Reports Show that Facebook Usage is Up, as Meta Continues to Develop its AI Targeting Models
TLDR
- While Facebook is no longer the cool app, especially among younger audiences, it remains a key platform for many users, and its capacity to keep people updated on important updates from friends and family is likely to ensure that many continue to return to the app every day for some time yet.
Brief
Facebook usage is actually increasing, according to internal insights viewed by The Wall Street Journal, which also include some interesting notes on overall Facebook and Instagram usage trends. Which seems unusual, given the subsequent rise of TikTok, and short form video more generally. But actually, Facebook has been able to successfully use the short-form video trend to drive more usage – despite much criticism of the platform’s copycat Reels feature.
- Read the full article from Social Media Today
Snap launches marketing campaign showing AR effects and uses
TLDR
- In a marketing campaign that might make Grandma squeal, Snap has unleashed an advertisement that shows the merits of its augmented reality features. However, its effects dive deep into the uncanny valley and might haunt the dreams of users.
Brief
Over the years, Snap pushed the boundaries of how people see and experience the world through augmented reality. AR makes conversations and experiences better, and unlocks new ways to connect with others, learn about the world, shop, and more. Snaps new campaign shows you what it’s like to see the world the way Snapchatters do. AR is a key focus for Snap, and despite operating at a much smaller scale than Meta and Apple, which are both also investing big in AR projects
- Read the full article from Affiliate Insider
What TikTok’s shifting US presence means for social media
TLDR
- What TikTok’s shifting US presence means for social media Privacy concerns over the app’s ByteDance ownership have led to growing institutional scrutiny, raising the specter of broader implications.
Brief
TikTok has proudly touted its status as social media’s shining star in the last handful of years, and it shows no signs of slowing in 2023 even as the ByteDance platform’s U.S. presence continues to find itself the center of tense government scrutiny. Somewhat of a slow burn over the last few years, criticism of TikTok has overwhelmingly regarded the app’s Chinese ownership and fears that U.S. data is being placed in the wrong hands. Now viewed as a powerful search engine against Google, TikTok has become an educational resource for many of its users. In one instance, a North Carolina congressman has been using the platform to share context on how officials are elected, behind-the-scenes content and to promote transparency, lending to the argument that there’s value in such entities maintaining a presence on the platform.
- Read the full article from Marketing Dive
