SOCIAL MEDIA ROUNDUP: Instagram set to make our lives much easier
November 30, 2015
In this week’s social media roundup, price we take a look at Instagram’s tests to enable users to switch accounts and Twitter’s incorporation of video auto-play.
We also look into Facebook’s new feature to make sure users never miss an interesting post and Snapchat’s launch of ‘Story Explorer’. Additionally, anabolics we reveal the most searched for term in Britain in 2015.
Could we see account switching on Instagram soon?
Instagram is testing a feature to enable people to switch between multiple accounts directly in the app. Select members in Instagram’s official ‘beta testing group for Android’ spotted the option in their accounts last week.
This feature will save users who access more than one account the hassle of having to log out and sign back in each time they want to switch accounts.
It appears that the new option can be accessed by scrolling to the bottom of the Settings page in Instagram and selecting ‘Add Account’.
After the account has been added, medic users can then switch between accounts using a new option that will appear at the top left of the screen on the user profile page. A green pop-up banner notification will confirm the account switch.
This feature has been a long time coming, as Twitter users have been switching between accounts in a similar manner since 2013.
This will not only benefit those whose jobs require them to maintain different accounts such as social media managers.
It will also benefit Instagram’s younger user base where account switching between a ‘real Instagram’ with polished images and a ‘finstagram’ – teenage slang for ‘fake instagram’, filled with photos only for the eyes of close friends, is a common activity.
It is unclear when this feature will be rolled out to all users and Instagram may consider trialling different means of offering this option before committing to a public release.
Twitter follows suit with auto-play
Last week, Twitter finally followed suit from other social networks, such as Facebook, in launching native video auto-play. This means that users can watch full-screen Twitter videos and GIFs without having to open a new app or page.
This feature is available on IOS apps and will be rolled out for Android users soon. Twitter hopes this will offer an easier experience for users and keep more people on the platform instead of being taken to another site.
Poll results – Virtual Reality takes the crown as ‘one to watch’ in 2016
In a recent poll we asked digital enthusiasts which area should rights holders and brands be paying most attention to in 2016. Virtual Reality came top of the list with 41% of the vote, closely followed by E-sports/ E-gaming with 35%.
Missed a friend’s birthday? Facebook tests tool to notify users about posts they have missed
Some users have reported seeing notifications of posts from a few days before, showing that Facebook is testing a new feature to notify users of posts it thinks they will not want to miss seeing.
Additionally, when some users visit a friend’s timeline on their mobile, they are shown a post they missed along with an invitation to view another friend with newer content.
The most popular search term in Britain in 2015 has been revealed as ‘the Rugby World Cup’
According to Yahoo, the most popular search term of 2015 was ‘the Rugby World Cup’, followed by ‘the Duchess of Cambridge’, ‘Eastenders’ and ex Top Gear presenter, ‘Jeremy Clarkson’. ‘Wimbledon’ also featured in the top ten.
Yahoo UK editor Nick Petche stated:
“Despite England not making it out of the group stages, the UK has been gripped with Rugby World Cup fever this year, as it was the most-searched item on Yahoo in 2015”.
Snapchat launches a new ‘single time / place’ experience with new ‘Story Explorer’
Last week, Snapchat launched a new tool within their Live Stories called ‘Story Explorer’, which enables users to look at all of the snaps from one moment.
The idea is to enable users to see similar snaps from a single moment instead of seeing lots of different, unrelated moments grouped together by a larger theme.
For example, as explained by the ‘Story Explorer’ promotional video below, if users see a snap they are interested in, they can simply swipe up to explore the moment from every angle.
Visit the WePlay website HERE and follow WePlay on Twitter HERE.