencers and Twitch streamers can share their clips. Imgur users also have the ability to like, comment and share clips within Melee. 

Instagram Now Requires Date Of Birth When Creating An Account

In a company post, Instagram said it wants to enable more age-appropriate experiences overall by asking for users’ date of birth.

Why it matters: According to TechCrunch, Instagram has played dumb about users’ ages to avoid a $40,000 fine per violation of the Child Online Privacy Protection Act. Despite Instagram’s new age checkup, it still won’t be asking existing users for their age.

The details: Before today’s update, anyone could create an Instagram account regardless of their age. Now, Instagram says users must be at least 13 years old to have an account in most countries. Birthdays will remain private information, viewable only within your own account. Instagram says it has plans to use the birthday information to create tailored experiences such as education around account controls and recommended privacy settings for young users. The post also detailed Instagram’s latest efforts to strengthen messaging privacy—users can control who can send them direct messages and who adds them to group threads.

Reddit Sees 30 Percent YoY Increase In Monthly Active Users

The company released its key performance stats as part of its year in review. 

Why it matters: Back in September, Reddit announced new video ad options and a new mobile landing page. Though the platform has work to do in terms of improving revenue potential, brands shouldn’t overlook marketing opportunities on Reddit. 

The details: In April 2018, Reddit had 330 million monthly active users (MAU). That figure skyrocketed to 430 million MAU, which means Reddit has more users than Twitter (330 million as of April 2019) and Pinterest (322 million). Reddit also saw growth in its engagement, as monthly comments grew 37 percent YoY and monthly view count jumped 53 percent YoY. Increases in subscribers in the top 50 beauty, style and food communities indicates that Reddit’s community is diversifying. 

TikTok Exceeds 1.5 Billion Downloads

According to data from Sensor Tower, as of November 2019, TikTok has surpassed 1.5 billion downloads across the App Store and Google Play.

Why it matters: Though TikTok has grown exponentially, the platform is still uncharted territory for most brands.

The details: In addition to becoming the third most-downloaded non-gaming app globally, TikTok has passed $175 million in user spend over its lifetime, with 48 percent of all revenue made in China.

Facebook Provides More Transparency On Limiting Discriminatory Audience Targeting

Facebook has added two new measures to help prevent discrimination in ads for housing, employment or credit opportunities.  

Why it matters: The new measures are a result of a lawsuit the National Fair Housing Alliance, American Civil Liberties Union and the Communication Workers of America filed against Facebook saying that the platform needs to build stronger protections against abuse. Still, Facebook’s algorithm-based system means that audience bias can still exist. 

The details: Facebook has added the new ad restrictions to Ads Manager, Instagram Promote and Facebook Marketing API. Though the restrictions were employed in August, they were only fully enforced when the ads were purchased via Ads Manager, until now. The measures apply to advertisers based in the US, or those trying to reach US audiences.

TikTok Updates Age Restriction Policy On Virtual Gifting

The platform updated its policy to allow only those ages 18 and over to purchase, send or receive virtual gifts during live streams.

Why it matters: TikTok’s effort to prevent misuse of virtual gifts comes after a BBC probe revealed how children and teenagers were being pressured to buy virtual gifts for TikTok influencers. 

The details: Users can send virtual gifts to TikTok creators during a live steam. Before today, anyone older than 13 was allowed to send virtual gifts on TikTok, and anyone over 16 could receive them. Now TikTok has bumped up the age to 18 and over for anyone looking to purchase, send or receive a virtual gift. 

WeChat’s Brand Value Grew 1,540 Percent, Ranking Finds

According to Mobile Marketer, the value of the Tencent-run messaging service grew to $50.7 billion over the past five years.

Why it matters: WeChat’s success reflects the messaging app’s dominance in China, where it provides its massive audience of smartphone users with a lifestyle hub. The all-encompassing app lets other companies develop micro-programs that work inside the main app, which allows expanded features such as multimedia messaging, making payments, gaming, ride-hailing and travel booking.

The details: WeChat’s massive increase in brand value makes it the fastest growth among 100 global brands. In terms of dollars, Amazon saw the greatest brand value growth, which reached 187.9 billion. Together, China and the US had 39 of the world’s fastest-growing brands.

Twitter Uses Twttr Prototype App To Test New Conversation Features

According to TechCrunch, the features tested on twttr have now been spotted on Twitter.

Why it matters: With Twitter’s potential use of threaded conversation replies, it seems the platform is following in Reddit’s footsteps. Twttr also labels the person who started the conversation with a little microphone icon, similar to Reddit.

The details: Twitter launched twttr to experiment with changes to the Twitter user interface and gain feedback before officially rolling out changes to Twitter’s main user base. Now some of those features will be making their way to the Twitter app next year, including a Reddit-like conversation tree which helps keep track of a conversation’s flow. 

