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Christine Gritmon Inc. 5/8/19 Christine Gritmon Inc. 5/8/19

19: F8 wasn't the end of it...

And you thought Facebook got out all of its announcements last week at F8… nope! News on the video algorithm, Messenger features, Workplace layout, new Cryptocurrency rumors, and Instagram “join chat” sticker.

Also, Twitter did a thing.

Facebook has announced some loud & clear guidelines for how it’s shifting its algorithm with regard to video content - they’re preferring content that viewers return to repeatedly and deliberately, videos that keep viewers engaged for at least one minute and are at least three minutes long, and original content.

Facebook Messenger debuts a new Desktop app and some new features including co-watching (like Watch Parties), “Close Friend” designation, emoji status options, and a scheduling tool for appointment-based businesses like beauty and healthcare providers - and is planning to create interconnectivity between Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

Facebook’s enterprise-level tool, Workplace, has also experienced their first redesign in years, focusing on chat, News Feed, and groups, while also delivering notifications about the company.

We’ve known for years that Facebook was developing its own cryptocurrency, but that story is moving forward as they seek investors. The latest rumors state that the currency is intended to be stable (not prone to the fluctuations of currencies such as Bitcoin) and that it may even seek to replace credit cards by undermining their processing fee structure.

Instagram is Working on a New 'Join Chat' Sticker which would enable Stories viewers to join a private chat group, direct from a Story.

Twitter is now allowing GIFs to be added to retweets. (See reaction below.)

via GIPHY

#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. 3/1/18 Christine Gritmon Inc. 3/1/18

#MidweekMinute (sorry, no video!)

Facebook metrics, news subscriptions, jobs, facial recognition opt-out, & streaming music rumor; Facebook Messenger friend adds & chat plug-in; Twitter limits automated tweets; YouTube adds tagging, captioning, & chat replay.

Facebook simplifies ad metrics, encourages local news subscriptions, posts local job offerings across the socioeconomic spectrum, allows users to opt-out of facial recognition, & considers entering streaming music market; Facebook Messenger allows users to add friends during calls & creates a customer chat plug-in for business; Twitter limits automated tweets from multiple accounts; YouTube adds location tagging, automatic captioning, & chat replay.

(No video this week, since I was too preoccupied at #SMMW18 to pull it together!)

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.

Facebook Newsfeed Changes

Facebook Is Deprioritizing Our Stories. Good.(Motherboard)

Facebook promises more community, fewer brand posts in significant shift (MarketingDive)

Facebook edits feeds to bring less news, more sharing (The Seattle Times)

Facebook Messenger

Bloated Facebook Messenger promises to simplify in 2018 (TechCrunch)

Facebook Messenger chief admits the app has gotten too cluttered (The Verge)

Facebook Messenger head says the app is 'too cluttered,' and that a new design is coming (CNBC)

Facebook "Today In"

Facebook is testing a dedicated section for local news (Engadget)

Facebook is testing a new section of the app specifically for local news and events (Recode)

Facebook Is Testing a Separate Destination for Local News in Its Mobile Apps (AdWeek)

Snapchat Redesign

Snapchat’s big redesign bashed in 83% of user reviews (TechCrunch)

Snapchat redesign is hugely unpopular as 83% of reviews are negatives (Social Barrel)

Snapchat redesign meets with unimpressed reviews from early users (Influencer Update)

Christine Gritmon Inc. 12/13/17 Christine Gritmon Inc. 12/13/17

#MidweekMinute: Fighting Snapchat & killing Storify

Facebook adds new features, kills an old one, and resurrects yet another oldie-but-goodie; Instagram introduces a new app and a new function; Tinder gets personal; Tweetstorms & Twitter videos get a boost.

Facebook adds video music library, AR for Messenger, and tries to resurrect the Poke, while quietly removing the ticker feed (who knew that was still even a thing?); Instagram takes messaging out of the app with Direct, and also now lets you follow hashtags; Tinder will be showing your matches your Insta & Spotify activity (if you let it); Twitter Threads kills Storify, while the platform will also now let you view counts on public videos.

Facebook Sound Collection

Facebook Sound Collection lets you add no-name music to videos(TechCrunch)

Facebook adds a sound and music library you can use for video (Engadget)

Facebook offers free music and sound effects for video makers (The Next Web)

Facebook AR in Messenger

Sorry, Snapchat: Facebook just unleashed its own 'dancing hot dog' studio (Mashable)

Facebook Messenger adds Snapchat-style AR objects (Engadget)

Facebook Removes Ticker

Facebook Removes Ticker News Feed For Monitoring Friends’ Activity (Search Engine Journal)

Facebook's Ticker that showed your friends' activities has been removed (Tech Spot)

Facebook's 'ticker,' aka creeper feed, is no more (Engadget)

Facebook Resurrecting the Poke

Facebook is trying to make the Poke happen again (TechCrunch)

Is Facebook bringing the poke back? One-click greetings are in testing (Digital Trends)

Instagram Direct

Instagram is testing Direct, a standalone messaging app that replaces the current inbox (The Verge)

Instagram Tests Standalone Direct Message App (Geek.com)

Instagram is reportedly separating Direct messages into its own separate, Snapchat-like app (Business Insider)

Instagram letting you follow hashtags

Radical New Instagram Hashtag Update Is a Real Game Changer (Forbes)

Instagram becomes an interest network with hashtag following (TechCrunch)

Tinder showing your online activity to matches

Tinder is testing a feed of real-time updates from your matches, including posts from Instagram and Spotify (TechCrunch)

Tinder is testing a chronological feed of your matches’ profile updates and Instagram posts (The Verge)

Twitter Threads kills Storify

Twitter will now let you publish an entire tweetstorm all at once (Recode)

Twitter adds thread tools to help you craft epic tweetstorms (Engadget)

Twitter Makes It Easier to Compose and Read Threads (Variety)

Twitter Just Made the Tweetstorm a Real Thing (Slate)

Twitter Will Show View Counts on Public Videos

Twitter Starts Showing How Many Views Videos Get On Its Platform (AdAge)

Twitter Will Finally Display View Counts On Video Tweets(Tubefilter)

Twitter Makes View Count on Videos Public (TheVideoInk)

Christine Gritmon Inc. 12/6/17 Christine Gritmon Inc. 12/6/17

#MidweekMinute: Messenger's where it's at

Facebook closes an API, opens a new app, & expands ads; Instagram adds story archives, stands up for animals, & integrates with Messenger (as does Pinterest).

