Copy(cat) that
We've all spent money on something that we later regretted. For Facebook, that might be the $400-million purchase of Gif platform Giphy. Regulators in the United Kingdom say that the acquisition may keep other platforms from accessing Gifs (Facebook has already said it plans to make the Gifs widely available) and could reduce competition in this space. The Competition and Markets Authority is considering forcing Facebook to sell off Giphy. A final decision is expected by Oct. 6, according to CNN.
Here are today's top stories:
TiKTok, Reddit and LinkedIn play the copycat game
Google and TikTok announce new privacy controls for teens
Instagram introduces "Limits" to reduce abuse
And how the Canadian election could shape your social feeds
Read on ⬇️
Same same...but different
When I travelled to Vietnam eight years ago, my G Adventures guide would often use the saying "Same same, but different." It essentially means, "similar." And for anyone who has worked in social media for even a little while, you've likely noticed that all of the platforms are becoming more similar to one another in terms of features. Here's the latest...
TikTok copies Stories
Many of us are aware of how Instagram stole the idea for Stories from Snapchat. And clearly, it was a great idea, because over the last few years, the number of other platforms also offering a Stories-like feature has grown (other than Twitter, which recently killed its feature, called Fleets). Well, we can now add TikTok to that list. I logged in last week, and there they were on the left-hand side of the screen. TikTok has confirmed the pilot test, according to TechCrunch, but there is no word on how long the test will last, or whether it would be part of a larger launch.
Reddit copies TikTok
From Snapchat's Spotlight feature, to YouTube Shorts, and of course, Instagram Reels, TikTok has inspired many platforms to feature short-form video. It turns out Reddit is jumping on the bandwagon. A report in TechCrunch confirms that iOS users will have a button that directly takes them to a stream of videos in the same configuration as TikTok. Users will be able to swipe up to view new videos. But unlike TikTok, Reddit users can upvote/downvote a video. They can also directly gift an award.
LinkedIn copies Zoom
This one was quietly rolled out last week. LinkedIn announced on its engineering blog that it is working on a "Microsoft-powered native video meetings" feature. So instead of just messaging a potential client or new job lead, users can now schedule free video meetings with their network. "We’ve also included LinkedIn-specific profile information, which provides members with useful context about their conversation partners," LinkedIn said in the blog post. The new feature is set to start rolling out shortly, and you'll be able to find it in LinkedIn's chat platform. Future features include a calendar integration, allowing messaging chats while in video conversation, as well as screen sharing and virtual backgrounds.
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SOCIAL SNACKS
Can We Get a Little Privacy?
Teens are getting a bit more control — at least on TikTok and YouTube-owned Google. The two companies rolled out updates last week that aim to provide a bit more privacy for younger users.
TikTok: Teens can expect changes to Direct Messaging privacy options (with a default set to "No One"), as well as prompts about who can watch or download their videos, and changes to when teens can receive push notifications (for example, anyone aged 13-15 won't receive push notifications after 9 p.m.).
YouTube: Anyone aged 13-17 can expect to see changes on their default upload setting (which will now be set to the most private option), as well as take a break and bedtime reminders turned on by default, autoplay turned off by default, and the removal of overly commercial content.
At Our Limit
Not to be outdone by TikTok and Google, Facebook-owned Instagram recently announced some anti-abuse measures. These include a new feature called "Limits" that will automatically hide comments and DMs from people who don't follow you, or who only recently followed you. "We have a responsibility to make sure everyone feels safe when they’re on Instagram," Facebook said in a blog post. Other anti-abuse measures include stronger warnings when people try to post offensive content, and a global rollout of a Hidden Words feature, which filters out abusive DM requests.
ICYMI
🔴 Twitter is testing a Shop Module [Twitter Blog]
🔴 Facebook Messenger calls and Instagram DMs get encryption, but only if you opt in [Mashable]
🔴 Snapchat Profiles get a new look, with 3D Bitmojis [Snapchat Blog]
🔴 WhatsApp rolls out View Once photos and videos [Facebook Blog]
APP-LIKE
No big surprises here for the most downloaded apps globally in July 2021. According to mobile app analytics firm Sensor Tower, TikTok (once again) took the top spot, followed by Facebook and four of its companies. On a related note: TikTok was named the most downloaded app in 2020 by digital analytics firm App Annie, according to the BBC. It's (currently) a TikTok world.
ELECTION-LIKE
Oh, Snap
Now that Liberal Party Leader Justin Trudeau has announced a snap election for Sept. 20, you can expect to see an increase in political content on your social media feeds.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh will likely create even more content on TikTok, a platform where he has built a strong following with videos like this one.
Meanwhile, the Conservative Party of Canada is trending — but for the wrong reasons. A Willy Wonka-style ad recently posted on Twitter didn't get a positive review from party members.
The Green Party of Canada recently posted for a Social Media Manager, so hopefully they have that role filled now.
And as for Trudeau, given that recent polls suggest low support for a fall election, the less said on social media, perhaps the better.
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