Twitter Pauses Purge Until It Can Memorialize Accounts Of The Deceased

Before proceeding with its plan to delete dormant accounts, Twitter is developing a way to memorialize the accounts of deceased users.

Why it matters: The announced purge would’ve initially only impacted accounts in the EU due to local privacy regulations, Twitter said. The platform didn’t specify when it would have a plan to memorialized accounts of the deceased, but until then, it can look to Facebook, who already has a feature for memorializing accounts. 

The details: Twitter received messages from many users regarding its plan to purge and the company reacted swiftly, ultimately making the decision to wait. However, the platform says its current inactive account policy has always been in place, but that it hasn’t been diligent about enforcing it.

Editor’s Note: Our weekly social media news post is updated daily. This installment will be updated until Friday, December 6. Have a news tip? We’re looking for changes to and news surrounding social media platforms as they relate to marketing. Let us know at editorial@alistdaily.com.

This week in social, Twitter announced it plans to delete accounts that have been inactive for six months and Facebook is testing a feature that would let users share messenger stories with selected friends.

Twitter Will Delete Accounts That Have Been Inactive For Six Months

According to BBC’s David Lee, Twitter will start deleting accounts on December 11.

Why it matters: Twitter’s plan to purge inactive accounts will free up usernames for active users.

The details: A spokesperson told The Verge that the platform’s goal with the purge is to “present more accurate, credible information that people can trust across Twitter.” Any accounts that haven’t logged in for the past six months will be considered inactive and deleted by Twitter over the course of the next several months. 

Facebook Tests Options To Share Messenger Stories With Select Group Of Friends

The feature would enable users to share Facebook and Messenger Stories with friends and family of their choice.

Why it matters: Should Facebook make the feature available to everyone, it would give brands a way to add a level of exclusivity to interactions with consumers and help foster brand loyalty. The tool is similar to the Instagram’s “Close Friends” sharing option, launched in December 2018.

The details: With a potential new “Favorites” list, Facebook users can share Stories with select users that they include in their list. 

Work Video Messenger Loom Streamlines Workplace Communication

According to TechCrunch, the Loom app, which launched in 2016, allows co-workers to communicate their message via video.

Why it matters: Loom-style asynchronous video messaging makes the app a potential competitor for Slack and Microsoft Teams. Yet Loom’s co-founder and CEO Joe Thomas notes that Loom is a complementary tool to chat.

The details: The Loom app lets users send short clips of themselves to streamline communication in the workplace. The company has grown from 1.1 million users and 18,000 companies using it to 1.8 million people at 50,000 companies, with 15 million minutes of Loom videos shared per month. The company announced it raised $30 million in a round, and has recently welcomed Instagram co-founders Mike Krieger and Kevin Systrom as new investors.

Facebook Buys Virtual Reality Studio Behind Rhythm Game Beat Saber

Facebook announced today it’s buying Beat Games, the game studio responsible for one of the platform’s biggest titles: Beat Saber. 

Why it matters: The move indicates Facebook’s potential interest in following the strategies of Sony and Microsoft who have also bought small studios and funded new titles.

The details: Facebook’s new studio will join Oculus Studios, but will operate independently at its Prague headquarters. Facebook says that it’s not after platform exclusivity, and that Beat Games will still support the platforms that it’s already on.

Twitter Expands “Hide Tweet Replies” To All Users Globally

After the platform performed months of testing, Twitter users can now hide replies to their tweets.

Why it matters: Giving users better control over tweet engagement represents Twitter’s latest efforts to amplify the “healthy conversations” initiative it launched in March 2018, responding to users’ reported abuse and harassment. 

The details: Twitter users will now have the option to hide replies to tweets, which doesn’t delete replies, but rather moves them to a separate page. When the test first began, among Canadian Twitter users, Twitter found that people use the feature to hide replies that are irrelevant, off-topic, or annoying. It also found that 85 percent of the people who used the feature are not using block or mute functions.

The Number Of YouTube Creators Earning Five Figures Has Increased More Than 40 Percent

In her final quarterly update of 2019, YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki details the platform’s developments in copyright claims, content guidelines and monetization tools.

Why it matters: The changes YouTube made to streamline creators’ experience proves that it’s taking influencers’ feedback into consideration, a move that has helped boost the YouTube economy. 

The details: Wojcicki said that compared to last year, the number of YouTube creators with a million or more subscribers has grown 65 percent, and influencers earning five or six figures annually has grown by more than 40 percent. In response to the copyright strikes creators face on the platform, Wojcicki said YouTube removed the final incentive to claim “very short and unintentional music use.” She also noted that the platform’s “Super Chat” feature, which allows fans to buy credits to have their comments featured in live-streams, have allowed some streams to earn more than $400 per minute. 

Twitter Testing Two-Factor Authentication Feature Without Need For A Phone Number

According to TechCrunch, the update comes after Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey’s own Twitter account was hacked through a SIM swap.

