Facebook Experiments With New Option That Restricts Posts To Subscribers Only

Facebook is busy experimenting with a new feature that could restrict access to creator posts. Hence, this way, only those who are subscribers would end up taking a glimpse of the post while the others are barred from doing so.

We find the feature to be rather interesting and it is said to be limited to only the initial period after a post gets published. So that could vary between as short as one day or as long as a week.

An example of the feature was put up and shared by social media expert Matt Navarra (via Jonah Manzano). He showed how some users could gain early access to a feature that’s limited to Subscribers only by clicking on the toggle option. This limits access to that particular post for a fixed period of time.

Obviously, you’ll be required to have a few subscribers but we do see how it may end up turning into a handy feature. Remember, Meta is keen on having an expansion of the appeal of its creators. This is just so they can get a lot more of these individuals to post across more apps on a frequent basis, not to mention always having fans come back for more.

Instagram says one of its top priorities is marketing creators and it's on a mission to add a series of posts based on its AI recommendations to users’ feeds. This is being done to produce more exposure when it comes to rising talent on the app.

In the same way, we’re seeing Facebook add in a series of tools for its creators and that entails updates on the Facebook page and even ad alerts that show support for fellow creators, assist top fans, and more such features.

On the other hand, there is also some news about how Meta is previewing a better option that allows its creators to share certain posts only with those they deem to be top fans and even those that are subscribers to the app. So as you can see, it’s quite similar to the new option that’s up for grabs in terms of ‘new subscriber’ selections.

We can see how the ability to keep certain posts restricted for a short period of time can enhance this particular feature, proving a better way to boost subscribers’ value. Moreover, it would also end up attracting greater interest.

Imagine a visitor lands on your profile and sees there’s a post that’s exclusively solely for subscribers. When they try to view it, they’re locked out from doing so and can’t witness the content immediately. Hence, it’s definitely great at adding value and proving to subscribers that their loyalty is being appreciated.

Who knows, you might end up getting more people to release funds to witness your newest updates. See, it's all about how great or intriguing the post is and whether or not the viewer is willing to splurge a little extra to see what's in store for them.

Read next: Meta Is Working On A New Profile ‘Switching Tool’ That Allows Users To Jump Between Instagram And Facebook
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

TikTok is the Least Trusted News Source According to This Survey

Social media can be useful place to gather news, but in spite of the fact that this is the case most people don’t seem to trust tech platforms for news. These platforms have become notorious due to the high quantity of misinformation and fake news that is present on them, although Google seems to be more trustworthy than most other platforms that are out there. A survey recently conducted by Reuters shed some light on which platforms are trusted and which aren’t with all things having been considered and taken into account.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that trust in news in general is on the decline. Around 46% of British respondents to this survey stated that they don’t like to read the news anymore. 52% said that they trusted Google as a source of news, but only 20% said the same for TikTok.

Meta’s platforms including Facebook and Instagram also performed really poorly based on this survey. Only 27% of the people that responded to this survey said that they trusted news that they got from Facebook, and only 24% said the same for Instagram.

In the US, only 49% of people trust the overall news cycle, but they tended to trust news more than might have been the case otherwise if they got it from Google. 53% of American respondents to this survey said that they trusted news from Google, which suggests that Google is a far more trustworthy outlet than the wider news industry.

There is also quite a bit of disparity based on the ages of the people who were interviewed and surveyed. For example, only 3% of people aged over 55 trusted news from TikTok, but for people under the age of 35 this number jumped to around 40%. Hence, younger people are more trusting of social media platforms likely due to their ability to navigate the landscape of fake news and their higher degree of knowledge that helps them spot misinformation and avoid giving it any credence while they consume news.

Read next: Users Don’t Trust Social Media Platforms Anymore According to New Study
by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

Google Announces Exciting Plans To Revamp Its Classic Search Experience

If you’re getting tired of the same old Google Search experience, well, the company has some great news for users like you.

Google says it’s revamping the age-old search experience so that its users can explore more data on the leading search engine through a natural flow.

To get this up and running, the firm is putting forward a set of new features that entail different tools that are going to be used to dig deeper into a topic. There will also be some more changes related to making the overall search experience a pleasurable one. From more visually appealing snippets to better imagery and more videos, there’s a lot in store. And we’re excited just thinking of it.

