This week’s social report mostly focuses on the past, present, and future of Facebook and Instagram across stories, music, and emoji reactions! Plus, LinkedIn manages to sneak its way in just to show off its hot new feature no one will care about.
1. Facebook is developing a singing contest feature to rival musical.ly
by @cara_curtis via @TheNextWeb
Internet sleuth Jane Manchun Wong discovered that Facebook is building integration for a singing contest feature, which allows users to record short clips of themselves singing and possibly share them with friends. Facebook has already introduced support for lip-syncing and has signed music licensing deals with multiple major labels, so this is a natural next step.
Facebook is working on Talent Show where users can pick a popular song and submit their singing audition for review.
Feels like a cross between Musically and Fifteen Million Merits from Black Mirror
as I previously spotted: https://t.co/jHsYQpEvgo pic.twitter.com/TfC2Og5wlw
— Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) July 28, 2018
2. Facebook Mistakenly Adds ‘Plane’ and ‘Fire’ Reactions, Pointing to Possible Additions
by @AdHutchinson via @SocialMedia2Day
Eagle-eyed Facebook users made an interesting discovery this week, as they found they had the ability to react to posts and comments with a plane and fire emojis. What exactly these are intended to signify is unclear at this point, but we’ll likely know in the near future.
3. LinkedIn lets you send voice messages that probably no one will listen to
by @luchanglu via @DigitalTrends
“Have you ever typed out a long message and thought about how much faster and easier it would be to say it out loud?” That’s what LinkedIn thought as it recently debuted the ability to send voice messages through it’s app, as a way for users to converse more easily. “Whether you’re responding while walking or multitasking, or need to give an in-depth explanation, voice messages let you more easily and quickly communicate in your own voice with your connections.” That’s the idea, at least. Will it get used that way? My Magic 8-Ball says… not likely.
4. Instagram Stories Is 2 Years Old & These Are The Best Features From The Past Year
by @lizz_yonce via @elitedaily
Looking to take a trip down Instagram memory lane to see how far stories has come? Well, EliteDaily has you covered with the seven best features added to stories in the past 12 months; give ’em a look.
5. Facebook and Instagram’s time-well-spent feature already needs some changes
by @Karissabe via @Mashable
Facebook has launched features to help users more effectively spend their time in the app, but it’s already starting to show signs of weakness. Recently, Facebook introduced long-form video content onto the service and these new time management features don’t prevent you from using it once your time has expired.
MM’s Pick of the week!
This week saw the formal announcement that actor Seth Rogen will become the new voice of Vancouver and Toronto’s transit systems, and he got the gig over Twitter after Vancouver Sun reporter Stephanie Ip suggested him for the role, in the wake of the previous voice’s removal. Seth responded to her tweet saying that he would be interested, and Vancouver’s transit system replied and DM’d him; an exchange which was mimicked in the announcement video.
Yo if they need a replacement now let me know.
— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) May 24, 2018
— TransLink BC (@TransLink) July 26, 2018
We wish scoring a new gig was this easy for everyone!
Metter Media LLC is a Boston-based social media management company that implements community-based, localized social engagement strategies small businesses and corporations alike. Need help with your social media? Email Lauren today.