Why it matters: In October, Twitter admitted to inadvertently using phone numbers provided during two-factor setup for serving targeted ads. That coupled with the fact that many people have had their phone numbers hijacked via SIM swapping, and it’s clear to see why Twitter is making an effort to protect users’ information. 

The details: For many years, Twitter made SMS-based two-factor authentication mandatory, forcing many users to give up their phone number. Now, the platform is rolling out the feature without the need for a phone number to a select group of users.

Editor’s Note: Our weekly social media news post is updated daily. This installment will be updated until Friday, November 29. Have a news tip? We’re looking for changes to and news surrounding social media platforms as they relate to marketing. Let us know at editorial@alistdaily.com.

This week, YouTube announced the addition of Nielsen television data to its audience planning tool, Facebook gives brands more in-depth control over ad placements and Amazon is rumored to launch its own cloud gaming service.

YouTube Integrates Nielsen Television Data Into Its Audience Planning Tool 

Google is adding Nielsen data to “Reach Planner,” its audience planning tool within Google Ads that launched last April.

Why it matters: Knowing that brands are using Google data from Reach Planner to help find audiences ditching traditional television, it’s likely that Google wants to control additional YouTube inventory within its auctions and borrow familiar television buying practices to attract big brand advertisers. 

The details: YouTube’s US director of video, Kristin MacGregor, said that many ad agencies use Reach Planner to estimate unique reach for large campaigns. With integrated Nielsen television demographics, brands can now compare YouTube and television reach on an apple to apple basis.

Facebook Gives Brands More Control Over Ad Placements

Facebook’s new brand safety tools will enable businesses to better control where their ads appear across the platform’s various ad delivery networks.

Why it matters: In 2017, YouTube lost millions of dollars in revenue after major brands pulled their spend due to concerns that their ads were displayed alongside extremist content and hate speech. Facebook’s new brand safety tools, which enable brands in-depth control, are the platform’s efforts to avoid the same issue. 

The details: Facebook is adding a new, dedicated section where brands can create blocklists, receive delivery reports and set account-level inventory filters. Facebook is looking to give advertisers the ability to white-list forms of content they appear on for in-stream video ads. Facebook also has a new brand safety partner, Zefr, who will join DoubleVerify, Integral Ad Science and OpenSlate to improve brand safety tools. 

Amazon’s Rumored To Launch Its Own Cloud Gaming Service Next Year

According to The Verge, job listings have given some evidence that Amazon is, in fact, launching a cloud gaming service.

Why it matters: Cloud gaming has become a popular new battleground for tech companies. With an already massive infrastructure and streaming know-how in place, Amazon is equipped to launch its own cloud gaming service and understands the huge potential for such a service.

The details: Amazon has experimented with cloud gaming before, with a game made by its own Amazon Game Studios in 2014. A report from The Information said Amazon’s new cloud gaming venture wouldn’t launch until 2020 at the earliest.

Snapchat Will Pay More Than $750,000 To Top Augmented Reality Stars

According to AdAge, Snapchat will triple what it paid out to augmented reality (AR) creators in 2019.

Why it matters: Snapchat saw a boost in downloads following the launch of its gender-swap and baby lenses. Still, the platform’s growth has been slowed by Instagram. Leading innovation on new AR tools will help Snapchat remain relevant and keep its users engaged.

The details: Snapchat’s commitment to pay AR creators more than $750,000 is significant considering it’s on track to generate about $1.2 billion in ad revenue in 2020. Snapchat’s ultimate goal is to iterate its Spectacles video sunglasses into fully functional AR devices.

Facebook’s New “Whale” App Lets Users Make Memes

The meme-making app is Facebook’s latest attempt to stay hip among Gen Z and millennials.

Why it matters: Whale could gain traction with younger users if the app continuously offers the latest meme templates. The app is in line with Facebook’s strategy to woo young users as it also recently launched music app AUX—meant for sharing music—and chat app Bump—which connects students through Q-and-A-style messaging. 

The details: Whale is available to Canadian users via Facebook’s experiential app division called NPE Team LLC. The app lets users make their own memes via simplified templates and tools without “hidden subscription pricing or distractions.”

Snapchat Says Political Ads On Platform Will Be Subject To Review

Snapchat’s CEO Evan Spiegel said the platform fact-checks all ads including those from political candidates.

Why it matters: Snapchat’s taken a different approach to political ads than Facebook and Twitter. Snapchat says it will allow political ads but also limit misinformation via fact-checking. Facebook will allow political ads that are exempt from fact checks whereas Twitter will ban all political ads, but will allow certain “issues” ads.

The details: Spiegel said that Snapchat tries to create “a place for political ads on our platform” especially because “we reach so many young people and first-time voters.”

Twitch Launches Free Streaming Software For Newcomers

The platform launched Twitch Studio, an all-in-one streaming app that takes the guesswork out of setting up a stream.

