The social media giants must’ve put you on the nice list because they’re gifting users with some nifty technology. Facebook’s messaging app just got more convenient, jobseekers on LinkedIn are getting a competitive edge, and a controversial policy on the largest social networking site just became more open-minded. Here’s a look at what you might’ve missed in social media news this week.
Facebook Teams Up With Ride Sharing Service
You can now privately chat with friends, send someone money, and hail a cab, all from the comfort of your Facebook Messenger. On Wednesday, the social media behemoth announced a partnership with Uber. Executives said the new service is in the testing phase but will eventually be available for select users in U.S. cities where Uber operates. Facebook product manager Seth Rosenberg explained, “With this new feature, you can request a ride from a car service without ever needing to download an extra app or leave a conversation. It’s super easy and doesn’t take you away from the plans that you’re making with your friends or family.” To find out if you can use the feature, you must download the most recent version of messenger, tap the “more” menu, and select transportation.
LinkedIn Gives Job Seekers a Leg Up on Competition
The world’s largest professional networking site is hoping new data will help its users land their dream jobs. On Tuesday, LinkedIn announced it is adding a handful of new features that will give job applicants a competitive edge. The new tools show users the rate at which a company is hiring, the average tenure of employees, and which schools the company hires from most. The tools are exclusively launching on desktop first but LinkedIn officials say they’re planning to release a mobile version during the first quarter of next year. Ten percent of users in the U.S., Canada, India, the U.K., and Australia will be the first to test out the new features.
A Controversial Facebook Policy Just Got a Loophole
On Tuesday, Facebook released a statement about their controversial “real name” policy. “We’re firmly committed to this policy, and it is not changing. However, after hearing feedback from our community, we recognize that it’s also important that this policy works for everyone, especially for communities who are marginalized or face discrimination. That’s why we’re continuing to make improvements in this area” the company explained in a blog post. How is Facebook implementing these improvements? Now when you verify your name, a box will pop up and you can explain any special circumstances. Your response will instantly flag Facebook’s review team so they can provide “personalized support” for each user. Last year, the policy was widely criticized by transgender people and drag performers who wanted to use names that reflected their gender identity instead of their legal names.
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