GoTV Episode 2

GoTV Episode 2 Blog
14Sep

Welcome to Go! TV, your weekly look at the world of social media!

Instagram

Instagram might enable users to tag videos.
Instagram is currently testing a feature that enables users to tag video posts. User tagging is great for encouraging engagement, as users are notified when someone tags them in other content. Although users can tag others in the comments section of a video, this option is a more organic method. Additionally, the in-video tags allow comments sections to (hopefully) focus on discussion. This feature is currently testing.

Social Media Today
Tech Crunch

Facebook

Universal Pictures teams with Facebook and Messenger for first integrated AR experience.
To promote the DVD release of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Universal pictures joined forces with Facebook to create an integrated augmented reality (AR) experience for Facebook Messenger app users. This is proof of AR’s growing popularity among major platforms, as social media networks and apps continue to compete for users and engagement.

Mobile Marketer
Cision PR Newswire

What do you think about brands moving into AR? Would you be more swayed to see the movie based on this ad? 

Facebook’s Canvas ads get a new name and new features. 
Facebook is revamping its Canvas ads, advertisements that acted as a site-within-a-site on Facebook’s mobile app. Renamed “Instant Experience,” these ads will continue to offer an immersive experience in addition to new features and options. The updated ads also have improved performance and load times. Facebook Pixel will now automatically be included in the Instant Experience ads if the advertiser’s website also uses Facebook Pixel.

Social Media Today
Facebook Business 

Twitter

Twitter debuts audio-only live streams.
The microblogging leviathan is now dabbling in audio. The platform announced recently that it will enable iOS users (soon to be joined by Android users) to live stream audio-only content. Periscope engineer Richard Plom explains,

“Broadcasting with audio only in Periscope is something the community has been asking for, and have been doing already by covering the camera lens. Sometimes people are not comfortable being on camera, but they still want to broadcast and interact with others via Periscope’s powerful chatroom feature.” 

If you thought that this innovation sounds an awfully lot like a podcast, you are not wrong! It’s essentially podcasting live. Given the popularity of podcasting in America, this is not surprising. Over a quarter of all Americans listen to at least one podcast per month, with 17% of Americans tuning in weekly to their favorite podcasts. (Source: Podcast Insights)

Social Media Today
Medium
Podcast Insights

Speaking of great podcasts, we have a new episode of Success to Go! Check it out here.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share your thoughts below!

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GoTV Episode 1

GoTV Episode 1 Blog
8Sep

Welcome to the pilot episode of GoTV! We’re presenting a weekly roundup of the latest news, trends, and innovations on the social media landscape.

INSTAGRAM

Instagram is taking steps to increase security. 
Instagram is implementing new tools and features to enhance transparency and safety for users. Notable public figures will now be verified. Accounts with large followings will have additional information available to all viewers, showing origin and age of the account. Finally, users will be able to log in to their accounts using third-party authenticator apps.

Social Media Today article 

Could IG Shopping be headed your way? 
Instagram is reportedly planning to enter ecommerce. Sources claim that the platform is working on a new standalone app for shopping. This app will enable Instagram users to purchase directly from brands and merchants they follow.

The Verge article

YOUTUBE

YouTube announces new tools for nonprofits.
‘Tis almost the season . . . . Just in time for the holidays, YouTube is currently beta testing a new suite of features within the app called Youtube Giving. These features are designed to enable fans and creators to do more for the causes and charities they support, from fundraising to content creation.

YouTube Creator Blog
Social Media Today article
Beta Test

TWITTER

Twitter has been recommending profiles to unfollow.
Similar to the “Who to Follow” feature, Twitter might be suggesting accounts to unfollow soon. This innovation is still being tested, but has already raised a lot of controversy. The social media juggernaut has defended the feature, arguing that it will improve engagement and experience.

Slate article

FACEBOOK

Facebook combats discrimination by removing thousands of ad-targeting options.
In an effort to improve both user experience (and its own image after a year filled with PR nightmares ranging from foreign bots to data breaches), Facebook will remove ad-targeting options that can be used to discriminate based on race, religion, and more. All told, over 5,000 options will be deleted. Facebook reaffirmed its commitment to all users, saying,

While these options have been used in legitimate ways to reach people interested in a certain product or service, we think minimizing the risk of abuse is more important. This includes limiting the ability for advertisers to exclude audiences that relate to attributes such as ethnicity or religion.”

Social Media Today article 
Buzzfeed
Facebook Announcement

That’s all for this week! Don’t forget to check out our YouTube channel for next week’s episode, debuting Friday, September 14th!

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