Why it matters: Twitch debuted the app in August to a select group of users. Now available to everyone, Twitch Studio will encourage those who aren’t sure how to get started with streaming to get on board.

The details: Twitch says the software is primarily geared toward new streamers. While most streamers use third-party streaming programs such as Xsplit or OBS, Twitch Studio is purpose-built for streaming on Twitch. When downloaded, the software starts a guided setup process that detects hardware and adjusts stream settings to optimize for connection speed. The app comes with starter layouts and overlays to help personalize streams as well as integrated alerts.

Facebook Is Testing An In-App Feature Similar In Feel To Instagram

TechCrunch spotted Facebook testing a feature called Popular Photos that mimics the experience of scrolling an Instagram feed but within Facebook.

Why it matters: Given Facebook has most of the same features as Instagram, it’s only missing an explore tab and a dedicated media feed now. Popular Photos could provide users with a more passive browsing experience that omits having to click links and eliminate the need to read updates.

The details: Popular Photos affixes a scroll of algorithmically selected pictures beneath the full-screen view of a photo opened in Facebook’s news feed. A Facebook spokesperson confirmed that Facebook was running a small test of Popular Photos in October.

TikTok Tests Shoppable Video Links For Influencers

According to Adweek, TikTok is running beta tests that allow influencers to embed social commerce links in videos on the app.

Why it matters: TikTok currently allows brands to run shoppable ads, but this would mark the platform’s first foray into social commerce where users can shop directly from influencers. The feature would also enable influencers to make their content more shoppable.

The details: TikTok’s social commerce links were first spotted by a TikTok engineer on a Chinese web forum. TikTok confirmed to Adweek that it is, in fact, testing a social commerce functionality.

Editor’s Note: Our weekly social media news post is updated daily. This installment will be updated until Friday, November 22. Have a news tip? We’re looking for changes to and news surrounding social media platforms as they relate to marketing. Let us know at editorial@alistdaily.com.

This week, Instagram offers to pay for creators’ IGTV production costs, Facebook expands its breaking news tag to publishers in more regions and the Federal Trade Commission releases updated influencer disclosure guidelines.

Instagram Offers To Cover Production Costs For Creators’ IGTV Content 

The offer is being extended to select influencers but has one caveat. 

Why it matters: IGTV has struggled to gain viewership since its June 2018 launch, making this a small incentive for influencers to ramp up IGTV content creation. 

The details: Bloomberg says that Instagram is willing to pay influencers thousands of dollars towards production costs in exchange for a set number of videos. The platform has already signed dozens of deals, the biggest being $250,000 for more than 20 posts. The partnership restricts creators from posting to YouTube and enlisting any third-party sponsorship for giveaways. One caveat is that creators aren’t allowed to discuss social issues, politics or elections in their videos.

YouTube Will Ask Creators To Clarify Whether Their Content Is Suitable For Children

The move follows an investigation by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over YouTube’s violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

Why it matters: YouTube will also stop serving personalized adverts alongside children’s content, which, the platform says, could result in a revenue decrease for some creators.

The details: After the FTC fined YouTube $170 million dollars for its failure to comply with COPPA, YouTube was ordered to create a system to better identify content that’s aimed at children. During the upload process, creators will now be asked whether the video they’re publishing is suitable for children. YouTube will further its initiative via machine-learning to identify content targeted at kids. Comments on child-related content will also be disabled. 

Facebook Expands Publishers’ Access To Breaking News Tags In More Regions

The feature is being extended after Facebook’s year-long test in several markets.

Why it matters: The platform’s red “breaking” tag doesn’t impact news feed post rankings, but Facebook says they improve a post’s performance. Following CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s statements about free speech, it seems Facebook is attempting to reinforce its role of news provider. 

The details: After running a test that allowed more than 100 news publishers from North America, Latin America, Europe, India and Australia to identify and label stories as “breaking news” on Facebook, the platform found that people engaged more actively with these stories. Now, the breaking news tags will be available to selected publishers in Switzerland, Italy, Portugal, Ireland, Singapore, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico.

Federal Trade Commission Announces Simplified Guidelines For Influencer Disclosure 

According to InfluencerUpdate.biz, the brochure explains laws surrounding disclosure and sponsored content in a manner that influencers will understand.

Why it matters: The FTC has made significant efforts to mitigate misconduct in digital spaces. Earlier this year, the FTC slapped TikTok with a $5.7 million penalty after the platform illegally collected personal information pertaining to children. Later, it fined Facebook $5 billion in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal.

The details: Entitled “Disclosure 101,” the FTC’s updated guidelines provide clear instructions on how to disclose a partnership and reiterates the fact that financial relationships are not just limited to a monetary transaction. If sponsored content appears in a live stream, the brochure notes, then the disclosure must be repeated periodically so that viewers who opt-in at different times see it. The brochure also states that influencers shouldn’t mention products or services they’ve never used.

