YouTube Will Switch to Standard Definition by Default in All Regions to Lessen Network Load

YouTube is lowering the default video quality of its streams in order to lessen network load as reliance on connectivity increases amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 25, 2020

Instagram Launches New Co-Watching Feature to Help Users Connect Amid COVID-19 Lockdowns

Instagram is launching a new 'Co-Watching' feature which enables users to scroll through Instagram within a video chat.

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 25, 2020

Reddit Launches Polls, Providing Another Way for Redditors to Engage With Content

Reddit users will now be able to post polls in subreddits, providing another way to boost engagement on the platform.

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 24, 2020

Twitter Says User Numbers Are Up Amid COVID-19 Lockdowns, But Warns of Revenue Impacts

Twitter says that more people are turning to the platform for news and information amid the coronavirus outbreak, but revenue is down as focus shifts to the impacts,

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 24, 2020

TikTok Pledges $10 Million to World Health Organization's COVID-19 Response Efforts

TikTok is donating $10 million to the World Health Organization to assist in its efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19.

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 24, 2020

Facebook's Testing New Tools to Combat COVID-19 Misinformation on WhatsApp and Messenger

With various COVID-19 misinformation campaigns gaining traction in messaging apps, Facebook is working to stem the spread with tests of several new features. 

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 24, 2020

Facebook Announces Free Assistance for Health Agencies Looking to Use Messenger to Communicate COVID-19 Info

Facebook will provide free services to health organizations in order to help them use Messenger to scale their response to the COVID-19 crisis.

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 24, 2020

Twitter Reawakens Profile Verification to Help Identify Authoritative Voices on COVID-19 Outbreak

In response to requests from users, Twitter has verified a swathe of authoritative voices on the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 21, 2020

Instagram Launches 'Stay Home' Sticker and Story to Encourage Social Distancing Amid COVID-19 Outbreak

Instagram has launched a new 'Stay Home' Sticker to encourage social distancing, with Story frames that use the sticker added to a new group 'Stay Home' Story.

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 21, 2020

WhatsApp Launches World Health Organization Chatbot to Answer COVID-19 Queries

WhatsApp has partnered with the World Health Organization on a new chatbot that will help keep users informed of the latest on the COVID-19 outbreak. 

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 21, 2020

YouTube Reduces Streaming Quality to Reduce Network Load, Adds New COVID-19 Info Panel

YouTube will reduce the quality of all streams in Europe to standard definition in response to concerns that web traffic may overload the systems amid COVID-19 changes.

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 21, 2020

Instagram's Working on a Disappearing Messages Option

Instagram has confirmed that it's working on a new, disappearing messages option.

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 20, 2020

Facebook Expands Ban on Ads Seeking to Capitalize on COVID-19 Fears

Facebook is expanding its ban on ads seeking to capitalize on COVID-19 concerns to now also include ads and commerce listings for hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes and test kits.

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 20, 2020

Facebook Is Testing a New Option Which Would Connect Brand Loyalty Programs to In-App Activity

Facebook recently launched a new program which enables users to connect their brand loyalty programs to their Facebook activity, adding a new way for brands to incentivize engagement.

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 20, 2020

Facebook Makes Desktop Refresh Available to All Users

After months of testing, Facebook is now making its new desktop layout available to all users.

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 20, 2020

Twitter Says That It's Looking to Make Its New 'Manipulated Media' Labels Stand Out More in Feeds

After users raised concerns that Twitter's new 'Manipulated Media' labels are too easy to ignore, the platform says that it's looking to make them stand out more in feeds.

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 20, 2020

Snapchat Launches New 'Here For You' Mental Health Resource Ahead of Time in Response to COVID-19

Snapchat is launching its new 'Here For You' user health resource ahead of time to assist users in coping with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 20, 2020

Facebook Says That Approvals for AR Effects Submitted to Facebook and Instagram Will Be Put on Hold

Due to required staffing changes amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Facebook will not be approving any user-submitted AR effects for Facebook or Instagram for the time being.

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 20, 2020

Facebook Warns of Ad Approval Delays Amid Staff Changes Due to COVID-19 Impacts

Facebook says that, due to changes to its moderation processes, with staff out of its office due to COVID-19, there may be some delays and errors in ad reviews.

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 19, 2020

Twitter Updates its Platform Rules to Cover More Types of COVID-19 Misinformation

Twitter has announced an update to its rules which will enable it to remove more types of COVID-19 misinformation.

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 19, 2020

Facebook Adds New COVID-19 Information Panel to the Top of All User News Feeds

Facebook is adding a new COVID-19 information panel to the top of all user News Feeds, while it's also making Facebook Workplace available for free to government agencies and emergency services.

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 19, 2020

TikTok Announces US-Based Content Advisory Council to Help Oversee Content Decisions

TikTok has announced the members of its new, US-based content advisory council, which it says will help it strengthen its moderation policies and platform practices.

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 19, 2020

Facebook Launches 'Mood' Mode for Facebook Stories Frames

Facebook has added a new 'Mood' mode for the Facebook Stories camera, which enables you to create a GIF-centric Stories frame conveying a chosen feeling.

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 19, 2020

Short-Form Video App Likee Is Making a Push Into the US Market

Short-form video app Likee, which has proven highly popular in Asian markets, is making a US push.

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 19, 2020

US Government Looking to Use Cell Phone Location Data to Halt the Spread of COVID-19

The US Government is reportedly in talks with several tech companies about using their user data to track the spread of COVID-19.

By Andrew Hutchinson • March 19, 2020