Umpf / Blog / Friday Social: Snap Maps Introduce World Effects, Facebook Target Fake News and IGTV Ignites Online Video Battle

Friday Social: Snap Maps Introduce World Effects, Facebook Target Fake News and IGTV Ignites Online Video Battle

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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

Instagram Unveils IGTV

Social media giant Instagram unveiled its new long-form video feature IGTV this week, in a bid to challenge YouTube as the internet’s go-to place for video content.

The new feature will allow creators to upload videos up to 60 minutes long, and will show videos in portrait mode – which Instagram claims is the “natural way” people use their phones.

IGTV will be a standalone app as well as a feature on existing users’ homepages, and is being slowly rolled out on iOS and Android over the next few weeks – so keep an eye on your account for the update.

YouTube Hits Back With New Monetisation Tools

Following the release of IGTV and the expansion of Facebook Watch, YouTube has retaliated with the introduction of new and improved ways for creators to monetise their videos.

Looking to win back the favour of many of its creators, and encourage them to stay on the platform, new monetisation tools are being introduced to make earning money through the site simpler. The tools include channel memberships, a merchandise ‘shelf’, and live stream premieres.

The introduction of IGTV and Facebook Watch is the first real competition for YouTube, and it will be interesting to see which platform pulls out all the stops to take the lead as the home of online video content.

Facebook Continues Crack Down on Fake News

In its ongoing battle to win back the hearts of users across the world, Facebook is stepping up its fact-checking program to try curb the amount of fake news on the platform.

During an online abuse conference, Facebook announced that it will be expanding its program both in geography and depth of research, to fact photos and videos as well as text.

Facebook will also be working closely alongside academics to determine the role of social media in elections and democracy, to try make the social network as impartial as possible.

Snap Maps Introduces World Effects

Snap Maps, the Snapchat feature that locates you and your friends all over the world, has gone one better this week with the introduction of ‘world effects’.

These effects include real-time, animated weather that corresponds to the actual forecast of that area. These are visualised through animated effects that hang over your Bitmoji’s head – including rain, sun and snow.

The new features are one of many that are being rolled out to mark one year of Snap Maps, the feature that has gathered both praise and criticism over its short history.

And finally… A Curious Cat in a Ceiling

Because why not…?