Social media
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YouTube Tests Image-Based Search via Google Lens
YouTube’s trying out a new search option, with some users now able to use Google Lens to search for YouTube clips related to an image. As you can see in these example screenshots, posted by 9 to 5 Google, users in the new test will see a Google Lens icon to the right of the Search bar in the YouTube…
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TikTok Launches New Musician Interview Series to Promote Top Artists
TikTok’s looking to further enhance its connection with the record industry, this time via a new series of artists spotlight interviews to help promote their music in the app. As you can see in this example, TikTok’s new “Off the Record” interview series will feature some of the world’s most popular musicians discussing their latest work, their creative process, and…
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WhatsApp Expands Video Group Chats to 32 Participants
WhatsApp has announced some new updates for video calls in the app, including expanded group chats, improved screen-sharing, and speaker highlights. The main addition is its expansion of group video calls from 15 to 32 participants. WhatsApp’s group call limit has always been 32, but now, more participants can be displayed on screen, facilitating enhanced interaction in your group chats.…
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Pinterest Announces Expanded AI Ad Tools to Enhance Performance
Pinterest has announced some new features for advertisers, including improved campaign automation, customized background generation (powered by A.I.) and Promoted Pin collages to showcase related products. And there are some interesting, and valuable additions here, that will drive more Pin interest. First off, Pinterest is testing new A.I.-based automated ad campaigns called “Performance+”, which will provide more ways to…
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TikTok Adds Image Search for Similar Products in TikTok Shop
TikTok is determined to convert itself into an online shopping powerhouse, in order to maximize its revenue opportunities, though users still seem largely perplexed as to why they would go from watching short-form video clips to buying products in the app. Though it is making inroads, albeit slowly. According to a new report from Dash Hudson, TikTok Shop is now…
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Threads Tests Updated Link Preview Display for Instagram Posts
This is interesting. Instagram’s currently developing a new update for Threads that’ll see still image posts shared from IG presented in a new, dedicated format within your Threads post, as opposed to a link with a small thumbnail, driving the user back to IG. As you can see in this example, shared by app researcher Radu Oncescu, the new process…
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Instagram Tests New Ads Overlaid on User Stories
Instagram seems intent on trying out more annoying and intrusive ad formats, with the platform now testing new promoted prompts that are displayed within your friends’ Stories, driving viewers towards promoted apps. As you can see in this example, posted by 404 Media (I added the red arrow for clarity), the new pop-up ads appear overlaid on Stories from your…
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Instagram Will Soon Enable Creators to Build AI Versions of Themselves
Look, I don’t know why Meta is convinced that enabling people to make A.I. bot versions of themselves is something that will have real, tangible value to users. But whatever the reason, it is indeed looking to facilitate such, with new screenshots showing its evolving A.I. bot creation framework. As you can see in these examples, posted by app researcher…
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Research Shows That Most X Users Rely on the App for News Content
Pew Research has published a new overview of how people are using social media to access news content, which highlights some concerning trends as we head into the prime U.S. Election season. The main point of note is that more X users now cite the app as a key news resource, while users on all platforms are regularly seeing false…
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Snapchat Shares Insight Into the Value of the App for Film Promotions
Snapchat has shared some new data into the power of the platform for movie promotion, with Snap users increasingly likely to watch movies in cinemas, and be influenced by Snap campaigns. The data is based on insights from Samba TV, Kantar, and ticket info from Fandango, which provides some valuable perspective on how Snap can drive interest in cinema, and…
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