#MidweekMinute: App Tweaks

Facebook’s playing with swipeable hybrid interfaces & Messenger reabsorption; Insta cracks down on buttcracks; “twttr” (yes) also plays with swipes, and goes darker; I give LinkedIn’s newest feature an “angry face” emoji.

Now that we’ve all recovered from the FB/Insta/WhatsApp outage (honestly, I didn’t even notice it - I must have been busy on Twitter that day - or even IRL (gasp!)…

Facebook is experimenting with a few changes to the user experience. First up, they’re considering merging the newsfeed and Story feed into a single side-swipe interface (in a continued effort to get you to actually use stories on Facebook). They’re also testing bringing Messenger back into its main Facebook app, instead of forcing you to open the separate Messenger app to read messages on mobile. (That’s not the only change for Messenger - they’re also discontinuing Messenger Scan Codes.)

Instagram, meanwhile, is tinkering with their algorithm to demote content deemed “inappropriate” - sparking debate over what exactly that means. (Fewer belfies?)

Twitter is playing with a whole bunch of app changes in its new twttr experimental app (available by application only); they’re playing with swipe gestures (swipe to like!), improved conversation-thread tools (identifying authors, nesting original tweet context into replies), and creating a “true black” dark mode to save battery on mobile devices.

LinkedIn continues their march away from professionalism and into “social media” by adding reactions (and more photo stickers).

learn more:

View my Flipboard Magazine.

Christine Gritmon Inc. 1/17/18 Christine Gritmon Inc. 1/17/18

#MidweekMinute: Don't freak out about Facebook

Facebook's infamous algorithm reprioritizes people over brands; simplifying Messenger; Facebook "Today In" app; Snapchat's unpopular redesign.

As you've surely heard by now, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has announced a major change to Facebook's infamous algorithm, prioritizing people rather than brands. Facebook's also simplifying the over-cluttered Messenger, and testing a special "Today In" section for local news and events. Snapchat's new redesign (which has been out for a few months) is getting a big thumbs down from users.

Christine Gritmon Inc. 1/4/18 Christine Gritmon Inc. 1/4/18

#MidweekMinute: Suggested stories, business DMs, more Snap

Instagram now recommends stories; Twitter empowers businesses with stronger direct messaging tools; Snapchat expands shareability beyond the app and increases ad strength by disabling immediate skips for some clips.