Welcome back to the Weekly Download, and welcome, spring! We’re wishing for more sunny days in our near future.
What did you miss this week in tech and digital marketing news? Allow us to catch you up.
On the docket: Twitter bugs abound, new ads come to Instagram, Canva harnesses the power of AI, the U.S. cracks down on TikTok, and Friday Fun.
New Twitter bugs are causing tweets to disappear
New bugs and glitches are all around at Twitter. This week, users reported a wide range of issues affecting the platform’s functionality:
What is up with @Twitter? Why has my Tweet been deleted and why have accounts been unmuted or unfollowed from my account? Like what’s going on ? pic.twitter.com/ljZIZlvbKp
— Sharin Bhatti (@sharinbhatti) March 22, 2023
Hearing from friends that my thread is showing up as deleted for some folks?! Do you see the tweet below? @elonmusk this app is so broken 😂 https://t.co/F5NYshsIDP
— Ammaar Reshi (@ammaar) March 20, 2023
https://twitter.com/ydn1m/status/1638330836595486728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1638330836595486728%7Ctwgr%5Efc0493c49ed229351404876a10728d31abc04005%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmashable.com%2Farticle%2Fnew-twitter-bugs-deleted-tweets-missing-photo-tags-ad-emails
In addition to the strange happenings above, users have reported increased latency, discrepancy when it comes to quote tweet counts, missing photo tags, and broken integrations with platforms like Slack, iMessage, and WhatsApp.
Have you noticed any strange Twitter glitches? It’s something we’ll be keeping an eye out for.
Two new types of ads are coming to Instagram
Earlier this week, Instagram announced it is launching two new types of ads.
“Reminder” ads, a new in-feed option, will help advertisers build awareness, anticipation, and consideration for upcoming events or moments. People can opt in to reminders and receive notifications from Instagram one day before, 15 minutes before, and at the time of the event.
The second type, ads in search results, can be used to reach people who are actively searching for businesses, products, and content. These ads will show up in the feed that people can scroll when they tap into a post from search results.
Instagram says you can expect to see the new ad options available globally “in the coming months.”
Canva unveils new features powered by AI
Artificial intelligence is everywhere! And now, you can find it in Canva.
The design company introduced several new features this week, including a suite of AI-powered tools and a new Brand Hub.
With the power of AI, “Assistant” will help you search for design elements and provide recommendations on graphics and styles that fit with existing designs. “Magic Write” — the platform’s copywriting assistant — will help you kickstart or brainstorm ideas directly in the Canva app. And with “Magic Design,” you’ll be able to quickly generate a first draft of your presentation with an outline, slides, and content.
We’ve tested it all, and we’re excited to keep playing around with the new features!
The U.S. cracks down on TikTok
A potential U.S.-wide ban on TikTok continued to make headlines this week, after President Joe Biden’s administration reportedly demanded that ByteDance, the app’s parent company, either sell the platform or face restrictions.
The core issue behind TikTok stems from national security concerns, with the belief that ByteDance’s ownership of the platform could give the Chinese government a way to access the personal data of the 150 million U.S. citizens who currently use the app. There are also concerns that TikTok’s algorithm could be used to promote Chinese foreign policy goals.
According to The Verge, the U.S. Congress seems more motivated than ever to ban TikTok, but how it will all play out remains unclear.
So who stands to benefit the most if TikTok is banned in the U.S.? Meta, Google, and Snap may reap the benefits, according to recent reports.
Friday Fun
Apparently we’ve ALL been wearing our slippers wrong!
View this post on Instagram
We like this cutie’s sense of style.
