October was a month full of interesting features and useful updates, giving social media managers something to look forward to.
With the launching of Facebook News, to Instagram removing its following tab, here are new features and updates in digital, for the month of October.
Facebook Launches Facebook News
What’s better than surfing Facebook AND staying on top of all the current affairs happening around the world?
Facebook is coming up with a feature where you can view all the latest news from around the world, with just a tap.
In the top navigation bar, you’ll see a news button that will take you to the news content listing.
Facebook says that publishers’ whose content will be eligible to appear in its News tab will need to:
“…be in our News Page Index, which we developed in collaboration with the industry to identify news content. They also need to abide by Facebook’s Publisher Guidelines, these include a range of integrity signals in determining product eligibility, including misinformation – as identified based on third-party fact checkers – community standards violations (e.g., hate speech), clickbait, engagement bait and others.”
Instagram Features IGTV Series Option to Categorize Videos
If you’re still not using IGTV, Instagram is coming up with yet another update for you to get hooked to IGTV.
Instagram is coming up with an ‘IGTV series’ update which will enable creators to segment their videos into dedicated collections.
Here’s how you can add your videos in a series format:
Instagram Tests New Following List Categories
Instagram is testing a new update that will categorize your ‘Following’ list into both topic categories and listings. This will be based on your engagement with each, in order to help users better manage what content appears in their main feed.
The categories will have heads like Art’, ‘Comics’ and ‘Travel’, etc. It will also have lists of ‘Least interacted with’ and ‘Most shown in feed’, based on your individual activity.
Facebook Tests ‘Suggested Time’ Feature for Scheduled Posts
Now you can schedule your page posts on Facebook according to your audiences.
Facebook is working on a new ‘Suggested’ feature where you can choose time and date to post, keeping in mind when your audiences are most active.
Twitter Tests Emoji “Reactions” for Direct Messages
What Facebook did before, now is being followed by Twitter.
Just like Facebook has an option to react to messages, Twitter is also coming up with the exact same feature.
It will let you react to the DMs you receive.
Snapchat Adds New, Free Drawing AR Option which features Within the App
Snapchat is coming up with a very exciting feature.
With the power of AR technology, it will now allow you to draw using own 3D AR effects on faces and everything else, from within the app.
Twitter Bans All Political Ads
Twitter comes up with a major announcement- it is going to ban all political ads, distancing itself from future concerns.
According to Dorsey:
“A political message earns reach when people decide to follow an account or retweet. Paying for reach removes that decision, forcing highly optimized and targeted political messages on people. We believe this decision should not be compromised by money.”
YouTube Expands Access to AR ‘Try-On’ Ad Feature
With the rise of AR across social platforms, Youtube is also experimenting with this powerful technology.
Currently, the AR tool is majorly seen on beauty products, but soon it will be showcased in different brands.
Instagram is Looking to Bring Direct Messaging to its Web App
Good news for marketers! Instagram is finally bringing the direct messaging feature to its web version.
The update will provide wider access to people who are bounded with mobile networks or data usage.
Instagram Removes its ‘Following’ Tab
This update is by far the most talked about, for this month.
Instagram removes the “Following Tab”.
The tab used to show your followers’ activities, enabling users to see what content their connections had engaged with.
Instagram Launches a New Messaging App for Close Friends Called ‘Threads’
Earlier, Instagram came with a feature where you can choose your close friends who can view your stories.
Now, it will also let you start a conversation with just your close friends.
As explained by Instagram:
“Over the last few years, we’ve introduced several new ways to share visually on Instagram and connect with people you care about – from sharing everyday moments on Stories to visual messages on Direct. But for your smaller circle of friends, we saw the need to stay more connected throughout the day, so you can communicate what you’re doing and how you’re feeling through photos and videos. That’s why we built Threads, a new way to message with close friends in a dedicated, private space.”
Snapchat’s Developing a New ‘Home’ Geofilter Option
Recently, Snapchat is coming up with various features and updates for its users for an extended engagement.
This new feature will enable users to create simple, free Geofilters tagged to their home address, which visitors to their home would then be able to add to their Snaps.
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