Umpf / Blog / Friday Social: Instagram’s New Superzooms, Facebook’s $1bn Data Centre & Twitter Bans

Friday Social: Instagram’s New Superzooms, Facebook’s $1bn Data Centre & Twitter Bans

  • Social Media

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

Something For The Shopaholics With Rumoured New App

Rumours spread this week that Instagram is working on a new standalone app for shoppers.

Users would be able to browse items from brands they follow, and purchase them directly from within the app.

With over 25 million businesses having their own Instagram accounts, it’s no wonder Instagram is keen to find ways to tap into e-commerce.

It’s still said to be under development – you can read more about it here:

Instagram Adds 6 new Superzoom Effects

Instagram fans will be pleased to hear the ‘superzoom’ feature is being expanded.

The camera feature, which creates three-second zoomed-in videos with sound effects and animations, will be getting six new variations including a heart-filled fog with cheesy music, paparazzi-like camera flashes and flames.

There’s also a particularly emo-looking animation called “bummer,” which features black leaves falling against a melancholy soundtrack (in case you want to be woken up when September ends).

Check them out here:

Twitter Bans Conspiracy Theorist

This week Twitter took the bold step to permanently ban right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones from Twitter.

The news comes just a month after the social media platform decided not to bar him from its platform – going against its peers in the tech industry.

The accounts of both Jones and his website Infowars were banned. The 44-year-old is known for spreading a conspiracy theory around the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting.

Interestingly, a report by the New York Times this week found Jones’ audience has decreased significantly after he was banned from Facebook and YouTube, suggesting the two social media platforms were responsible for doubling his audience.

Facebook’s New $1bn Data Centre

News broke this week that Facebook will be spending a cool $1bn on a new data centre in Singapore.

The snazzy, state-of-the-art facility will be set across a new 11-floor building powered by 100% renewable energy.

According to the BBC, many tech companies are flocking to the country and it’s now known as the technology hub of Asia, where most tech companies choose to have their headquarters.

Read more about it here.

And finally…

Special shout out to these guys who saw an opportunity to enhance their local McDonald’s.

The pair went viral this week following their efforts.

Bet they’re lovin’ it (sorry).