Instagram To Extend Test Of Hiding Likes To US Users

According to Social Media Today, Instagram chief Adam Mosseri announced at the WIRED25 conference that the platform will extend its test of hiding likes on posts to some users in the US.

Why it matters: Expanding the hidden likes test to additional users in the US suggests that it’s generating results, but what those results are, remains to be announced.

The details: Instagram launched the initial test in Canada in May then extended it to seven additional countries in July. Still, Instagram hasn’t released any data on how no likes will impact engagement and metrics.

Report Shows Impact Of Instagram’s Hidden Likes Test On Influencer Engagement

The HypeAuditor study surveyed more than 154,000 Instagram influencers to examine the impact of Instagram’s hidden likes experiment. 

Why it matters: The removal of total likes is impacting overall engagement stats for influencers, but the results aren’t definitive.

The details: The study found that total like counts have fallen in regions where Instagram implemented the test. Nano-influencers have seen a pronounced reduction in some areas but not all. Brazilian influencers in the mid-tier influencer have seen a bigger hit while Japanese influencers experienced a spike in the major influencer category.

TikTok Partners With Yandex On Ad Sales

TikTok is collaborating with Yandex, “Russia’s Google,” known for its range of online services.

Why it matters: The collaboration gives marketers a way to reach Russian consumers on TikTok. Half of the Russian consumers use social media, making the county a ripe market for growth. This also means that TikTok is expanding the platform to third parties for ad sales to help expand its revenue base.
The details: Yandex advertisers will reach TikTok users in Russia through Yandex Advertising Network (YAN), the company’s ad-serving platform. The video ads will appear in TikTok users’ curated feeds in a format that Yandex adapted for TikTok. The ads will also be adapted in a mobile format and targeted at specific TikTok users.

Editor’s Note: Our weekly social media news post is updated daily. This installment will be updated until Friday, November 15. Have a news tip? We’re looking for changes to and news surrounding social media platforms as they relate to marketing. Let us know at editorial@alistdaily.com.

This week, Google announced it will display ads on YouTube’s home feed and in search results, Tinder’s in-app video series is going international and Facebook gives creators and publishers greater access to brand partnerships and engagement insights.

YouTube Is Bringing Shopping Ads To Its Home Feed, Search Results  

According to Search Engine Journal, Google is letting brands tap into users’ shopping intent.

Why it matters: Google says nearly two-thirds of shoppers use online video as inspiration for their purchase and more than 90 percent of those shoppers say they’ve discovered new products and brands via YouTube.

The details: Users will now see visual shopping ads, tailored to their interests, on YouTube’s home feed and when conducting searches.

Tinder To Launch New Swipe Night In-App Series Outside The US

The move comes after the in-app video series drove double-digit increases in matches and messages.

Why it matters: The interactive video series was a departure for the dating app that resonated so well with Gen Z users that Tinder will take it international in 2020.

The details: Tinder’s “Swipe Night” allowed users to swipe on a story, the narrative for which they could customize, a style format popularized by Netflix. The in-app series led to a 20 to 25 percent increase in likes and a 30 percent increase in matches. Additionally, the series boosted female engagement on the app.

Facebook Announces Expanded Access To Brand Collabs Manager

Initially, the “Brand Collabs Manager” tool was only open to a limited set of creators.

Why it matters: With greater access to partnership opportunities and deeper insights, creators and publishers alike will be able to make content that resonates with their audience.

The details: Introduced last year, “Brand Collabs Manager” is a database of potential Facebook and Instagram users that businesses can connect with to arrange partnerships. Now, creators in over 40 countries can apply for access to “Brand Collabs Manager.” To qualify, creators must have at least 1,000 followers, and either have 15,000 engagements on their posts over the last month or have 180,000 minutes viewed. Facebook also rolled out new data insights to its Creator Studio, called “Traffic Source Insights,” with the goal of helping publishers and creators better understand their content’s engagement. 

Twitter To Personalize Users Experience Based On Interest In Topics

Social Media Today reported that Twitter’s new feature will enable users to follow specific topics.

Why it matters: Twitter is looking to simplify the way users stay in touch with conversations of interest and boost engagement on the platform.

The details: Twitter will present prompts to follow topics and personalize users’ experience based on their interest in the specific topic. The platform may also match users with other topics they think they’re interested in based on their profile and activity, such as the tweets they view or like. Twitter has curated listings to cover over 300 topics of general interest. These listings will be formulated via a combination of machine learning and human creation. 

Twitter Exploring Major Changes To Retweets And Mentions

According to The Verge, Twitter is testing new anti-harassment features that could impact the very nature of the platform.

Why it matters: The ability to disable a retweet on specific tweets gives users protection against misinterpreted tweets going viral. Additionally, another potential feature that would prevent other users from mentioning you without permission, however, counters the call-out culture that’s foundational to Twitter.

