04/10/2019
September’s social media roundup includes platform news from Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest and lots more. Let’s take a look.
Instagram will begin restricting posts for users under 18 years old that promote the use of weight loss products or cosmetic procedures. In addition to the new restriction on diet and cosmetic surgery ads, the social media titan has also said that any content which makes a “miraculous” claim about a diet or weight-loss product will now also be completely removed from the platform.
Last year, when the Cambridge Analytica data scandal first came to light, Facebook announced a review of every 3rd party app which could have been granted the same data access that Cambridge Analytica had. This was to ensure that it had addressed all the security problems which had enabled Cambridge Analytica to essentially weaponise Facebook’s personal data for political gain.
In September, YouTube launched a brand new way to execute video ad campaigns. The new Video Reach campaigns will now make it possible for businesses and marketers to upload three different types of assets at the same time including bumper ads, skippable in-stream ads, and non-skippable in-stream ads; all in a single campaign. Google also said that they will use their machine learning technology to analyse and conclude what the most effective combination of the ads are in order to maximise audience reach and performance.
Source: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/youtube-video-reach-campaigns/327111/
Reddit announced that they have introduced new video ad options for brands as it attempts to maximise revenue opportunities as we head towards the festive season. One of the most significant factors of this update is that they are adding a new mobile landing page flow for video ads.
Since its initial launch in 2018, LinkedIn has continued to roll out its objective-based advertising options across more regions. Similar to Facebook’s ad booking process, the objective-based approach helps to guide marketers’ decisions by enabling them to choose the top-level objective for their ad campaign.
Source: socialmediaexaminer.com/how-to-create-linkedin-objective-based-ads/
So, just as it’s done with Snapchat’s Stories, AR masks, YouTube, and a range of other apps and functions, Instagram is looking to add in yet another similar function in order to compete with TikTok, to keep its active users from straying to these new social media platforms.
After first launching its ‘Today In’ local news module in six US cities back in January last year, Facebook announced that localised versions of the offering, which is designed to promote increased civic engagement, will now be made available to over 6,000 cities across the US.
Snapchat have launched a new feature that will simulate depth within images that uses take. To begin with, it will only be available to those who have iPhone X and above. However, other Snapchatters using different devices will be able to receive Snaps that have been taken using the feature.
Source: socialsamosa.com/2019/09/snapchat-launches-3d-snaps/
LinkedIn have started rolling out a new way for users to display their personal competencies, with a new ‘Skills Assessments’ option. It tests user’s knowledge and provides them with a badge that demonstrates their proven understandings.
Source: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/linkedin-now-has-a-way-for-users-to-verify-their-skills/326311/
Pinterest are rolling out a new format for business profiles which will also enable brands to use videos and custom images in their header section. The new format will also include a dedicated shop tab that provides brands with another way of showcasing their products.
After announcing a new multi-contributor Stories option for public figures, Facebook has followed that up with the removal of its similar ‘Group Stories’ functionality, which enables Facebook group members to contribute to a single story within that group.
Source: https://engt.co/2p1Kg5N
Instagram recently announced that they are experimenting with running Story ads back-to-back. If rolled out across the social media platform, brands will need to focus on the creative aspects of their ad campaigns to stand out from competitors.
Source: thrivesearch.com/instagram-confirms-it-is-testing-increased-ad-loads-in-stories/
Twitter is looking to provide more help for brands that are looking to maximise their social efforts with the launch of ‘Twitter Next’. It’s a new strategic sector of Twitter Marketing, which will provide business partners with a range of resourceful insights and marketing advice.
Source: https://www.adweek.com/digital/twitter-revamps-its-brand-strategy-team-as-twitter-next/
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