Facebook is introducing another way for you to control your newsfeeds with Keyword Snooze, and as its Stories features gains popularity and a new feature. Meanwhile, Twitter keeps good on its promise to clean up spam. These are the social media trends making headlines this week.
Facebook Allows Keyword Snooze
Ever had your favorite show spoiled by something you read online or read some disturbing news you wish you wouldn’t have seen? We’ve all had it happen to us, especially since social media is where many of us consume a majority of the news and spoilers. Facebook is rolling out a feature to help tailor your News Feed experience. “To prevent future heartache, we’re beginning to test the next addition to our suite of News Feed controls, Keyword Snooze,” Facebook said. It admits that while it always tries to show you content that is relevant to you, it doesn’t always get it right. Hence its features like See First, Hide, Unfollow, Snooze and now, Keyword Snooze.
Here’s how it works: Located in a post’s upper right-hand menu in News Feed, you have the option to temporarily hide posts by keywords, which are pulled directly from text in that post. If you choose to “snooze” a keyword, you won’t see posts in your News Feed containing that exact word or phrase from any person, Page or Group for 30 days.
Twitter’s Shares Spam Removal Process
Twitter is still working towards its goal of removing spam and abuse so its users have access to reliable and credible information. It has acquired Smyte, a San Francisco-based technology company that specializes in safety, spam, and security issues, to help fight spam and abuse on its platform. Instead of relying on reactive reports, Twitter is proactively identifying problematic accounts using machine learning tools that identify and take action automatically.
As a result of these changes and company improvements, it is removing 214% more account on a year-to-year basis. And, Twitter has started implementing the following new steps to continue to fight spam:
- Reduce visibility of suspicious accounts by putting accounts in ‘read only’ status if the account appears malicious or spammy – preventing new followers and content to the page.
- Improving sign-up process by having new users confirm email address or phone number
- Auditing existing accounts to prevent automated signups, which will remove spammers who used the old signup flow to create accounts.
- Expansion of malicious behavior detection systems like flagging accounts that have a high-volume of tweeting using the same hashtag.
These new steps and improvements will result in a loss of followers for some accounts, but it is a part of the clean-up.
Reactions Coming to Facebook Stories
Facebook Stories has yet to reach the popularity of Snapchat or Instagram stories, but its use is growing. In an effort to keep users and creators using the stories feature, Facebook is bringing its Reactions to Facebook Stories.
Users will be able to input Like, Haha, Wow, Sad, Angry and Love along with two new Reactions: a flame and a laughing smile. Users can add a function to their Stories that when tapped by another user it will shimmer and notify you. Additionally, Facebook will allow people to start a group reply to your Story with multiple friends that launches a group chat in Messenger. When users click to view who has seen their Story, the list will highlight people who sent reactions or Messenger replies.
What do you think this new change will mean for its competition? Will SnapChat and Instagram follow suit with group replies and reactions?
If you’re representing a brand and interested in testing out Facebook Stories, make sure you know The Difference Between A Facebook Story and A Facebook Post, and join us every Tuesday at 12:30pm PT/3:30pm ET for Social Media Help Desk on Facebook Live where we discuss social media topics.