The details: Twitter’s vice president of design and research yesterday tweeted a list of features he’s looking forward to in 2020 including an option to remove yourself from a conversation, the option to disable a retweet on a tweet, the option to not let people mention you without your permission and removing a mention from a conversation.

WhatsApp Announces New Group Privacy Settings 

The new invite system gives users more privacy.

Why it matters: Before today, the group privacy setting was only available in India. The now globally available privacy feature will help reduce spam.

The details: WhatsApp is giving users three levels of group invite privacy options including “Everyone,” an option that allows any users to add you to a group, “My Contacts” an option to let anyone in your phone’s contacts add you to a group and “My Contacts Except” which lets certain contacts add you to a group. Should someone not from any of the aforementioned categories try adding you, the group admin will be prompted to send the user an invite via a private WhatsApp message.

Facebook To Implement Limits On Number Of Ads Each Page Can Run

The update will start rolling out in mid-2020.

Why it matters: According to Facebook, running too many ads could lead to poor overall ad performance, which would, in turn, reduce overall ad spend. 

The details: Facebook said it will limit the number of ads each page can run at the same time, a change that will “impact just a small percentage of advertisers.” It explained that when running many ads at the same time, “fewer ads exit the learning phase and more budget is spent before the delivery system can optimize an ad’s performance.”

YouTube Launches Animated “Super Stickers” For Creators

The stickers will give creators more ways to earn money and connect with fans. 

Why it matters: With new stickers, YouTube is giving creators more ways to deepen their connection with their fans and make more money at the same time.

The details: YouTube’s new stickers were inspired by its “Super Chat feature,” which allows fans to purchase messages that stand out within a live chat and premieres. The super stickers’ initial release come with eight distinct sticker packs including translated packs for English, French, Japanese, Korean and Portuguese. 

Pinterest’s Q3 Report Shows 47 Percent Increase In Revenue

The platform’s latest performance update reveals increases in both revenue and usage for the third quarter of 2019.

Why it matters: Though it saw a 47 percent increase in revenue, Pinterest’s growth is slower than previous quarters. Its commitment to expand on-platform buying options will allow it to capitalize on its capacity as a product discovery and purchase engine for consumers. While Pinterest’s double-digit growth in international monthly active users (MAU) reflects the platform’s potential for ongoing expansion.

The details: This quarter, Pinterest added 22 million more MAU, making its total MAU 322 million, a 28 percent increase year-over-year. Comparatively, in the same period, Snapchat added 7 million additional daily active users while Facebook added 36 million MUA. Pinterest’s international MUA saw a 38 percent increase and its revenue grew to $280 million.

WhatsApp Lets iOS Users Watch Netflix Trailers Directly In App

Engadget reports insights into the new feature which hasn’t officially been announced yet. 

Why it matters: The feature gives users added incentive to remain within WhatsApp while communicating with friends and family about new Netflix shows or planned viewing events. 
The details: This feature only pertains to trailers. WhatsApp users who want to stream a full movie or show will still have to do so in the Netflix app.

Editor’s Note: Our weekly social media news post is updated daily. This installment will be updated until Friday, November 8. Have a news tip? We’re looking for changes to and news surrounding social media platforms as they relate to marketing. Let us know at editorial@alistdaily.com.

This week, Facebook’s Q3 results come in strong, Twitter’s CEO takes a stand against political ads and Mixer matches Twitch’s subscription price.

Facebook Demonstrates Strong Growth In Q3

According to TechCrunch, Facebook users increased two percent to 2.45 billion.

Why it matters: Despite public backlash and increased competition from Snapchat, Facebook has managed to stay sticky.

The details: Facebook reached 2.45 billion monthly users in Q3 compared to 2.41 billion in the quarter prior. It now has 1.62 billion daily active users and $18 billion of revenue, up 29 percent year-over-year, with $2.12 earnings per share (EPS). The company gained 2 million users in each of its core US, Canada and Europe markets.

Twitter Stops All Political Advertising Globally

Twitter’s CEO tweeted that the company believes political message reach should be earned, not bought. 

Why it matters: Twitter’s decision to ban political ads is in stark contrast to the support Facebook has expressed for politicians’ free speech.

The details: Dorsey explained, “A political message earns reach when people decide to follow an account or retweet. Paying for reach removes that decision, forcing highly optimized and targeted political messages on people. We believe this decision should not be compromised by money.”

Mixer Matches Twitch’s Subscription Price

The Microsoft-owned platform Mixer is going after Twitch by changing its subscription pricing from $5.99 to $4.99.

Why it matters: The change in price comes after Twitch’s top streamers, such as Ninja and KingGothalion, moved to Mixer. The lower rate makes it more appealing for other pro Twitch streamers to make the move to Mixer. 

