Welcome back to another Spark Social Report by Spark Growth! For those of you who have been waiting to get your Twitter account verified, we have some good news for you. Also, more social media platforms are showing their support for the #BlackLivesMatter protests. Keep reading to learn more about these and other social media updates!
Facebook has revealed more information as to how it will be dealing with state-controlled media outlets on its platform. Due to the November 2020 elections, the company states that later this summer, it will block ads from these publishers in the U.S. in an effort to minimize foreign influence. Facebook will also be applying labels to posts made by state-controlled media outlets. The labels will appear globally on Pages, the Page Transparency section, and the Ad Library Page View (see the image below for an example). Publishers who are looking to get the label removed for their pages and prove that they are independent must submit an appeal. Click here to learn more about the appeal process and Facebook’s policy regarding transparency.
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Facebook has also added a business inbox to its Messenger app, giving users a more convenient way to respond to their customers. The new feature is currently being rolled out to iOS users, while Android users can expect to see the business inbox over the next few weeks. Speaking about this update, Facebook notes that in one survey, 90% of consumers said a speedy response to their inquiry is important. Hopefully, the addition of a business inbox will prompt faster responses from business owners and page admins.
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With a suite of popular social media apps under its belt, Facebook has been taking steps to integrate messaging capabilities across its apps, which include Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. Recently, an option was uncovered showcasing a function that allowed Instagram users to use Messenger as well. Instagram has confirmed it is testing the feature but did not state when or if it would be released for all users.
— Matt Navarra (I quit X. Follow me on Threads) (@MattNavarra) June 3, 2020
Instagram is also testing showing recommended content on a user’s main feed, as showcased in the video below. The company has confirmed this test as well, but did not provide any release date. Instagram says that certain users may be a part of the test already. When a user scrolls through their feed and sees the “You’re All Caught Up” notice, they will see an option for “Suggested” or “Older.” Tapping on Older takes the user back to posts they’ve already seen. Clicking on Suggested takes users to see posts and profiles similar to those the user follows. For many brands, this feature could impact their creative marketing strategies as there will be more opportunities to reach their audience through the Suggested tab.
My friend just sent me this 😱 BIG NOPE @instagram (@socialmedia2day is this new??) #Instagram #socialmedia pic.twitter.com/rh7BnGkCHF
— Giorgio Nardini (@giorgionardini) June 4, 2020
Looking to get that coveted blue checkmark on Twitter? You’re in luck because Twitter is not only reopening the application process to get verified, but will be sharing specific information on what it takes for users to be accepted. A “Request Verification” screen was first uncovered by reverse engineering expert, Jane Manchun Wong, which Twitter later confirmed. While the company is working on launching its updated verification process, it has not released any dates just yet, so stay tuned!
YouTube
For content creators looking to improve their videos, YouTube has released new analytics reports users can refer to. The integrated channel performance chart will be located in Creator Studio and provides information on revenue performance, watch time, and other useful metrics. To learn more about this feature, watch this episode of Creator Insider.
Snapchat
Dynamic ads on Snapchat have now been released globally. Businesses can upload their product catalog to the app, rather than adding a product to a template. This makes it easier for businesses to manage their mobile marketing strategy and upload products while minimizing the amount of work needed to update ads. Adidas was among the first brands to test the dynamic ads in an attempt to bolster its eCommerce revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic. The general manager of Snapchat U.K., Ed Couchman, states, “The coronavirus has accelerated the need for businesses to look at their digital sales channels and encouraged them to be more innovative in how they do that.” Adidas saw its own eCommerce sales increase by 35% in April, and also improved its return on advertising spend during its initial test with Snapchat’s dynamic ads.
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Pinterest announced its solidarity with Black Lives Matter, outlining some changes it will be making on its platform. First, content about racial justice will be highlighted, focusing on educational content for parents and organizations users can support. While the company did not go into full detail, Pinterest will be investing resources into growing content created by people with diverse backgrounds. In addition, for users searching “Black Lives Matter,” the results screen will no longer feature ads. To learn more about Pinterest’s initiatives, click here.
Also speaking out about the #BlackLivesMatter protests, Reddit co-founder, Steve Huffman, posted a message about the company’s next steps to address the issue of racism by refining the platform’s current content policy. Some of the changes include taking a stronger stance on hate speech and racism and providing more support for users and moderators to better understand the platform’s content rules.
Last but not least, Jane Manchun Wong, has also uncovered a new feature being tested by LinkedIn. As shown in the tweet below, this feature would allow users to write a one-liner about their current status. While LinkedIn has confirmed that testing is underway for this feature, the company has not yet released a date as to when users can expect to see this feature.
LinkedIn is working on “Status”
it’s similar to headline but tends to be temporary pic.twitter.com/EVoPU8Txg1
— Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) June 9, 2020
That’s it for this week’s social media news! Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter for the latest digital marketing tips, social media news, and more.
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