RE: Instagram’s birthday

October 02, 2020

Hello Geeks! 👋

Instagram was launched on 6 October 2010, meaning it will be 10 years old next week 🥳. It got me thinking about just how much the platform has changed in that time...

Instagram's original slogan when it launched in 2010 was "Capture and share the world's moments”. Today, Instagram says it is "Bringing you closer to the people and things you love". This change neatly encapsulates the way the platform has evolved over the past 10 years....

What was once an app to help you quickly capture, filter, and share beautiful images, has now become something far bigger and more powerful with a global community of over 1 billion users. Today, Instagram is far more than a humble photo sharing app. For many creators and influencers, it provides them with a platform to make a living on. Influencer marketing is now a $10 billion industry. Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is estimated to earn over $1 million per post!

He may be an exceptional case, but as a platform, Instagram in 2020 enables its users to do so much more than just sharing breathtaking photos. Shopping at your favourite brand's Shop, watching engaging news updates from a diverse range of publishers, viewing live celebrity videos, the list goes on... and with the recent addition of 'Reels' (aka Facebook's TikTok clone), Instagram is establishing firm foundations to maintain its dominance with a new generation of users for the next 10 years.

We shouldn’t overlook how Instagram benefits hugely from being owned by the world's most popular social network, Facebook. In a shrewd strategic move to further leverage that corporate relationship and maintain its dominant position, Facebook is currently working at speed to integrate all its messaging apps (Messenger, WhatsApp, Instagram). A move which hasn’t gone unnoticed by regulators, rival platforms, and high profile Facebook critics.

For many reasons (too many to list and dig into here), Instagram’s second decade won't be as easy as its first. Whether it's tighter government regulation, greater competition from rivals like TikTok, a failure to adequately address platform issues such as bullying and harassment, or just simply failing to understand what its users want... Instagram will need to continue to innovate and adapt at an ever increasing speed, or risk becoming just another social network that was a big deal, for a while.

ANYWAY….

Let's crack on with all this week’s news and updates in the world of social media. Some awesome new features have been spotted or launched. Social media managers, rejoice!

— Matt

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🚨 Everyone's talking about...

We knew it was coming, and here it is at last: Facebook has introduced the ability to message between its different platforms. For now, it's only between Instagram and Messenger, though.

You might have expected this would mean the two apps would now share a unified inbox, but no — you'll simply be able to send a message from one app to a user on the other, and chat as if you were using the same app.

The feature comes as part of a welcome upgrade to Instagram's messaging features, with disappearing messaged, emoji reactions, watch-together, and other basics of a fully fleshed-out messaging app in 2020.

But it seems like WhatsApp won't be joining the party any time soon. Facebook's EMEA tech comms manager says the company is "still determining how cross-app communications will work with WhatsApp" and that it "will continue to remain a separate, end-to-end encrypted app at this time."

It sounds like technical issues may be the issue there, but given this whole cross-app initiative is tied to Facebook's desire not to be broken up by regulators, I'm sure Zuck will be pushing for a solution.

The new Instagram features and cross-platform messaging are launching in "a few countries around the world" first, and then rolling out globally "soon," according to Facebook.

The latest attempt by the US government to kick TikTok out of app stores went right down to the wire, with a judge blocking the move just a few hours before it was due to come into force.

Your reminder about this complex situation: the Oracle deal still hasn't been approved by the US or China, and an outright US ban is due to come into force in 12 November if a resolution isn't found by then.

And judging by Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin's words this week, the White House is in no mood to back down.

Twitter top secret new 'Birdwatch' feature

Twitter is testing a curious NEW feature it calls 'Birdwatch'. I stumbled upon it being tested this week, but the company is keeping its beak firmly (and suspiciously!) shut about what it is and how it will work.

Is this Twitter's answer to the never-ending calls for an edit button? It seems like it will allow you to attach notes to a tweet, although it's not clear if they'll be public or private.

One entirely plausible theory is that it enables users to pin notes to a tweet to show typo corrections, additional context for a tweet, or other similar info once a tweet has been published. You could then select a tweet to 'Add to Birdwatch' to keep track of any such updates. A useful new feature for journalists, and others I would imagine. This is definitely something to watch (through binoculars, behind a bush). I suspect we'll be hearing more about it soon.

If you know more about Birdwatch and want to share (on or off the record), just hit 'reply' to this email and get in touch with me!

Manage external clients with our approval process or update your team with internal comments. We’ve been built for you!

👀 ICYMI...

Stories you need to know about:

Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp:

It wasn't just Facebook's messaging apps that got a big boost this week. Groups admins have a bunch of useful features coming their way. But highlighting popular posts from public Groups in the feeds of people who aren't members could further amplify and spread dangerous content Facebook already struggles to manage. 🤔

  • Facebook will ban ads that try to delegitimise the US presidential election result. [CNBC]

  • Apple has agreed to waive its cut of online event fees on Facebook. The agreement is only until the end of the year, but it means event organisers will get more cash from ticketing. [TechCrunch]

  • Apple should let iOS users change their default messaging app, Facebook says, in its latest hit out at Tim Cook's policies. [The Information $$$]

  • A Facebook exec says the right-wing has an advantage on its platform —but only because the right's brand of populism is "more engaging" 🤔 [Politico]

  • Anonymous Instagram accounts are sharing stories of sexual assault at universities and colleges around the world, [CBS News]

  • The unofficial, 'Real Facebook Oversight Board' has held its first meeting. [TechCrunch]

Twitter:

After controversy over Twitter's automatic image preview cropping making racist edit decisions, the company is exploring ways to improve the system. This includes a possible manual crop option.

