Happy Friday! This week, we're looking at updates in Facebook advertising through use of Augmented Reality, a new Instagram Stories Sticker, Snapchat filter expansion, and YouTube policies.
Facebook Starts Testing Augmented Reality Ads
Augmented reality is changing the online shopping experience, and Facebook is welcoming the trend. The platform is now testing a way for users to “try on” products advertised in the News Feed, just the same way that you would use a Snapchat filter. Michael Kors became the first brand to test this feature out, where users were presented with the option to “try on” pairs of sunglasses through their ad. Next up? Sephora, Wayfair, and Pottery Barn will join the ranks of AR advertisers on Facebook, allowing users to see how cosmetics and furniture will look before purchase.
Instagram Tests Open-Ended Questions in Stories to Make Content More Interactive
For some time now, Instagram has allowed users to poll their followers in Stories, but with their newest Questions Sticker, users will be able to ask open-ended questions of those that they follow. The feature debuted on Tuesday with the goal of generating greater engagement amongst users. This new feature will create a more conversational relationship between brands, influencers, and their followers, and TONS of bloggers and celebrities are already taking full advantage!
Snapchat’s New Lens Explorer Lets You Browse Community Filters
Snapchat is improving its user experience regarding face filters, and it has begun allowing more and more people the ability to create and upload their own filters. The new Lens Explorer will let you browse more than 100,000 filters, as well as where they're appearing in users' public Stories. The coolest part? If you watch a story and see a filter you like, you’ll be able to unlock the filter right then and there! Your feed will also be optimized based on geo-location.
YouTube Says It Has a Plan to Stop the Flow of Misinformation Videos
Noticing a steep rise in misinformation during times of breaking news, YouTube has begun to take new precautions. A spokesman for the platform explained that YouTube plans to strengthen its relationships with news publishers, and in doing so the content deemed most “reliable” by YouTube will appear first and most prominently. This has sparked skepticism among users as it gives YouTube a lot of power to "curate" the news. In a collaboration with Google News, YouTube will begin highlighting the most current information available in real time.
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