Facebook cracks down on engagement bait; Instagram updates its Stories feature; Snapchat redesigns the app to separate social and professional content; Twitter increased tweet limit from 140 to 280 characters – 2017 had been a super active year for social media users and marketers. Each update was designed to improve user experience and transparency.
Here we discuss 17 powerful updates to hit the social media landscape in 2017 :
1. Facebook's News Feed Update
Facebook decided to get stricter with the pages that were using engagement bait for gaining reach through the news feed. Facebook changed its News Feed algorithm, demoting all posts that didn’t seem authentic and were spammy or misleading.
Facebook in this
post explain how the change will affect the brand and publishers
Publishers and other businesses that use engagement bait tactics in their posts should expect their reach on these posts to decrease. Meanwhile, Pages that repeatedly share engagement bait posts will see more significant drops in reach. Page Admins should continue to focus on posting relevant and meaningful stories that do not use engagement bait tactics. Learn more about engagement bait and how to avoid using it here.
2. Facebook's Snooze Button
Facebook now lets you mute people and pages for 30 days. Users can use the Snooze Button to temporarily see less content from those friends/pages who post annoying content. It gives users more control over what they see in their News Feed without unfollowing or unfriending.
3. Instagram's Snapchat-like Stories
Inspired from Snapchat, Instagram introduced story sharing option. It also introduced unique 3D filters and stickers ( again inspired from Snapchat's USP). Instagram Stories have hit 300 million daily active users as reported in November 2017.
4. Twitter's 140 to 280
This was a big update. Twitter in this
post announced that it has doubled its 140-character limit to 280 to give users more space to express themselves on the channel.
5. LinkedIn's Video Game Begins
Last year, the social channel jumped into the video bandwagon to leverage the power of the format.
6. Follow Hashtags On Instagram
One can follow hashtags the way one follows an account on Instagram. It's a great way to discover relevant people, photos, and videos in new ways.
7. Direct Message Buttons On Twitter
Twitter is helping brands to connect with users and engage with them in different ways. With this update, the customer engagement with branded chatbots will reach beyond private direct messages.
For many businesses, delivering a great customer experience through a bot in Direct Messages depends on helping people complete a task other than sending a message, wrote Ian Cairns, a product manager at Twitter in a blog post.
8. Instagram's “Paid-Partnership” Tag
With this new feature on Instagram, users can easily identify sponsored posts. Influencers can tag the partner who paid to get featured in that post. This update was a step to improve the transparency about sponsored content after letters were rolled out to many Instagram influencers by FTC.
9. Instagram Removes 24-hour Upload Limit
Users can add photos and videos to Instagram stories, even when they are more than 24 hours old. Read the details about the update here
10. Snapchat's Location Sharing Feature
With Snap Map users can track the location and movements of all their contacts. Users can control with whom they want to share their location. Know more on the location setting options
here.
11. You Tube's 10,000 Channel Views Restriction
After this update, only accounts with 10,000 channel views can apply for the Partner Program. Beginners can check Creator Academy to know how to create great content and grow channel views.
12. Share Instagram Stories To Facebook Stories
Users can share their Instagram Stories to their Facebook Stories. Here's a good
read on the update.
13. Public Posts Available Off LinkedIn
Posts shared to Public on LinkedIn will also be visible to anyone who isn’t signed in to LinkedIn. Read how to update your settings
here
14. Instagram Launches Mobile Web Version
With this update, users can now start posting photos from Instagram's mobile website. After a couple of months, Instagram let users view Stories on the web.
15. Pinterest Launches Lens (Beta)
It lets you use the camera in your Pinterest app to discover ideas inspired by objects you see out in the real world. There have been many updates since the launch of Lens namely, it can recommend outfits for you; instant ideas added to Lens results; Lens your look, and Pincodes.
16. Twitter’s Popular Articles
It shows the users the most popular articles that their connections are tweeting about. A no-frills attached update, it shows the users the link preview of the articles but no commentaries.
17. Facebook Adds Option For Ordering food
Users can now order food using both the Facebook mobile app and website. Here's what Facebook said in a post.
Facebook combines options from a number of food ordering services like EatStreet, Delivery.com, DoorDash, ChowNow and Olo, as well as restaurants like Jack in the Box, Five Guys, Papa John’s, and Panera, so you don’t have to search through multiple places to find what you’re looking for. From local spots to national chains, Facebook connects you with old favorites and new discoveries in just a few taps. You can even check out what your friends have to say about a restaurant before you order your food.
