In the previous “Social Media in the News,” we changed the format to add headings for the platforms vs. longer headlines. We liked that so much that we’re sticking with that look moving forward to make it easier for you to read and get a quick glimpse into what’s happening.
This also means you get MORE headlines to check out every other week. This week we’ve added “What’s Trending” at the end!
- iOS users have three new features in Messenger: QR Codes and payment links that allow users to send or request money with Facebook Pay; a Quick Reply Bar for more efficient and quick messaging; and new chat themes.
- Facebook Group admins are now equipped with tools to help them better manage their communities and put an end to out-of-control conversations. A new dashboard called Admin Home puts all admin tools in one place.
- We’ve teased this one before, but it’s now official: Podcasts are coming to Facebook starting June 22. Audio rooms are almost ready to debut in the U.S., too.
- Ever wonder why you see what you see on Instagram? Instagram’s Adam Mosseri explained in a blog post about this very topic. “We want to do a better job of explaining how Instagram works,” he says. “There are a lot of misconceptions out there, and we recognize that we can do more to help people understand what we do.”
- Adam Mosseri also joined in Instagram’s “Creator Week” to talk about users’ reach, Reels, abuse, and much more:
- Do these – 🤔 😂 ❤️ – have a place on Twitter? We’ve talked about this before, but Twitter appears to continue marching forward to having more emoji reactions on posts.
- Conversations about sports – ALL sports – have seen a major increase in 2021. Daily conversations about football are up nearly 50%; basketball is up 42%; and soccer is up 35%.
- Twitter is testing a feature for users to untag themselves from conversations. Check out this thread on how it works:
- Want to take a test drive in a new vehicle without going to a dealer? Head over to Pinterest and check out their cool new partnership with Volkswagen.
- Pinterest continues to strengthen its stance with shopping. A new Shopping List feature automatically saves Product Pins in one place so users don’t have to search around saved Pins and Boards.
YouTube
- As TikTok and Instagram Reels continue to surge, YouTube is testing out “Shorts” to compete. This feature is slowly being tested around the world, with the UK, Canada and Latin America now able to access the tools.
- The masthead ad spot on YouTube (the ad at the top of its website and app) will no longer feature ads related to alcohol, gambling, politics, or “prescription drug terms.” YouTube says this will “lead to a better experience for users.”
What’s Trending
We’ll leave you with this adorable pic of a wandering herd of elephants in China taking a nap:
Want to find out even more about what’s been happening across social media lately? Catch up on all of our Social Media in the News headlines HERE.
