It’s time to recap this week’s top news with a new edition of The Weekly Download! While this would normally be the last day of the month of February, we’ve got a whole other day to make the most of this year!
How will you be celebrating Leap Day tomorrow? We can’t wait to see what our favourite brands and content creators have planned.
On the agenda today: Facebook cancels F8 developers conference and bans coronavirus “cure” ads, Jif and Giphy team up to address a longstanding debate, face filters gone wrong go viral, LinkedIn tests Snapchat-like stories, and Friday Fun.
Facebook Cancels F8 Developers Conference Amidst Coronavirus Concerns
Yesterday Facebook announced it’s cancelling its annual F8 developers conference over coronavirus concerns. The conference is the social media giant’s biggest event of the year.
The decision follows the potential cancellation of other major events including Mobile World Congress 2020 and the 2020 Olympic Games.
A statement from Konstantinos Papamiltiadis, Facebook’s director of developer platforms and programs reads: “This was a tough call to make — F8 is an incredibly important event for Facebook and it’s one of our favorite ways to celebrate all of you from around the world — but we need to prioritize the health and safety of our developer partners, employees and everyone who helps put F8 on.”
Instead of F8, the company hopes to bring developers together at locally hosted events, videos and live streamed content.
Facebook Bans Coronavirus “Cure” Ads
And speaking of Facebook and coronavirus, the platform is cracking down on related ads.
According to a Facebook spokesperson, ads that refer to the coronavirus and “create a sense of urgency” or guarantee a cure or prevention will be prohibited.
Facebook says that like other tech platforms, it has seen a wave of activity related to the outbreak, including the spread of misinformation. The company is committed to taking down false posts about the coronavirus entirely if they put people at risk.
Jif Peanut Butter and Giphy Join Forces to Settle a Hot Topic Debate
GIF or Jif? It’s a debate you’ve probably seen around the internet multiple times. The makers of Jif peanut butter have partnered with Giphy to settle the argument once and for all with a clever marketing campaign.
When is it okay to call a GIF a “Jif”? Never. Help us put the lid on the infamous internet debate once and for all. #JIFvsGIF https://t.co/INoJNiquwq
— Jif® Peanut Butter (@Jif) February 25, 2020
The companies released a special jar of Jif peanut butter that replaces the classic Jif branding on the label with “Gif.” When placed beside a normal jar of Jif, it’s easy to see the difference in how each word should be said.
So tell us — what’s your stance on the Jif/GIF debate?
CNN Reporter Accidentally Goes on Air with Face Filters
File this one under “LOL” — CNN affiliate reporter Justin Hinton went viral when he broadcast the weather with face filters on.
Hinton was reporting on a snowfall in North Carolina and went live on his station’s Facebook page to relay the news, but little did he know, the app’s “mystery mask” feature was enabled.
The serious tone of the report alongside the silly filters naturally got lots of comments online. According to Hinton, he didn’t realize the unexpected humor he had brought to his report until he saw many messages afterwards.
LinkedIn is Testing Snapchat-like Stories
Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and more have jumped on the “stories” feature train, and now it’s LinkedIn’s turn.
According to the company, Snapchat-style stories could be a “new conversational format” for business conversations and could become a permanent feature on the platform following internal testing.
Pete Davies, LinkedIn’s head of content products, says the goal is to meet users “where their voices are.” Instead of formal messaging and posting that makes up the bulk of the website’s interactions, stories would be a more casual, lighter way to engage.
Davies imagines that a company might use stories to share “key moments from work events” or “tips and tricks that help us work smarter.”
Friday Fun
Taylor Swift Releases Music Video for “The Man”
We haven’t been able to get this song out of our heads! Check out Taylor Swift’s newest music video below for “The Man.”
Did you recognize Taylor in disguise?
