Throughout August, Facebook expanded ecommerce features across platforms, TikTok revealed its total number of US users, and YouTube explained why it’s been removing far more videos than usual. Learn more about the latest updates in the industry roundup below!
Social Media
Facebook Adds Shopping Section, Expands Instagram Checkout
Facebook has announced its addition of a shopping section to their main social networking app and plans to offer more software tools to help businesses set up online stores. Facebook Shop is a dedicated place for merchants to show product catalogs to shoppers who can buy items directly through the app. The social networking service also plans to offer Instagram Checkout to all U.S. businesses, letting them sell products directly through the photo-sharing app.
TikTok Shares Total Number of US Users For the First Time
For the first time since August 2018 when the app became available in the US, TikTok has revealed that it has 50 million daily active users. While TikTok’s status as the most downloaded social media app has been well-known, it’s never been reported how many people are using the app every day. This massive growth has huge potential for marketers and brands considering using the app.
Instagram Launches Reels, TikTok’s Rival
Instagram rolled out Reels, a feature that closely resembles TikTok. Reels allows people to record videos up to 15 seconds long and add popular music, as well as an array of filters and effects. For creators looking to use Instagram Reels as a new way to build a following, Instagram has revamped its Explore page to create a specific landing spot for Reels at the top of the screen that people can vertically scroll through.
YouTube Reveals Why It’s Been Removing Far More Videos Than Usual
In a span of just three months, YouTube removed a staggering 11.4 million videos for violating its Community Guidelines. YouTube attributed the uptick to the greater use of automated detection technology after pandemic-related disruptions caused a reduction in the number of human reviewers. In an effort to minimize disruption for its creators, YouTube said it decided, for now, to stop issuing strikes to content removed without human review.
Industry News
New Google Search Console Insights For Content Creators
Google Search Console Insights, a new experience tailored for content creators and publishers, is now being tested with select users. Search Console Insights gives content creators access to new data that goes above and beyond what analytics are available in the regular version of Search Console, such as the URL Inspection tool and Coverage report.