Social Media

Snapchat launches Apple Watch app

Since their launch in 2018, Apple Watches have become a key part of communication in everyday lives. Allowing users to see, read and respond to messages and calls, track their fitness, check emails and more, the smart watch technology means users don’t need to be on their phone at all times to still be in touch digitally.

As a result, apps over the years like whatsapp and messenger have ensured they work across the devices to allow users to stay in touch more efficiently, and seven years later, Snapchat have officially joined that group.

Snapchat users can now see messages, and respond via Keyboard, Scribble, Dictation or send an emoji.

With Snapchat being predominantly a photo sharing app, and the new smart watch version only allowing for a chat message communication, we’ll have to await to see if this takes off with it’s users.

New creative insights for Meta advertisers

Ensuring ad creative is working on Meta is a key part of any advertisers role. It needs to be engaging, talk to the right people in the right way and work well within budgets and targeting to ensure it’s playing it’s pivotal part in the advertising journey.

And now, Meta has introduced new creative insights to ensure that this level of detail is even more transparent, by allowing users to view ‘Top Creative Themes’ in the Ad Reporting and Account Insights section of the advertising platform.

When viewed, the feature will identify what themes are apparent throughout creative, and how spend is being allocated across them. This helps both the platform and advertiser understand if the themes align correctly with the brand values, and also shows comparison against other themes within the industry to ensure ads are well optimised.

Examples of themes include:

• Vitality
• Promotion
• Escapism
• Comfort
• Happiness
• Joy
• Peacefulness
• People

Clicking on a theme name will then show a sub-report, that provides guidance on how to optimise the ad to fit the theme, whilst also showing industry examples.

Dedicated AI assistant for TikTok sellers

A new AI-powered chatbot tool has been added to TikTok’s Seller Centre to solely provide useful information for brands wanting to sell products on the platform.

The new ‘Seller Assistant’, available as part of the commerce management tools, will help brands with insight like:

• Advice on product listings
• Maximising visibility of the brand and products
• Performance data
• Personalised recommendations on marketing tactics

The new addition to the platform is said to be TikTok’s way of ensuring brands don’t just manage their shops, but also know how to optimise them easily and effortlessly.

TikTok introduces AI alive: The opportunity to bring photos alive

AI is certainly becoming more prominent across social media channels, from content to copy and the use of the channels themselves. However this week, TikTok have now launched a new AI-powered feature that enables you to turn any static image into a video clip on a user’s TikTok story.

The feature, which TikTok describes as ‘a first-of-its-kind’, will use intelligent editing tools that give any user the ability to create short-form, engaging video, no matter what their creative or editing expertise may be.

To try it for yourself:

• Open story camera on TikTok by selecting the blue + icon at the top of the page.
• Choose any single photo from your album.
• Click the AI Alive icon on the right hand side of the edit page.
• Post!

Users can view any TikTok story from their For You, Following or Profile page, providing the opportunity for wide reach and potential engagement.

Where concerns have been raised, is with the content AI is generating on the platform. As a result, TikTok has prevented people from violating any policies with the new technology by ensuring safety checks on any content posted, before it’s shown to the creator and is able to post.

Australia approved social media ban on under-16s

Australia has recently passed ‘the worlds strictest law’ relating to social media- banning under-16s from accessing social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat. 

Platforms that don’t require an account to join, such as YouTube, are likely to be spared. However, accounts that require personal details such as DOB etc… will be included. 

The new law does not include exemptions for existing users or users with parental consent, meaning anyone under the age of 16 will have their account deleted. 

A concern is that users will find a way around the rules, such as through a VPN which will disguise their location. However, individual users who break the rules will not face penalties. It will be the platform’s responsibility to enforce this law, and if they do not comply they could be fined up to 50 million Australian dollars. 

We could see this law impact decisions made in other countries, with places such as Norway considering similar laws. 

The law isn’t expected to come into effect for at least another 12 months. 

Keira Penney, social media manager at Great Influence tells us her thoughts:

Expert opinion

Keira Penney, social media manager at Great Influence

"I think this seems to be a positive thing. With laws and policies like this, they seem to be great on the surface but it’s usually a lot harder to police and monitor things like this. While this ban is a step in the right direction, it feels like a temporary solution. Teenagers are naturally rebellious, and without proper education or alternative outlets, many will inevitably find ways around restrictions if they are not offered an alternative or educated on why this ban has come into place. I remember when I was in school and I had to wait until I was 13 to join Facebook which felt like forever! I personally think the real responsibility lies with the platforms themselves. Before introducing bans like this, we need stricter policies that hold platforms accountable for the content they allow shared. Without that, these policies risk being ineffective and pushing the problem further underground rather than solving it."