Snapchat to reach 217 million users, Facebook introduces Lifestage and WhatsApp to give data to Facebook
- News
Our #FridaySocial is a weekly round-up of the key social media news stories from the previous seven days. Let us know your thoughts in the comments or via Twitter – @Umpf/@natashagraham_
Snapchat set to hit 217 million users next year
Popular social media app Snapchat is predicted to reach 217 million active users by the end of 2017.
Currently, its largest user group is aged from 16-25, making up 70% of its user base. However, the report conducted by eMarketer says that group will shrink to 56%, allowing for older users to join snap-happy app. Statistics found by ComSore suggest that users over 35 years old are now adopting Snapchat, and are currently making up 14% of the user base in America.
Facebook introduces Lifestage app for Teenagers
Facebook has launched an app that is exclusive to 21-year-olds and under. Lifestage, is currently available to American iPhone users, and allows users to make short videos clips about themselves.
The app is built outside of Facebook and has no links to upload content to its parent site yet. Users are encouraged to upload visual content to friends in their high school – Facebook has tried to emulate the origins of its first incarnation, used by Harvard college students.
The Lifestage app page explains that users can ‘share a visual profile of who you are with your school network. Once your school is unlocked, you can access the profiles of others in your school community so you can get to know people better in your school. Discover others who are into the same stuff you are, and connect with them.’
Twitter and Facebook announce engagement rates during Rio Olympics
With the Games in Rio now finished, Facebook and Twitter have released data showcasing the conversations generated around the games from the past two weeks.
On Twitter, the 2016 Olympics saw 187 million tweets and generated 75 billion total impressions. This is an increase from the last Olympics, in London, which generated 150 million tweets.
Facebook on the other hand has shared that 277 million users generated 1.5 billion interactions around the 2016 Olympics.
Additionally, Instagram reportedly saw 916 million interactions from 131 million users relating to the Rio Olympics.
France bans social media users posting photos of Burkini
A French politician has threatened to sue people using social media to share photos of French police enforcing its ban on the burkini. Christian Estrosi, President of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, where the full body swimsuit is banned, has said official complaints have been filed about the distribution of photos of French policemen.
The ban has sparked a large debate on social media, with many pointing out that the ban is an act of Islamophobia, misogyny and an attack on freedom of expression.
#women continue to pay the price of ignorance #BurkiniBan (image by khalidAlbaih) pic.twitter.com/TXRLMqybJj
— Nagla Rizk (@naglarzk) August 24, 2016
WhatsApp plans to share data with Facebook
Whatsapp will soon been changing their terms and privacy policy to share user’s numbers with Facebook.
The messaging app have said that encrypted messages will remain private, which means you’re the only person that can read them.
However, data being shared with the social media site, will alter your Facebook experience. You’re going to see more people you recognise or have some form of link with in the ‘People You May Know’ section.
Also, advertisements will be appearing in WhatsApp from companies that you are directly linked with or have accounts with, and not from companies you don’t know.