Facebook creates a new messaging app for younger audiences, adds video ads, clamps down on audience insights. Instagram integrates contacts with Messenger, adds story archives & highlights, and takes a stand against animal abuse. Pinterest creates a two-way relationship with FB Messenger with a pin-finding bot and easy pin sharing.

Facebook Debuts "Messenger Kids"

“Messenger Kids” Gives Children Under 13 Their First Taste Of Facebook (Fast Company)

Facebook's new chat app for kids makes parents approve conversations (Business Insider)

Facebook Messenger Kids Debuts as a Texting App for Children Ages 12 and Under (Fortune)

Facebook Considering "Pre-roll" Video Ads

Facebook could start putting ads at the beginning of some videos, report says (CNBC)

Facebook videos may start with ads, just like on YouTube (Mashable)

Facebook to Test Pre-Roll Video Ads Ahead of Watch Shows (AdAge)

Facebook Dropping "Audience Insight" API

Facebook Is Shutting Down Its API That Marketers Lean on for Research (AdWeek)

Importing Instagram Contacts into Facebook Messenger

You can now import your Instagram contacts into Messenger (TechCrunch)

Instagram contacts can now be imported into Messenger (Social Barrel)

Instagram Stories Can be Archived in Your Profile

Your favorite Instagram stories can now live on in your profile (Fast Company)

Instagram lets you Archive expired Stories and Highlight favorites on your profile (TechCrunch)

Instagram Just Introduced Two Ways to Keep Stories Around for More Than 24 Hours (Adweek)

Instagram now lets brands feature Stories Highlights on their profile pages (Marketing Land)

Instagram Fights Against Potential Abuse of Animals or Nature in Photos

Instagram warns you if posts show harm to animals or nature (Engadget)

Taking a #koalaselfie or #dolphinkiss photo? Instagram has something to say about it.(The Washington Post)

Think before posting #lionselfies, Instagram implores users (USA Today)

Pinterest & FB Messenger

Pinterest rolls out chatbot, native features for Facebook’s Messenger (Marketing Land)

Pinterest integrates deeper with Facebook with a new bot and messenger extension (TechCrunch)

Pinterest makes it easy to share pins on Facebook Messenger (Engadget)

Christine Gritmon Inc. 11/30/17 Christine Gritmon Inc. 11/30/17

#MidweekMinute: Major Facebook & Snapchat developments

Facebook and Snapchat are on a streak of new feature rollouts & tests.

Facebook is testing and introducing tools for Messenger, Donations, and even facial recognition technology; Snapchat has, of course, redesigned itself, but has also introduced object recognition and new AR ad formats.

Facebook Broadcast

Facebook tests tool to make it easier for businesses to send message blasts on Messenger (Marketing Land)

Facebook prototypes Messenger Broadcast for businesses (TechCrunch)

Facebook Donations

Facebook drops fee on donations, will match $50M/year, adds Mentor feature (TechCrunch)

Facebook is dropping its fundraising fees for nonprofits, but not for personal causes (Quartz)

Facebook Selfie Logins

Facebook may ask you to prove you’re not a bot with a selfie (Digital Trends)

Facebook uses selfies as login authentication for suspicious activity (The Verge)

Facebook’s new security measure asks users to upload a photo of their face (BGR)

Facebook Testing Streaks Feature

Facebook is testing a Snapchat ‘streaks’ clone for Messenger (The Daily Dot)

Facebook's latest feature test looks like Snapchat's streaks (Engadget)

Facebook maintains streak of copying Snapchat with new Messenger test (Business Insider)

Snapchat Redesign

Snapchat Remakes Itself, Splitting the Social From the Media (The New York Times)

What Snapchat’s major redesign and algorithmic feed means for marketers (Marketing Land)

Snapchat Redesigns Mobile App to Split Friends From Media (Bloomberg)

Snapchat Photo Recognition Filters

Snapchat now recognizes food, pets, and more when suggesting filters (The Verge)

Snapchat’s newest filters can recognize what’s in your photos (TechCrunch)

Snapchat's latest filters recognize pets and food (Engadget)

Snapchat applies for patent to serve ads by recognizing objects in your snaps (The Verge)

Snapchat's New Advertising Tools

Asos, HBO and BMW pilot Snapchat's new ad formats (Marketing Drive)

Snapchat Brings New Advertising Tools to Aid Revenue Growth (Nasdaq)

Snapchat seeks salvation in long-form and “hands-on” AR ads (TechCrunch)

Christine Gritmon Inc. 11/8/17 Christine Gritmon Inc. 11/8/17

#MidweekMinute: chattin' up a storm

A whole lot of chatter on Workplace, websites, Twitter, Snapchat & Instagram

Facebook Messenger has rolled out to websites (yes, non-Facebook websites) and Facebook's Slack-competitor, Workplace, now has a chat function. On Twitter, you can now use twice as many characters for your chatter. Snapchat needs a redesign because us olds can't figure it out. Instagram Stories no longer have to be in-the-moment...and you can now properly use Hebrew, Arabic & Farsi on the platform.