Facebook Tests Adaptive Color Backgrounds for Profiles

Facebook looks to be testing a new option that would alter the color of your profile in the mobile app based on the dominant color in your profile image.

By Andrew Hutchinson • April 21, 2020

Facebook Launches New Gaming App to Challenge Twitch, YouTube

Facebook has launched a new, dedicated gaming app, as it looks to increase its share of the global gaming market.

By Andrew Hutchinson • April 21, 2020

Anti-Lockdown Protests Provide New Challenges for Facebook's Censorship Rules

Facebook is being forced, once again, to enforce censorship on political speech as anti-lockdown protests are organized and promoted across its platforms. 

By Andrew Hutchinson • April 21, 2020

Facebook Provides New COVID-19 Symptom Maps to Assist in Response Planning

Facebook, in partnership with Carnegie Mellon, has published the first of its COVID-19 symptom maps to assist in planning for future outbreaks.

By Andrew Hutchinson • April 21, 2020

LinkedIn Is Working on Polls and a New Hashtag 'Presentation Mode'

LinkedIn is working on a new poll option for posts, as well as a new hashtag 'presentation mode' to provide an overview of topic-based conversations on the platform.

By Andrew Hutchinson • April 18, 2020

Facebook Unveils New 'Care' Reactions to Help Express Responses to COVID-19

Facebook is adding a new 'Care' Reaction type on both Facebook and Messenger to provide a new way for people to respond to COVID-19 related updates.

By Andrew Hutchinson • April 18, 2020

Facebook Conducts Research to Measure Angst Caused by Misinterpretation in Comments

Facebook has conducted a new study to determine the potential negative impacts of misinterpretation in comments - and how it can be addressed.

By Andrew Hutchinson • April 18, 2020

Instagram's Working on an Option to Simulcast Instagram Live Streams to Facebook

Soon, you may be able to broadcast live across both Instagram and Facebook simultaneously. 

By Andrew Hutchinson • April 17, 2020

Facebook Outlines Plan to Return Employees to Work, Cancels Planned Physical Events Through to June 2021

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has provided a rough outline of the plan to get Facebook employees back to work, while also outlining ongoing social distancing measures.

By Andrew Hutchinson • April 17, 2020

TikTok Is Launching New Parental Controls to Better Protect Minors in the App

TikTok is giving parents new ways to manage their children's usage and exposure in the app via a new 'Family Pairing' option.

By Andrew Hutchinson • April 17, 2020

Facebook Adds New Measures to Limit the Spread of COVID-19 Misinformation

Facebook is adding some new measures to stop the spread of potentially dangerous COVID-19 misinformation.

By Andrew Hutchinson • April 17, 2020

Snapchat Launches New COVID-19 Business Resource Center to Assist Marketers With Campaigns

Snapchat has launched a new set of business resources to assist marketers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Andrew Hutchinson • April 16, 2020

Facebook Adds New Metrics to its Ad Library Listings to Improve Transparency

Facebook has added some new data points to its Ad Library listings to improve transparency and insight.

By Andrew Hutchinson • April 16, 2020

Instagram Adds Gift Card, Ordering and Fundraising Tools to Help Businesses Impacted by COVID-19

Instagram has added a new set of Stories stickers to help small businesses raise funds and maintain operations amid the COVID-19 lockdowns.

By Andrew Hutchinson • April 16, 2020

Facebook Is Testing Longer-Lasting Stories, With an Option to Keep Stories Active for 3 Days

Facebook is testing a new option which would enable you to keep your Facebook Stories active for longer than the current 24-hour expiry period. 

By Andrew Hutchinson • April 16, 2020

Court Rules That Embedding Photographer's Instagram Content Doesn't Infringe Copyright

A judge has ruled against a photographer who sought to sue Mashable for embedding one of her photos on its site.

By Andrew Hutchinson • April 16, 2020

Instagram is Testing a New 'Challenge' Sticker to Prompt User Engagement

Instagram is testing a new 'Challenge' sticker for Stories which would enable users to call on their connections to participate, prompting more engagement.

By Andrew Hutchinson • April 16, 2020

Group Video App Houseparty Sees 70x Growth Amid the COVID-19 Lockdowns

Group video streaming app Houseparty is seeing huge growth as people look to stay connected amid the COVID-19 lockdowns.

By Andrew Hutchinson • April 16, 2020

Facebook is Running New Workshops to Help Group Admins Manage Their Communities Amid COVID-19

Facebook is running a series of online workshops to help group admins in managing their communities amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Andrew Hutchinson • April 16, 2020

Messenger Launches WHO 'Health Alert' Bot to Provide COVID-19 Information

Facebook has partnered with the World Health Organization on a new chatbot to provide users with timely info about the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Andrew Hutchinson • April 15, 2020

YouTube Tests 'Video Chapters' to Skip Through to Relevant Sections in a Video

YouTube is testing a new option that would enable creators to specify sections of their videos, with annotated notes, to help viewers skip through to relevant sections. 

By Andrew Hutchinson • April 15, 2020

Facebook Adds New Options to Mute Group Members for Longer Periods of Time

Facebook is giving group admins the capacity to mute members for up to a month, expanding on the existing mute options.

By Andrew Hutchinson • April 15, 2020

Pinterest Updates Pinterest Shop to Highlight a Selection of SMBs Impacted by COVID-19

Pinterest has added a new set of SMBs to its Pinterest Shop to help provide extra promotion and align with rising trends on the platform.

By Andrew Hutchinson • April 15, 2020

Facebook Launches New App for Apple Watch to Help Stay in Touch With Close Connections

Facebook's experimental NPE team has released another new app, this time specifically for the Apple Watch.

By Andrew Hutchinson • April 15, 2020

Reddit Updates Political Ad Policy. Launches Transparency Subreddit Listing Political Advertisers

Reddit is moving to clarify its political advertising policies ahead of the 2020 US Presidential election.  

By Andrew Hutchinson • April 14, 2020