An update on all things going on the world of social this week

1. THE SOCIAL DIGEST
By Gravity Thinking
#24

2. We like to keep a razor-sharp focus on the digital and
social trends, conversations and people that matter to
our audiences. Our social round-up curates the most
essential news that brands need to be aware of.
Read on for the headlines that matter most.
EDITION #24
THE ONLY SOCIAL TRENDS &
INNOVATIONS ROUND-UP
YOU NEED
2

3. Instagram is rolling out Focus, which blurs the background while keeping
someone’s face sharp for a stylised, professional photography shot. This new
feature can be found in the Instagram Stories format op@ons next to
Boomerang and Superzoom. This could make shoo@ng inside the Instagram
app more appealing.
https://techcrunch.com/2018/04/10/instagram-focus-portrait-mode/
ACTION: CONSIDER SHOOTING IMAGES FOR YOUR BRAND’S LIVE
EVENT STORIES STRAIGHT FROM INSIDE THE APP, ALLOWING YOU TO
SAVE TIME AND STILL CREATE A PROFESSIONAL-LOOKING IMAGE.
INSTAGRAM ROLLS OUT FOCUS PORTRAIT
MODE FOR VIDEOS AND FACEBOOK

4. LinkedIn is adding a new trending op@on with the
introduc@on of GIFs. In a bid to keep up with the trends of
other social networks, this new update allows users to access
a GIF library within the messaging flow, through their new
partnership with Tenor.
This update follows on from their snapchat-style filters, video
texts and text overlays on your videos.
YOU CAN NOW ADD GIFS WITHIN
YOUR LINKEDIN MESSAGING
https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/linkedin-adds-new-gif-access-within-its-on-platform-messaging/521151/
ACTION: 7 IN 1O US ADULTS NOW UTILISE VISUAL EXPRESSIONS
LIKE GIFS. CONSIDER WHETHER THESE ARE APPROPRIATE FOR
YOUR BRAND’S KEY MESSAGING AND AUDIENCE, AND IF SO
APPLYING THEM TO IN-MAIL CONSUMER REQUESTS.

5. Instagram is about to launch a Nametags feature, leKng you create a special
image users can scan with the Instagram Stories camera to follow you. This
would allow you to post your Nametag across other social media handles,
print it onto posters or handbills, or even make merchandise out of it. Once
users have access, you simply hit a QR scanner buOon on your profile to bring
up the Nametag editor. You can choose from a purpose Instagram colour
gradient background, a paOern of an emoji, or a selfie jazzed up with
augmented reality. Users can scan these to follow each other.
https://techcrunch.com/2018/04/09/instagram-nametags/
ACTION: NAMETAGS COULD MAKE IT EASER FOR YOUR BRAND TO
VISUALLY PROMOTE ITS INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT, ADDING AN
INTERACTIVE ELEMENT TO THE PROCESS. CONSIDER HOW YOU CAN
USE THESE TO INCREASE YOUR FOLLOWERS.
FIRST LOOK AT INSTAGRAM NAMETAGS

6. YouTube are introducing a whitelisted version of their YouTube Kids app
which will do away with suggested videos. It will sit alongside the
algorithmic version so parents can choose which app they prefer.
Although YouTube Kids' algorithm is tuned to suggest only kid-friendly
content, last month saw a rise in recommended conspiracy videos,
including videos that claim the world is flat.
YOUTUBE TO RELEASE NEW, NON-
ALGORITHMIC VERSION OF YOUTUBE
KIDS
https://www.buzzfeed.com/alexkantrowitz/youtube-kids-is-going-to-release-a-whitelisted-non?utm_term=.dyenvB6ym#.rmj5YolX2
ACTION: IF YOUR CONTENT IS SUITABLE FOR YOUTUBE KIDS,
ENSURE THAT YOUR BRAND IS ENGAGING WITH PARENTS SO
THEY CONTINUE SEARCHING FOR YOUR CONTENT.

7. Instagram is looking to bring out a data portability tool, allowing users to
download their content, poten@ally making it easier for users to leave the
photo and video sharing plaVorm. Tradi@onally, Instagram has made it hard for
a user to export their data, with no op@on to download or save images aWer
pos@ng to the plaVorm. If it launches before May 25th, it will help Instagram
comply with the upcoming European GDPR privacy law which requires data
portability. Instagram are a liOle late to the party, as Facebook rolled out a
'Download Your Informa@on' tool back in 2010.
https://techcrunch.com/2018/04/11/download-your-instagram-photos/
ACTION: UTILISE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO DOWNLOAD ALL CONTENT
YOUR BRAND HAS PREVIOUSLY POSTED TO HELP WITH REPORTING,
ANALYSING AND FUTURE CONTENT PLANS.
YOU'LL SOON BE ABLE TO DOWNLOAD A COPY
OF ALL YOUR INSTAGRAM ACTIVITY

8. Facebook have confirmed that you will soon be able to draw
on ‘the world around you’ with augmented reality and shoot
back-and-forth Instagram boomerang GIFs with the Facebook
camera.
Facebook has also recently added AR tracker target
experiences, triggered by real-world posters or QR codes.
FACEBOOK STORIES ADDS FUNKY AR
DRAWING AND INSTAGRAM’S
BOOMERANG
https://techcrunch.com/2018/04/12/facebook-3d-drawing/
ACTION: STORIES ARE A KEY TREND, PARTICULARLY AMONG
YOUNGER USERS. IF THESE USERS FALL INTO YOUR BRAND’S
MAIN TARGET AUDIENCE, ENSURE YOU ARE AWARE OF THE
RECENT UPDATES TO EACH PLATFORM AND CONSIDER HOW
YOU CAN BEST CONNECT WITH THEM THROUGH UPDATED
FORMATS.

9. @Copyright Gravity Thinking
www.gravitythinking.com
Emerson Studios,
4-8 Emerson Street,
London. SE1 9DU
0203 141 7700
WE ARE AN AWARD-WINNING, INDEPENDENT CREATIVE AGENCY WITH
STRATEGY AT THE HEART OF EVERYTHING WE DO.
We create ideas that are designed for where audiences are: social. This means that we take a social-up rather
than advertising-down approach. It’s why we used online trolling to launch a new car brand, turned Twitter
complaints into gin chat and made the school run into a Facebook mini-series.