Umpf / Blog / Friday Social: Snapchat Users Stabilise, Instagram Egg Announcements and New Emoji

Friday Social: Snapchat Users Stabilise, Instagram Egg Announcements and New Emoji

  • 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

Instagram Promises to Protect Users From Images of Self Harm

Instagram has vowed to remove all images of self-harm on the platform in a bid to protect its users from graphic content.

Instagram boss Adam Mosseri made the announcement this week, following urges from the public for greater control and restrictions on images that ‘glamorise’ self-harm and suicide.

In an interview with the BBC, Mosseri admitted that the platform was trying to balance “the need to act now and the need to act responsibly” and that the platform was “not where we need to be on the issues of self-harm and suicide”.

Snapchat Users Stabilise

Snapchat user figures has stabilised for the first time in two quarters, new data has revealed.

The new figures released this week show daily active users remain at 186 million – an unchanged number from the previous quarter, alongside a revenue increase of 36%.

The photo-sharing platform, which rose to dizzying heights of popularity after it begun in 2012, has seen a steady decline in users over the past few years – following competition from the likes of Instagram, and unpopular redesigns – but Snap bosses are confident the company is moving back towards profitability.

Twitter Cashes In, As Users Drop Out

Twitter on the other hand, got more of a mixed bag this week as its fourth quarter figures showed a profit increase, alongside a user dropout.

The quarter figures showed a revenue of $909 million, an annual increase of 24 percent. However, despite the steady rise in profit, the platform can’t seem to galvanise new users, as its monthly active usage drops to 321 million, down 5 million from last quarter.

The reason is not clear, however it’s believed that many new users now find the site too difficult to navigate and manage – causing Twitter to go to greater lengths to make the platform more user-friendly.

Instagram Egg Reveals True Meaning

Instagram’s most liked photo, a picture of a humble egg, has been used to promote a mental health campaign.

The image, now known as Eugene, originally hit the platform with the aim to beat Kylie Jenner to the ‘most-liked’ top spot – but has since used its influential status to promote mental health awareness across the world.

Over the past week, six images have appeared on its Instagram account @world_record_egg – all with varying levels of cracks and damage. The latest post then shows the egg cracking, with the caption: “Phew! I feel so much better now. If you’re feeling the pressure, visit talkingegg.info to find out more. Let’s build this list together.” – which directs followers to a website that highlights the mental health services available across the world.

Well played.

And Finally… New Emoji are Coming

Later this year we’ll see 270 new emoji across all devices and platforms, and there’s one in particular that may prove popular.

New icons include a bigger range of skin tones, mechanical arms, a flamingo and a drop of blood – the result of a campaign by humanitarian charity Plan International and NHS Blood, which aim to help normalise periods in everyday conversation.

Grabbing the headlines though was an innocent emoji of a hand making a ‘pinching motion’. Its announcement made quite a stir online and we’ll leave you to conclude why…