#MidweekMinute 10/30/19: Healthier Social?

Happy Almost-Halloween!

After a number of tests and false starts over the years, Facebook has formally introduced its News Tab, which was developed in cooperation with journalists and publications and is curated - not algorithmic - to ensure “real news” integrity.

Facebook employees have spoken out en masse against Mark Zuckerberg’s hands-off approach to political advertising on the platform, arguing that “free speech and paid speech are not the same thing” and urging that the same fact-checking measures used elsewhere on Facebook be applied to political ads.

Speaking of Facebook Advertising, they’re opening up Search placement for advertisements, and have added a new responsive feature called Multiple Text Optimization, which allows the system to serve up the ideal combination of a variety of headlines, ad copy and descriptions for each instance based on anticipated results.

Medical marketers: good news! You can now use Facebook to prompt people to take preventative health measures, such as making appointments for checkups and tests.

Facebook introduces Work Groups, which will only show work-related info and allow group members to receive messages from each other without being friends.

SparkAR, which creates filters for Facebook and Instagram, has announced it is pulling filters that may attempt to replicate the look of plastic surgery procedures.

Instagram has taken more drastic steps to eliminate content that glorifies suicide and self-harm, part of the platform’s ongoing initiatives to improve mental health outcomes among users - especially young users.

First, Instagram got rid of the “Following” tab - now, you can’t even sneak a peek at public accounts after a certain number of views without logging in.

IGTV is strengthening its commitment to longer-form serial programming by letting creators notify opted-in users when a new episode of a series is up.

Facebook’s not the only platform prioritizing news delivery: LinkedIn has also revamped its news features, with a focus on its Daily Rundown.

LinkedIn has also published a report warning against digital marketers who measure and judge ROI (Return On Investment) too hastily.