Selfie sticks are so 2014
Just Another Day in Social Media. 😉
In case you're freaking out because Elon Musk's offer to buy Twitter was accepted, this article from Mashable offers a slightly different perspective, and urges Twitter users not to flee just yet. For example, it will be months before the deal is finalized. And, even if it is, there are other hurdles to overcome. While the eccentric billionaire is all about free speech, the future success of the platform depends in part on whether Apple and Google will continue to offer the Twitter app in their stores.
Here are today's top stories:
Goodbye selfie stick, hello pocket-sized drone
Instagram experiments with pinned posts
A documentary takes a closer look at TikTok
And it's no longer a nice day for a white wedding
Read on ⬇️
It's all about the hardware (kind of)
Snap Inc., owner of Snapchat, has long defined itself as a camera company. And last week, it unveiled its latest creation — a flying camera called Pixy. But Meta also has some big plans to get its hardware into your hands. Here's what you need to know about how hardware is becoming part of social media....
Fly Away With Pixy
At Snapchat's annual Partner Summit, the company unveiled a number of new tools and features. But the piece of hardware getting all the headlines is a new hand-sized drone that fits in your pocket, called Pixy. As you can see from these videos, you simply select a flight mode, and once the green light turns on, it means Pixy is ready to take off from your hand and start recording. It pairs with the Snapchat app, and will record 100 videos or 1,000 photos. But, it doesn't capture audio, and is not water resistant. Pixy is currently for sale in the U.S. and France (my brother who lives in the U.S. picked one up for me, and I'll let you know what I think once I get a chance to try it out!).
Source: Snap Inc.
Meta Goes Physical
Snap isn't the only social media company investing in hardware. Meta just announced that it's opening its first-ever physical location to sell its hardware. Meta's retail space will open May 9th in Burlingame, California (in case you happen to be in the neighbourhood). In the store, you'll be able to try out its Ray-Ban Stories (sunglasses that allow you to record video and take phone calls, etc.), as well as the Meta Portal (a smart video display) and Meta Quest 2 (a VR headset). Can't make it to the store? You can also shop online: meta.com.
Source: Meta
What Does This All Mean?
The Pixy isn't Snapchat's first foray into hardware; it pioneered Snapchat Spectacles years before Meta ever announced its partnership with Ray Ban. But both companies seem to be doubling down on hardware. The cynical person in me knows that getting users to invest in hardware makes a platform stickier (aka, you're less likely to leave). But I also think that these tools are going to become more important as the Creator economy continues to grow. I mean, how long is it until YouTube comes out with hardware integration?
And while this week's newsletter focuses quite a bit on hardware, it's also important to note that augmented reality is also a key focus for companies like Snapchat and Pinterest. At the Partner Summit, Snapchat announced new tools for businesses that will allow shoppers to virtually try on products — something that has already shown to be very successful on Pinterest.
Welcome to the future of social media. And in case you want to visit the past, here's a history of the selfie stick.
SOCIAL SNACKS
Pin It Up
Instagram is reportedly testing a feature that would let users pin a post on their profile. According to TechCrunch, the feature allows you to pin a post above the photo grid. Twitter and Facebook already offer this option, which can be very helpful if you want to highlight a key post or piece of info. However, you also have to remember that you pinned the post or else you can end up having a post that is years out of date living in the best spot on your profile. In other Instagram news, the company is also reportedly expanding its test of 90-second Reels. With TikTok announcing last year that it's allowing videos of up to 3 minutes, expect Reels to get even longer in the future.
And, Action!
Snapchat users will soon have access to enhanced video editing features, courtesy of a new "Director Mode." The editing features will include "new Dual Camera capability that lets you use the front-facing and back-facing camera at the same time," as well as a Green Screen, and a new Quick Edit feature that will allow users to take and edit Snaps together. The new mode will first roll out later this year, first on iOS, and then on Android.
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ICYMI - EARNINGS EDITION
🔴 Meta reports a 21 per cent drop in profits [NY Times]
🔴 Twitter reports user bump, revenue miss for Q1, days after accepting Musk's takeover bid [CNBC]
🔴 LinkedIn continues to see 'record levels' of engagement, revenue up 34 per cent [Social Media Today]
TIKTOK, BOOM
The Hot Docs Film Festival is underway, and there's one social media app that goes under the microscope.TikTok, Boom is a documentary directed by Shalini Kantayya.
From Hot Docs: "Kantayya takes us through its Chinese ownership, geopolitical concerns and, most importantly, user experience. While the app lures in most users with fun dance trends and cute cat videos, creators speak of their successes and questionable declines when posting political opinions and sharing criticism about the app itself." Happy viewing!
WEDDING-LIKE
It's not a nice day for a white wedding...
Black wedding cakes, a Pearlcore trend, and enchanted forest themes — expect to see some of these trends if you're planning to attend a wedding this year or next. According to a Pinterest 2022 Wedding Trends Report, searches are way up for dark wedding vibes, as well as cultural weddings, and non-binary wedding inspiration. Here are some stats:
Black wedding cake searches are up +94%
Non-binary wedding outfit searches increased by 8X
Bridgerton bridal shower ideas searches increased by 12X
Thrifted wedding decor searches increased by +69%
In Africa, modern African dresses wedding searches increased by 28X
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