I don't want to spring this on you
Just Another Day in Social Media. 😉
The Kremlin is saying "nyet" to Instagram. As of Monday, Russians will no longer be able to sign in to the Gram, which was banned after Putin's government disagreed with Meta's policy to allow Ukrainians to voice opposition to the war. Meta Global Affairs President Nick Clegg defended the company's policies, saying the decision to allow Ukrainians to call for violence against Putin and soldiers only applies in Ukraine, is temporary, and will not allow calls for violence against Russian civilians. According to a tweet from Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri, approximately 80 per cent of Russians follow an Instagram account outside the country, meaning that this ban will further isolate Russians from independent news sources. But hey, there's always Yelp reviews.
Here are today's top stories:
Give up those social media accounts (and other spring-cleaning tips)
Battling FB misinformation, as a Group
Tweet, shop, repeat
And this reboot makes some "cents"
Read on ⬇️
Tidying Up
So far, 2022 has felt about five years long. But good news — we've made it to spring, which officially kicks off next Sunday (our reward for losing that one hour of sleep!). On the home front, I've got some spring-cleaning projects on the go (mostly painting). And on the work front, I want to give some social media accounts a good scrubbing. Sure, some of this will be highly administrative and not as much fun as say, learning a new TikTok challenge. But it needs to be done. So, if you're also ready to go into spring-cleaning mode, keep reading. Otherwise, I'll see you back here next week.
Up Your Security
Congrats if you followed the advice in my and updated your passwords for 2022. As part of your spring cleaning, you might also want to ramp up your social media security and add two-factor authentication (I'm still thinking about how CBC The National's Twitter account was hacked last week 😓). Two-factor authentication basically adds a second layer of security to an account, beyond a password. For example, you may also be asked to input a security code that you receive by text. And if you have a verified account, this is a must-have as hackers target those checkmarks. Most platforms offer the option of adding two-factor authentication; just click on these links for more info:
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
Pinterest
LinkedIn
*TikTok doesn't have two-factor authentication, but does offer some account security tips
Audit it Up
Content: If you haven't been reviewing your content on a weekly or monthly basis to see where you're seeing successes and challenges, now is the time to do it. This could help set you up for the rest of the year. Look for high levels of engagement and reach so you can get more strategic about what you post, and where.
Followers: Once you've reviewed your content, jump on over to your followers. There may be some accounts that you no longer want to follow any more. Perhaps you don't want to see their content anymore, or maybe their brand/content has changed and it no longer aligns with yours. Also, look for new followers if you haven't done that in a while. It's always nice to connect with new — and old — friends! (You may also see your follower account grow a bit as people "follow for follow" but I don't recommend using this as the main strategy for growing your account).
Give It Up (At Least For Now)
And now, the hard part — and this is something I'm going to do this spring (*gulp*). Be realistic about your efforts across all of your platforms. If you have any "dead" or inactive accounts, be honest with yourself about whether you're actually going to use them anymore. Perhaps you don't have the time or resources — or the passion — to make a go of that platform right now. And that's totally fine. Instead, concentrate your efforts where you can see real success. Also, you don't have to delete the account entirely (especially if you have a handle that you like). Facebook lets you unpublish a Page. On Twitter, you can deactivate an account. And Instagram will let you temporarily disable an account. And this might give you the time and space you need to reassess.
While You're At It...
Check the social media links on your website, newsletters, and other marketing materials to make sure they're still working properly
Review your profile and bios for logos, handles, images, wording and hashtags (is there a consistency to your branding?)
Review your goals and objectives to see if you're on track
Happy cleaning! 🧹
SOCIAL SNACKS
Battling FB Misinformation, as a Group
Facebook is giving Group admins more options to crack down on misinformation. Under a new set of features announced by Facebook-owned Meta last week, group admins can now "automatically decline incoming posts that have been identified as containing false information by third-party fact-checkers." Group admins and moderations can now also temporarily suspend group members and participants "from posting, commenting, reacting, participating in a group chat, and creating or entering a Room in a group." These features, while useful, probably should have been introduced a while ago. And is it just me, or does it feel like Facebook is passing the buck a bit? I guess the battle against misinformation is everyone's responsibility. 🤷♀️
Tweet, Shop, Repeat
Imagine being able to fire off a tweet and two seconds later purchase something from one of your favourite brands. That could soon be a reality. Twitter recently announced an experimental beta of Twitter Shops. This new feature allows merchants to showcase up to 50 products from a new "View Shop" button in the brand's profile. The beta of Twitter Shops follows the November 2021 launch of a Live Shopping feature on Twitter. Meanwhile, Pinterest also recently announced a range of shopping updates, according to Social Media Today. I will admit that I personally have purchased products I've seen on TikTok (a book, and a floppy fish toy for my dog), but I've never actually purchased directly in the app. Baby steps...
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ICYMI
🔴 Facebook launches Facebook Protect — Here's how to turn it on [The Verge]
🔴 Instagram introduces a Live Moderator feature [@Mosseri]
🔴 Twitter allows you to swipe away from its annoying algorithm-fuelled timeline [Mashable]
🔴 TikTok launches SoundOn: the new platform for TikTok music marketing and global track distribution [TikTok Blog]
CREATOR-LIKE
Getting Schooled
Creators, get ready to up your game. Instagram has launched a Creator Lab. Dubbed an "education portal for Creators, by Creators," it's all about learning from those who have succeeded in sharing their passions online. The Creator Lab focuses on three key areas: (1) finding your voice, (2) building community, and (3) thinking long-term (aka, the business side of things). "It's important to us that people can turn their passion into a living, long term," Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri said in a video posted on Twitter. If you like this lab, you might also want to check out Instagram's Creators account.
NOSTALGIA-LIKE
Making Some "Cents"
Many Gen Xers out there probably remember CBC's "Street Cents." Launched in the '90s, the TV show featured a group of young folk offering up financial advice. Now, a new generation can enjoy these money tips via TikTok, where Creators share videos on everything from Starbucks hacks to product testing and crypto explainers, along with tried-and-tested spending and saving tips. Check it out: @streetcents. And if you're looking for more nostalgic Canadiana, there is also the @historicacanada TikTok account, which has been uploading its Heritage Minutes to the platform.
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