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Meta has launched a variety of new engagement features on Instagram ahead of the holiday season. These include Notes, Group Profiles, Collaborative Collections, Candid Stories, and a Pass it On Prompt in Story Stickers. Lets take a look at what each of these is for.

 

Notes is a conversation-prompting feature that can be seen displayed above the DMs section. Meta describes Notes as “short posts of up to 60 characters” that you can share with your Followers or Close Friends in the app.

 


The format of Notes is similar to Stories, as they disappear after 24 hours. Moreover, people can reply to your Notes and the replies will land in your DMs. Meta decided to roll out this feature after learning that more users on Instagram have started to interact within Direct Messages instead of posts in the main feed, and enjoy “lightweight and easy” ways to make conversations. “Notes give people a casual and spontaneous way to express themselves and connect with each other,” says Meta.

 

Next is the new Group Profile feature that people can use to create shared profiles exclusively with selected people. The profiles can only be viewed by group members and won’t be shared with followers. The Collaborative Collections feature is similar to the post saving tool, except that it will be part of group chats only, where members can create their private collections of posts.

 

Meta Rolls Out Notes, Candid Stories, Group Profiles and More on Instagram



As part of its recent AR advancement, Snapchat has launched a new AR Lens that is meant to help users discover products of their preference during the holiday season. The lens features a voiceML technology that relies on audio prompts instead of typed text to engage with and facilitate users.

 

The Lens, called ‘New Balance,’ works by listening to audio prompts from a user who answers a series of questions to reach the product they are looking for. The Lens will then provide product recommendations that best match with the user’ answers.

Snapchat Rolls Out New AR, Voice-Powered Shopping Lens in US



Ahead of the holiday season, YouTube has grabbed the opportunity to engage its audience with online shopping. The company has launched a new feature called ‘From YouTube to You,’ that is aimed at facilitating people with in-app shopping via videos, livestreams, and Shorts featuring content creators that showcase various products and offerings to potential customers.

 

YouTube Launches In-App Showcasing of Products and Offerings for Upcoming Holiday Season



To help brands maximize reach to their audiences during the holiday shopping season, Instagram has introduced an updated overview of how to use Reels for promoting content and engaging with people. These include small, helpful tips and pointers, as well as detailed insights and notes.

 

Calling it the “future of video storytelling,” Instagram encourages brands to use Reels to engage with audiences using the creativity of storytelling, entertainment, and personal connection.


Starting off with pointers on where your content will and won’t be impacted by on-screen display overlays, Instagram suggests that you utilize the full screen format appropriately so as to provide a more immersive experience to your audience. The guide has highlighted areas on the screen termed as “safe zones,” where video content appears clearly.

 

Instagram Shares Useful Reels Insights for Brands to Maximize Reach During Holiday Shopping



Messenger and Messenger Kids are getting new updates for the holiday season, including new AR effects and Soundmojis with a Christmas theme.

 

One of the AR effects is created in partnership with beauty influencer Ashley Strong and works when you blink, which releases sparkles and shiny snowflakes from your eyes. A bunch of new word effects have been added to Messenger as well. For instance, when you type a holiday wish to send someone, like Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah, your screen will fill up with emojis related to the holiday.

 


New chat themes and word effects have also been introduced to both Messenger and Instagram DMs. Additionally, the new Soundmojis for Messenger chats include a loudspeaker icon, and emojis of presents and a Christmas tree.



 


Another interesting addition is that of the new funds transfer visuals when exchanging money in the app, which will likely encourage more funds exchange activities, hence promoting eCommerce.

 


Looking at Messenger Kids, there is a variety of new holiday themed options. These include an interactive messaging feature that lets kids “chat with Santa,” where the messages will be sent to the kids’ parents. This will not only help parents know what their children want as Christmas presents, but will also spark some excitement in the kids for the holidays. Other features include holiday games and themed AR effects.

 

The new Messenger updates can now be accessed in the latest versions of the apps.

