Interesting news from Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook this week! Don’t miss this issue of Marketing Updates with Motion Ave!
Facebook Mobile News Feed Goes on a Diet
Beginning in August, the aspect ratio of ads and posts displayed on mobile news feeds goes from 2:3 to 4:5 – reducing copy lines from 7 to 3 and shrinking images on posts and ads. Marketers will have to tighten their copy or push audiences to the “see more” prompt to move to bigger real estate.
Read more about the change here: https://marketingland.com/heads-up-advertisers-facebook-is-shrinking-mobile-news-feed-ad-space-264063
Instagram Institutes Double Secret Probation
Instagram is hardening its conduct policy with a system of escalating interventions. Activities that violate user policy will accumulate warnings- get enough yellow flags in a short enough interval, and you’ll receive a notice that you’re about to be banned. Mess up again during this cooldown period, and you’re outta there.
An additional update is a formal appeal process; if content was removed in error, Instagram will restore the post and remove the violation from the user’s record.
Maybe just don’t be awful.
Get the story here: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/instagram-adds-new-warnings-for-accounts-which-are-close-to-being-banned/559079/
Twitter Reminded That Computers Still Exist, Some People Using Them
Twitter has updated its desktop interface, including importing several of the more useful features from its mobile platform, including relocating the navigation bar to the left side and rolling mobile’s Explore tab into it. Switch profiles without closing your screen, enjoy new color and dark modes, and see all DMs- sent and conversations- in one place. Who needs one of those “smart-phones” now?
Embrace the goodness: https://www.theverge.com/2019/7/15/20695120/twitter-desktop-redesign-dark-mode-mobile-features
Pinterest Now Diagnoses, Treats Mental Health
Pinterest will now interrupt your regularly-scheduled swiping if it detects that you’re less perky. Searches for terms like “stress quotes,” or “work anxiety” will lead not to charming Pins of ramshackle country homes in Nebraska overlaid with soothing platitudes or to pouting cats in rugby shirts, but to “wellness activities” provided by Brainstorm, the Stanford Lab for Mental Health Innovation, Vibrant Emotional Health and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, such as deep-breathing and self-compassion exercises. Features like links to affordable mental health care or therapy chatbots are scheduled for a later release (date unspecified)- and of course, search results that lead to “wellness exercises” absolutely won’t be revealed to a current or future employer, spouse, or private investigator.
Learn more about this innovative and inspiring initiative here: https://techcrunch.com/2019/07/22/pinterest-wellness/
Finally, the social media giants care deeply for our well-being! See you next week for another issue of Marketing Updates with Motion Ave.!