Welcome back to another edition of The Weekly Download – your weekly digital marketing roundup!
On today’s agenda:
Twitter’s new controversial warning label, Australia and Facebook reach an agreement about platform news content, exciting updates to LinkedIn Company Pages, Facebook Shops comes to Canada and the UK, and a little Friday Fun to start your weekend off right!
Twitter is Adding a Controversial ‘Hacked Materials” Warning Label to Tweets
A new disclaimer from Twitter will alert users if tweet content appears to be obtained through hacking.
Leaked files show Reuters' & the BBC’s role in covert British Foreign Office programs to effect “attitudinal change” & “weaken the Russian state’s influence"
They were joined by intel contractors and outlets like Bellingcat.@MaxBlumenthal investigates https://t.co/EguVEHA3xV
— The Grayzone (@TheGrayzoneNews) February 20, 2021
Users who attempt to retweet or share the tweet are also notified about the “hacked materials” in order to “help keep Twitter a place for reliable info.”
As reported by Mashable, this appears to be the first time Twitter has slapped this particular warning label on an English-language outlet. The new warning label comes after Twitter’s controversial decision to block links to a New York Post story shared in October 2020 about President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden. In response to the wide criticism it received as a result, Twitter updated its policies involving “hacked materials” and unblocked links to the story.
It’s worth noting that the new warning labels are being added to tweets that link to news stories based on hacked materials, and not tweets themselves that contain leaked or stolen materials.
While some might appreciate the latest “heads up” from Twitter, others worry that it is another form of “social media censorship.”
Facebook Reverses Australia’s News Ban
Last week we reported that Facebook would be banning news links from its platform in Australia as a result of the government’s News Media Bargaining Code. This week, we have an update.
After amendments to the Code, which aims to force digital platforms to pay news organizations for news content shared on or published on those platforms, the Australian government and Facebook have “reached an agreement” that will allow for the continuation of news link sharing on the platform.
In a statement from Facebook, the company said it was “satisfied that the Australian government had agreed to a number of changes and guarantees” that addressed its “core concerns about allowing commercial deals that recognize the value” of Facebook.
While Australia is the first company to standoff against Facebook over platform content, it likely won’t be the last. Stay tuned!
And in case you’re curious, here’s a link a friend shared on Facebook two weeks ago that I tried sharing last week and got rejected. Who would have thought Better Homes and Gardens would be so controversial?
LinkedIn Adds New Tools for Company Pages
Good news for company pages on LinkedIn – a new suite of tools will help boost organic promotion efforts on the platform while also enhancing the experience of colleague connection on the platform.
Among the updates, page admins will be able to curate organic content through a new “Recommend” tool and suggest trending articles for its employees to share through “Content Suggestions.”
Also new: Lead Gen Forms! These forms can be directly integrated within LinkedIn Product Pages – for free. Lead Gen Forms allow companies to drive more high-quality leads with pre-filled forms populated by LinkedIn member data.
Check out the video below for all the details:
Facebook Rolls Out Shops in Canada and the UK
Facebook’s eCommerce push continues to grow this week with a new expansion of Shops in Canada and the UK. Facebook users in these regions will now see a new Shop bookmark on the Facebook menu bar and in the mobile app, helping them to more easily discover and connect with local businesses, as well as shop without ever leaving the platform.
Here’s what Facebook had to say:
“The Shop experience for consumers will feature curated collections, products and recent posts from businesses of all sizes. People will be able to see personalized content from brands within the News Feed, and through in-product notifications or small business favorites they follow.”
Shops is nothing new for consumers in the US, but it’s the first time the option will be available to Canadians. If you’re looking to learn more about setting up your own Facebook Shop, there’s a dedicated course from Facebook on the basics.
Friday Fun
You can definitely find us jammin’ out to a little Drivers License by Olivia Rodrigo during the workday, and apparently we’re not the only ones…
this is all of us when drivers license comes on pic.twitter.com/kwFzd6Vgsp
— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) February 21, 2021