Meta Brings New Holiday Themed Updates to Messenger and Messenger Kids

 


Facebook is developing new tools to help creators reach more people during the holiday break. The features include new livestream options, new ways of interacting with fans in the comments, and additional funding for rising creators, among other options.

 

Facebook Live is getting a new look for both desktop and mobile versions. The navigation menu has been simplified to make access to insights and tools easier. This will also enhance the composition process of livestream broadcasts.

 


A new option of Featured Links in livestreams will allow creators to share multiple third-party website links within their broadcasts. As a result, they will be able to drive more direct traffic from their streams, as well as produce more interest and value from their efforts, with livestream shopping lately on the rise.

 


In addition to this, Facebook Live will now let creators go live with up to three additional guests. Previously, Facebook had removed the option of going live with another user, but with the increasing interest in video connection over the past two years, the company has decided to bring the option of co-broadcasting back.

 

Facebook Introduces New Livestream Options and a Funding Program for Creators

Time to Get Smart About Buying Smartphones and Other Devices

This holiday season, many consumers will find it difficult to find and receive some of the electronic devices they’re looking for to give to family and friends. Unfortunately, the shipping industry has also fallen victim to the global effects of the COVID pandemic, and 50% of consumers are seeing that items they want are already out of stock.

Time to Get Smart About Buying Smartphones and Other Devices #Infographic

Christmas movies for Holiday

Struggling to find the right Christmas movie to watch with your family and friends over the weekend? Well, you need not worry because we have got you covered for the weekend. To save yourself some time and energy, click on the infographic below and add a whole bunch of movies to your bucket list right away.

Christmas movies for Holiday #infographic

 


With 2020 coming to an end, Snapchat has shared insights regarding its AR achievements in the past year and results of surveys that the company conducted among its userbase. Snap Inc., the parent company of Snapchat, has all of the information and a more detailed breakdown of the data is available on Snapchat’s business site as well.

 

According to insights related to different attitudes of users in relation to the upcoming holidays and new year, 57% of the userbase reported feeling ready to embrace 2020 as soon as possible. Majority of the contribution comes from users from Brazil and the US.

 

As for the holiday plans, unfortunately the worsening situation of the pandemic is making it difficult for people to plan their holiday season. The UK is especially affected by these circumstances as it particularly got hit badly by the second coronavirus wave, causing the government to impose strict lockdowns and SOPs for Christmas.

 

Snapchat users in the US have reported limiting their holiday plans to social distancing, which means no at-home gatherings and virtual exchange of gifts.

Snapchat Reveals its 2020 AR Achievements and Userbase Survey Results

 


Zoom announced that it is removing the 40-minute time limit for its free accounts on all meetings around the world for the holiday season.

 

This means that all holidays, in addition to Christmas, that fall in late December or early January will be covered by this special offer by Zoom. "Whether coming together on the final day of Hanukkah, celebrating Christmas, ringing in the New Year, or marking the last days of Kwanzaa, those connecting with friends and family won't get cut short," said Zoom.

 

Zoom is Allowing Free Subscribers to Use Video Calling Without Time Limit During Holiday Season

Celebrate Thanksgiving Day with your friends and families safely

Thanksgiving is on its way, and considering the health hazards posed by the pandemic, likely; it will also bring major illnesses with itself. To help you walk through this sensitive time, we have pulled all the right measures into an infographic, from the simplest practice of shopping to the storage of Thanksgiving food after the occasion. As pandemic made it very clear that cleanliness is the first step to start your daily chores, it has become your civil responsibility to keep your friends and families safe.

Celebrate Thanksgiving Day with your friends and families safely #infographic

How are Americans planning their COVID-19 Christmas?

People in the USA are undoubtedly super excited about the X-mas a few days away, people have shopped a lot in the holiday quarter for their favorite festival of the year. Despite all the excitement and shopping, there are still restrictions to hold a large gathering. Unfortunately, all the plans that Americans had for this year couldn’t be accomplished. The country is still fighting the deadly pandemic and advised the people to stay in their homes as much as possible for the sake of their health and that of others.

How are Americans planning their COVID-19 Christmas? #infographic

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