The details: Mixer’s new price is the same amount as Twitch’s initial level pricing. Subscribers who auto renew will see the lower rate and those who subscribed within the last week can even request an adjustment. 

Facebook Launches Preventative Medicine Tool For Users 

According to a Facebook blog post, the social media giant’s latest feature will prompt users to get regular checkups and connect them to service providers.

Why it matters: The issue of privacy caused Facebook to scale back its efforts in health, but the tech giant is moving forward again even though consumers have doubts. A year ago, a consumer filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission accusing Facebook of improperly protecting information about users of a group that discussed personal medical conditions with the expectation of privacy. A recent study also shows that several mental health apps have been sending data to Facebook for analytics or advertising purposes. So it’s unclear what steps Facebook has taken to address privacy concerns.

The details: For the new health initiative, Facebook is teaming with organizations such as the American Cancer Society and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop a series of digital prompts that encourage users to get a standard battery of tests. To start, the company’s focus will be the top two leading causes of death in the US—heart disease and cancer. Facebook’s partner organizations will recommend checkups to users based on age and gender via the mobile app or desktop version. Additional features of the tool include completed marks, reminders for future tests and an option to tell their friends about the tool. Facebook said it will not collect the results of any test. 

Gen Z Favor Snapchat, Twitch And Wish

An App Annie study revealed top app and web preferences of Gen Z.

Why it matters: Gen Z collectively spend $44 billion a year and influence another $600 billion in household purchases. Marketers have more incentive to shift ad dollars to these platforms. 

The details: The top-ranking apps among Gen Z are Snapchat, Twitch and Wish. Wish, the ecommerce platform that connects buyers directly with sellers is a favorite of the group because its discounted products appeal to Gen Z’s budget-savvy habits. Given social media has made them more guarded, Gen Z are more likely to use Snapchat because it deletes messages and stories after 24 hours. 

Snapchat Introduces 3D Paint Feature For Augmented Reality Snaps

According to Venture Beat, the feature enables users to create new augmented reality (AR) snaps directly from their camera.

Why it matters: The 3D paint feature is part of Snapchat’s growing AR investment. In the last few months alone, the company raised $1 billion in short-term debt as part of its AR strategy and launched dual-camera spectacles capable of creating 3D AR content. 

The details: 3D Paint is available on iOS devices initially and users can access it via the “AR Bar,” the app’s dedicated space for creating and browsing AR filters. Users can manually draw visuals over their faces through the selfie camera. 

FTC Rules That Selling Likes And Followers Is Illegal

According to Social Media Today, the case involves a Florida businessman who sold social engagement to celebrities.

Why it matters: The case sets new guidelines for potential legal action against sellers of fake social media engagement. Facebook has already moved ahead with legal action against several fake engagement providers, even extending the push to those selling fake likes in China. 

The details: The FTC recently fined Florida businessman German Calas, Jr. $2.5 million for selling likes and followers to celebrities, under a business Calas led called Devumi. A New York Times investigation found that Devumi drew on an estimated stock of at least 3.5 million automated accounts, each sold many times over, helping the company generate $15 million in revenue. Earlier this year, Devumi agreed to a $50,000 settlement. The FTC says the additional $2.5 million will be suspended when Calas has paid $250,000. In a second case, the FTC issued a warning to skincare brand Sunday Riley whose founder allegedly wrote fake reviews about the company’s products via Sephora’s site and ordered employees to do the same.  

Editor’s Note: Our weekly social media news post is updated daily. This installment will be updated until Friday, November 1. Have a news tip? We’re looking for changes to and news surrounding social media platforms as they relate to marketing. Let us know at editorial@alistdaily.com.

This week, Twitter gets hit with a drop in sales and earnings per share, Snapchat introduces a developer tool that lets brands and publishers share web content and LinkedIn reports strong revenue growth.

Twitter Q3 Earnings Show Drop In Sales And Earnings Per Share

According to TechCrunch, ad tech glitches caused Twitter to miss big on revenues and earnings per share (EPS).

Why it matters: Analysts predicted Twitter’s EPS to come in at 20 cents per share, which is far greater than what Q3 earnings show. 

The details: Revenues for Q3 reached $824 million and EPS $0.05. Twitter attributed the drop to revenue product issues, bugs in its Mobile Application Promotion (MAP) product which impacted the ability to target ads and issues with its ad tech personalization. The platform’s monetizable daily active users, however, increased from 124 million a year prior to 145 million.

Snapchat Introduces Creative Kit For Sharing Web Content To App

The developer tool lets brands and publishers share web content. 

Why it matters: Integrations with third-party apps give marketers a chance to reach a broader audience and boost web traffic outside the app.

The details: The “Creative Kit for Web” lets brands add a “Share to Snapchat” button to a mobile or desktop site and the resulting shared snaps will feature a branded sticker or GIF as well as a link to drive traffic to related content on a site. While using Snapchat, visitors to those sites will be able to scan a snap code with a smartphone camera to share then a link with friends and followers. 

