Social Platform Updates: October 2019
The month of October saw many social platforms experimenting with new ways to draw advertisers, whether through expanded targeting features, interactive ads, or e-learning tools for brands.
Meanwhile, Facebook and TikTok prepared for the upcoming elections in dramatically different manners, with Facebook giving free reign to politicians, with no intentions to fact-check their ads, and TikTok restricting political content entirely.
October 2019
In honor of World Mental Health Day, Facebook released the “Let’s Talk” Stories filter on messenger. The feature is designed to encourage users to reach out for help.
Facebook is expanding the ability for brands to place their ads in Facebook search results to connect with users who are actively shopping.
Facebook has a new “suggested time” feature available on the Scheduled Posts page.
Facebook will be removing gray verification badges from Pages due to confusion over the difference between gray and blue badges
Blue badges represent a verified public figure and will remain on the platform
Gray badges represent any user who has gone through an extra identification process. These badges will disappear on October 30th.
Facebook is set to release a “News Tab” in coming weeks, potentially before the end of October.
Instagram has removed the Following tab, which allowed users to see the likes, comments, and follows of your friends.
Instagram is testing a feature that would group accounts you follow into categories, such as “least interacted with” and “most interacted with.”
Instagram is developing a spin-off messaging app called Threads, which would allow users to share their location and battery life as well as text and send video messages.
Finally, Instagram launched their Create Mode, which allows users to share Stories that don’t contain photos or videos. Create Mode features include:
Polls and countdowns
Stickers and GIFS
Music
“On This Day” throwbacks
Instagram will soon get rid of all filters with plastic-surgery-like effects.
YouTube
YouTube has expanded its AR “Try-On Feature,” which allows users to try on beauty products using augmented reality by clicking on an ad.
Snapchat
Snapchat is now integrated with Reddit, allowing Reddit posts to be shared directly on the app via the Snapchat camera.
Snapchat launched Dynamic Ads, a feature that automatically creates ads for brands, who simply have to upload their product catalogues.
Pinterest launched Pinterest University, an e-learning tool designed to help businesses advertise on Pinterest.
LinkedIn expanded its tools to pinpoint audiences for ad campaigns.
New tools include audience forecasts, industry insights, and using and/or qualifiers to define your search.
Political Theory
Facebook outlined a variety of steps they’re taking to combat misinformation in the upcoming 2020 elections. However, Mark Zuckerberg made it clear in a controversial speech that Facebook would not be fact-checking political ads.
In stark contrast, TikTok announced a complete ban on political advertising on the platform. The Chinese-owned company has previously come under fire for censoring political speech on the platform.