TikTok:

Leaked data shows how TikTok is sweeping Europe. A quarter of Brits apparently use it every month! [$$$]

  • TikTok has again beaten Facebook in the Sensor Tower quarterly global app downloads charts. [AdWeek $$$]

  • News agency AFP has launched a fact-checking initiative with TikTok. [France 24]

  • Pop star Taio Cruz quit TikTok after being targeted by "hateful" videos that he says had a serious impact on his mental health. [BBC News]

  • TikTok has launched an in-app guide to the US election as it looks to tackle misinformation. [The Verge]

And the rest:

  • 26% of US adults now get news from YouTube, a new Pew study has found. [Search Engine Journal]

  • Reddit has opened a London office and begun working with British brands, as it scales its ad business globally. [AdWeek]

  • Reddit is reversing hundreds of account bans after it accidentally removed accounts linked to automation tool IFTTT. [Android Police]

  • The BBC could fire stars who appear to be politically biased on social media, its director general has confirmed. [BBC News]

  • Invite-only audio chat app Clubhouse is under fire after a conversation turned anti-Semitic. [Bloomberg $$$]

🐣 Tweet of the week

❓ Question of the week

What will you be asking Santa for this Christmas?

I put this out on Twitter earlier today. the responses are, well, you can probably imagine 😆

Go take a look and add your own suggestions...

🔨 Tool of the week

Like Patreon, but dedicated to podcasting. Supercast offers tools to help you turn your podcast into a business.

📲 Quick hits

Updates, experiments, and useful info snippets:

  • Facebook Ads will remove its 28-day attribution option on 12 October. Seven-day attribution will now be the default. [Search Engine Journal]

  • Facebook has published tips how video playlists and series can help video creators maximize their exposure and viewership. [Social Media Today]

  • Facebook's experimental Forecast app is now available to all in the US and Canada. [Facebook NPE blog]

  • Facebook is testing an Instagram-like 'Close Friends' feature for Facebook Stories. [@alex193a]

  • Facebook is killing its 'Professional Skills' feature on profiles on November 5th. [@MattNavarra]

  • Facebook's brand collaboration manager tool now helps brands connect with admins of relevant public Groups. [AdWeek $$$]

  • Facebook has added an A.I.-powered matching feature to its Community Help Hub, to help people find Covid-19 information quickly, in 18 languages. [Facebook A.I.]

  • Shoppable product tags have been spotted in Instagram profiles. [@LindseyGamble_]

  • Instagram has launched a new sticker in the US for people who are voting early. [@InstagramComms]

  • Threads statuses have been spotted showing up on users' main Instagram profiles. [@ChrisMessina]

  • ...they're also showing up in Instagram chats. [@MattNavarra]

  • Instagram has published guides for making the most of its Shops features. [Social Media Today]

  • Instagram appears to be testing a new design for Reels. [@MattNavarra]

  • Messenger now lets users watch big-name movies and TV shows together, including Dawson's Creek, Hairspray, and Reservoir Dogs. [Messenger Newsroom]

  • WhatsApp could soon let you permanently mute chats, according to the latest Android beta. [WABetaInfo]

  • Twitter has rolled out the voice tweets feature to more users. [The Verge]

  • Twitter keeps working on an unreleased 'audio spaces' feature. [@alex193a]

  • TikTok has added three new formats for duet videos. [Social Media Today]

  • YouTube Stories now uses A.I. to improve users' audio. [VentureBeat]

  • iOS 14 picture-in-picture now works properly with the YouTube website. [MacRumors]

  • LinkedIn has launched new safety features to "help keep it professional." [LinkedIn blog]

  • LinkedIn has updated its Marketing Partner Program with new specialty categories. [Social Media Today]

  • LinkedIn Stories now has a 'view anonymously' option, so users don't know you've looked at their story. [AdvertiseMint]

  • Pinterest has launched new shopping features in the US and UK. [AdWeek]

  • Pinterest will hold a 'Creators Festival,' featuring experts sharing how to build an effective presence on the platform. [Social Media Today]

  • Telegram has a bunch of new features, like search filters, anonymous admins, channel comments, and new animated emoji. [Telegram blog]

  • Twitch now lets streamers use rights-cleared music in their videos. [TechCrunch]

  • Spotify has updated collaborative playlists so it's easier to see exactly who is collaborating. [9to5Mac]

  • The latest iOS beta introduces new emojis, including ninjas and boomerangs. [MacRumors]

  • Piar.io is a very handy tool for social media managers that lets you optimise link previews for any social networks or messaging app. [Piar.io]

📖 Weekend reading

TikTok is becoming a showcase for emerging animation talent.

😳 And finally....

Want to feel old? The movie 'The Social Network' is 10 years old this week! And if you want to feel really old, read this great look back at the highly influential HOTorNOT, which launched TWENTY years ago. 🧓

📅 Back next week...

I always wonder how many people read right to the end of my newsletter 😆

Let's find out? If you did, tweet me by tapping this link 

BTW…Don’t forget to join my Geekout group on Facebook, You’ll love it, I promise!

Right, now clear off and have an awesome weekend!

Goodbye geeks 😎

— Matt

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This newsletter is edited by Martin SFP Bryant.

Copyright 2020: Matt Navarra Media Ltd

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