Reddit has launched a new Polls option which enables Redditors to pose questions to their audiences, helping to boost on-platform engagement, and activate the many ‘lurkers’ – people who scroll through the various posts but don’t post, share or comment themselves – within the app. As explained by Reddit: “We’re excited to introduce Polls, a brand new post type … Read more
With everybody locked inside, and missing out on regular social interaction, Instagram is adding a new feature that aims to help users connect via video chat, with the option of also scrolling through your Instagram feed while still connected via video link. As you can see here, Instagram’s new ‘Co-Watching’ feature enables users to search through … Read more
This will no doubt be controversial. WABetaInfo has reported that WhatsApp is developing a new option that would enable users to set their WhatsApp messages to auto-delete after a set time limit. As you can see in these screenshots, pulled from the beta version of WhatsApp on Android, the new option, if it is rolled out, will let people … Read more
Following on from the launch of its new COVID -19 information hub earlier this week, WhatsApp has also announced the launch of a new chatbot, created in conjunction with the World Health Organization, which will provide access to accurate, timely information on the coronavirus pandemic to the app’s 2 billion users. As explained by WhatsApp: “The new service, … Read more
Could this be another challenger in the short-form video space? While TikTok continues to gain traction, and face scrutiny over its various operating processes, Singaporean video app Likee has announced its intentions to make a push into the US market. As per the PR release: “Likee, the fourth-most downloaded video app in the world, behind Facebook … Read more
This comes to the as little surprise, given that WhatsApp is developing the same thing, but this week, Instagram has confirmed that it’s also working on a new disappearing messages option within its Direct tools. Spotted by reverse engineering expert Jane Manchun Wong, the new option, at least at this stage, would see all of your messages disappear from … Read more
Snapchat has announced that it will bring forward the launch of its new ‘Here For You’ mental health resource center, making it available to all users this week in response to rising angst around the COVID-19 pandemic. Announced last month, ‘Here For You’ will provide in-app support to Snapchatters who may be experiencing mental health or emotional … Read more
After announcing a ban on ads which seek to capitalize on concerns around COVID-19 late last month, then expanding that to specifically outlaw all ads and commerce listings of face masks amid massive profiteering pushes, Facebook will now extend its COVID-19 ad restrictions even further, incorporating all listings of hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, and test kits. As shared by … Read more
After initially announcing its coming desktop refresh at its F8 developer conference last May, and slowly, gradually making it available to selected user groups over time, Facebook has finally announced that all users can now switch over the new Facebook desktop layout. As you can see here, the new format centralizes the News Feed and adds more space … Read more
Facebook sees VR as the future of social media interaction, a future that Facebook wants to own in order to maintain its position on top of the social heap. And it’s working to do just that – after recently acquiring several top VR game developers an integrating them into its growing Oculus VR division, The Social Network … Read more