Friday Social: Snapchat Spectacles get a makeover, Facebook tests a new ‘downvote’ button, and #MindMay8

  • 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

Facebook tests a new ‘downvote’ button

Facebook is currently testing a new ‘downvote’ button in Australia and New Zealand, following a trial in the US earlier this year.

The tool, which is similar to the downvote button on discussion site Reddit, will let people hide comments and provide feedback. According to the BBC, Facebook said the button was being tested to see whether it enabled ‘better public discussions’. Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian had this to say about the almost identical tool:

Although it isn’t the ‘dislike’ button people have often called for, it will enable users to rank the comments they believe deserve to be at the top of the post, rather than the statements that produce the strongest emotional reaction.

Twitter introduces new timeline feature for news stories

Twitter is forging ahead in its efforts to become a trusted news outlet with the announcement of a feature that groups multiple tweets linking to the same news story.

According to BuzzFeed News, underneath a highlighted story, users will see all the tweets from their network that mention that particular link too. The feature has rolled out to all Twitter users across iOS, Android, and web.

See more here.

Snapchat Spectacles get a makeover

Snapchat is rolling out the next generation of its infamous Spectacles, which first came to our attention back in 2016 as they began appearing in pop-up branded vending machines across the US.

Snap’s new strategy has waved goodbye to gimmicks in favour of more traditional selling techniques. According to Digiday, the second generation of Spectacles has multiple improvements compared to the originals, including taking photos (not just videos) and faster-loading and better-quality snaps.

The sunglasses are said to be sleeker and lighter than the previous model, as well as water-resistant.

Snap has also shifted their marketing strategy, allowing customers to buy Spectacles via a website and within the app, rather than having to wait for a vending machine to pop up at a location near them.

Did you see Umpf’s review of the first generation Spectacles last year? Watch it here…

Cambridge Analytica closing following data scandal

Data firm Cambridge Analytica has announced it is closing its doors and starting insolvency proceeding following this year’s high profile Facebook data scandal.

The company was embroiled in the privacy row after it was reported that the personal data of around 50 million Americans and at least a million Britons had been harvested from Facebook and shared with Cambridge Analytica.

Cambridge Analytica has denied any wrongdoing, but negative media coverage has driven away its clients and mounting legal fees have left the company no alternative than to go into administration.

Read more here.

And finally… #MindMay8

Umpf has recently launched a campaign to support MindMate Leeds – a dedicated mental health and emotional wellbeing website for young people, parents and professionals who work with young people.

In the weeks leading up to ‘Mental Health Awareness Week 2018’, we have been asking social media users to donate a tweet or a Facebook update, which will go live on May 8th and will help raise awareness of the MindMate service. The hashtag for the day is #MindMay8.

If you’d like to get involved and show your support, here’s what you can do: 

Visit https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/69681-mindmay8

Click ‘Support with Twitter’

Thunderclap will then ask you to authorise the action. That’s it!

If you wish, you will then be able to send a Twitter or Facebook update saying you’re supporting the campaign – we want to get as many people as possible signed up before May 8!

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