#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).

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Christine Gritmon Inc. 5/9/18 Christine Gritmon Inc. 5/9/18

#MidweekMinute 5/9/18: taking care of business

Facebook explores blockchain, expands reactions with Avatars, won’t advertise on dating service, tests possible subscription model, and develops image AI; Twitter encrypting DMs; Instagram business tools include ecommerce & CTAs; Story Song Stickers; beauty unit; WhatsApp integrates Facebook & Instagram videos; Pinterest on Hootsuite.

Facebook appoints new head of blockchain development, opening the door for potential cryptocurrency integrations or even creation; Avatars, spotted in Android app code, look a lot like Snapchat's Bitmoji, and could allow for a greater range of emotive reactions; dating service won't have ads; a possible ad-free subscription model is being tested; and image and object recognition AI has been using Instagram photos for training.

Twitter is working on secure, encrypted DMs.

Instagram has introduced powerful new business tools including integrated ecommerce and business messaging tools with direct calls to action; Android app may soon allow Song Stickers within Stories; new dedicated beauty partnership unit.

WhatsApp integrates Facebook & Instagram video viewability within the app, including picture-in-picture functionality.

Pinterest announces Hootsuite integration.

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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.

Christine Gritmon Inc. 10/18/17 Christine Gritmon Inc. 10/18/17

#MidweekMinute: TWO MINUTES of news this week!

Facebook makes news with VR, food delivery, away messages, a resume feature, branded stories, tbh... yikes, chill with the innovations, FB! LinkedIn and Twitter up their video ad game, and Snapchat is getting scripted programming.

Facebook, as usual, dominates this week's news, as they attempt to bring corded-quality VR to the wireless masses, pizza to the starving gamers playing it, AIM-style away messages to us nostalgic folk, and JOBS to all. LinkedIn continues their "new features every damn week of 2017" streak with sponsored auto-play video ads. Twitter is changing its video ad game with Video Cards that launch a playing video over a clicked link. Back to Facebook, who's finally letting brands create Facebook Stories. But if they don't succeed in stealing the Snap demographic there, it's all good: Facebook has also acquired tbh (don't worry if you don't know what that is), which is the rare anonymous platform that's all about positivity. Snapchat's still very much in the "constantly developing new stuff" game, though: they just announced a partnership with NBCUniversal (& Donut Studios) for new, scripted programming.