LinkedIn FY20 Q1 Earnings See Increased Revenue And Sessions

Microsoft reported earnings for its first fiscal quarter of 2020 including LinkedIn highlights.

Why it matters: The platform has been delivering solid double-digit growth over the last several quarters and chances are the trend will continue with its latest introduction of real-life networking events.

The details: LinkedIn revenue grew 25 percent and sessions increased 22 percent year-over-year as engagement reached record levels. Marketing solutions continued to be the platform’s fastest-growing segment, up 44 percent YOY.

Snapchat’s Latest Performance Updates Show Increases In Users And Revenue 

Snapchat revealed that its audience grew by seven million from Q2 to Q3.  

Why it matters: An increased average revenue per user (ARPU) reflects that Snapchat’s business efforts are improving and that its capitalizing on its ability to maintain audience interest. Still, the platform’s “Rest of the World” users are not as profitable as those in other markets, reflecting Snapchat’s need to incur more technical costs to support those users.

The details: The update notes that Snapchat is being used by 210 million people every day, up from 203 million in the previous quarter. The increase is in part attributed to the “Rest of the World” category with Snapchat’s re-designed Android app which has gained traction in India.

Snapchat also improved profitability with a 50 percent year-on-year increase to $446 million. Its overall ARPU also increased by 33 percent to $2.12. Total daily time spent watching the platform’s “Discover” content has increased 40 percent year-over-year.

Instagram Removes All Augmented Reality Filters That Promote Cosmetic Surgery

BBC reports that the move comes amid concerns that cosmetics surgery filters on the platform’s stories harm people’s mental health. 

Why it matters: The move to ban cosmetic surgery filters is in line with its overall effort to promote wellbeing and recent anti-bullying “Restrict” feature.

The details: Story filters that make users look like they’ve had fillers, lip injections or a facelift will be banned. The decision comes after the app announced in August that users would be able to create their own custom face filters on stories. The result was many popular filters that mimicked the effects of extreme cosmetic surgery. 

Instagram Adds Option To Categorize IGTV Videos

According to Social Media Today, Instagram’s new ‘Series’ option will enable creators to segment videos into dedicated collections.

Why it matters: The feature is influenced by Snapchat’s original shows and docuseries which have been gaining momentum through repeat viewership. 

The details: Instagram will allow creators to group their IGTV videos and also notify viewers when there are new episodes via an on-screen tab that viewers can tap. The IGTV ‘Series’ option will help influencers better brand their content and encourage return viewers.

YouTube Adds Virtual ‘Beauty Try-On’ In Beta To Masthead And Trueview Discovery Ads

Google’s artificial reality (AR) feature, Beauty Try-On—which lets viewers virtually try on makeup using their front-facing smartphone cameras while following along with YouTube creators’ tutorials—is now available to brands globally. 

Why it matters: YouTube’s AR beauty experience will allow advertisers an opportunity to showcase their brands in an engaging way via YouTube’s home feed across devices.  

The details: Google first made “Beauty Try-On” available through an alpha with Google’s in-house branded content platform, FameBit. Now consumers will be able to browse, virtually try on makeup and shop the products directly via the mobile Masthead (via the YouTube homepage)and Trueview discovery ads while watching a tutorial. NARS has reached over 20 million people to date in the US, UK, Canada and Australia with the feature. 

Instagram Testing Feature That Would Cluster Accounts To Make Them Manageable 

According to Engadget, an app sleuther has learned that Instagram is testing a feature that would group followers into categories to make them easier to manage.

Why it matters: This would help followers focus their feed on people who they care about and in turn lure them back to the platform even when follow lists become cluttered. 

The details: The feature would let users see followers they “least interacted with” and “most shown in feed” to help users determine who to unfollow.

Facebook Marketers Increase Video Media Budgets In Q3

Mobile Marketer reported that per a study from Nanigans, Facebook advertisers boosted their video budgets 24 percent in Q3 from a year prior, the third consecutive quarter that video spend more than doubled image adspend. 

Why it matters: The rise in video budgets indicates marketers’ efforts in engaging users with more emotionally compelling content, an important strategy for direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands that are equipped to fulfill direct orders and app marketers looking to drive downloads.

The details: In addition to overall video budgets increasing, cost-per-click (CPC) rates for video ads rose 31 percent during the period while click-through rates (CTR) for video decreased 28 percent. Still, the rise in video spending shows that marketers saw a positive return from video ads. Facebook advertisers also spent more on dynamic ads, 98 percent in Q3 from a year earlier.

Editor’s Note: Our weekly social media news post is updated daily. This installment will be updated until Friday, October 25. Have a news tip? We’re looking for changes to and news surrounding social media platforms as they relate to marketing. Let us know at editorial@alistdaily.com.