This new update comes at a time when the tech giant mentioned during the early part of this year how internal research showed that so many of its users were now resorting to apps like TikTok and even Instagram to get answers to common queries. So as you can imagine, there’s more competition and that means the firm has to up its game somehow before things began slipping away.

So by the looks of it, Google may have begun taking inspiration from the younger generation to use the internet. This allows for easy access and visually appealing content, including more guidance as they start to ask questions.

For starters, there’s a new feature that entails shortcuts for some of the search engine’s useful tools. These will be seen in the search box for easier access and be allowed to perform quick actions like translation, screenshots, identifying a song, or solutions to math-based homework.

Some of the changes seem to be hinted at the younger lot or those who adore the new technology of today such as Google Lens. And remember, the shortcuts won’t be having any links to innovative features but they’ll be getting the attention they deserve.

Secondly, Google is on a mission to better refine its search through tools that allow text queries to be solved via the expansion of a list of suggestions. These will arise through buttons seen on the search box. You can drill into various sub-topics while taking part in your search.

So it’s like searching for one thing but being recommended a few others, in case you’re interested.

But one of the mightiest changes of them all is the emphasis on visual search. While we aren’t saying you’re no longer going to see the classic blue links, you’ll be provided with a new form of visual makeover where boxes of Knowledge Panels will be seen.

This is where Google plans to pull in an entire array of different information across so many sources in all sorts of formats.



There will be scenarios where visual searches will be highlighting content from different apps too, the company confirmed.

We’re hearing about the tech giant showcasing content for a while now and it appears the time has finally come for the grand makeover.

Content belonging to leading apps like TikTok and YouTube are indexable and they rank videos from all across the board. Hence, when needed for purposes like a search, you get it, and when not, it’s returned.

So the goal is to be more modern and appealing like platforms such as TikTok. There’s no limit to content creation there and in case you weren’t already aware, there’s plenty of good information out there.

Remember, the platform says that the new visual display isn’t going to change all results of Google Search. But it will surely show up on your results page where you can find the visual content to be more accommodating such as the travel niche.

The changes went public today at Google’s famous Search On event today where a lot of new great projects were discussed.

Read next: Google Launches New Shopping Tools That Links Buyers To Shops Selling Their Favorite Products
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Reddit’s New Report Highlights Major Engagement Trends for Brands

Brands need to diversify the social media platforms that they are visible on because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up getting them into as many users’ heads as possible. Reddit has been a popular choice, but it has historically underperformed when compared to larger rivals such as Facebook and Twitter. The social media platform recently conducted a survey of 2,000 randomly selected users to tell brands what engagement trend they can leverage to boost their renown.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that community is a big part of its overall appeal. People that prefer Reddit tend to feel a lack of sense of community on other major social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok as well as Twitter. Snapchat and Pinterest offer a bit of emotional security that is comparable to Reddit, but even they fall well short of Reddit when it comes to community building.

Reddit is also unique in that it is one of the only platforms that gives users visible negative engagement options in the form of the downvote. This might seem risky to some brands, but it also makes Reddit a much more honest place for opinions and discourse than might have been the case otherwise.

There is also a lot of value in the self moderation of most communities both large and small. Reddit users can be studied more easily because their behaviors, moderation and preferences are not hidden behind complex algorithms and protocols.

According to this report, it appears that Reddit may be one of the only social media platforms that don’t have a negative impact on user mental health. The sense of inclusion that the platform creates is quite useful on that front, but it should also be mentioned that this report was created by Reddit itself. Its findings would have to be vetted by independent third parties before a consensus can be reached regarding their veracity, so this data should be taken with a grain of salt until that finally occurs.

Read next: New Infographic Shares The Mind-Blowing Amount of Data Swirling On The Internet In One Minute
by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

New Study Proves Voice Assistants Like Alexa And Siri Can Have Negative Effects On A Child’s Development

Voice assistants have really made so many of our lives easier. Be it, Alexa or Siri, the race is on for the best smart device to take a controlling approach to our routine.

But you’ll be amazed at the results of a new study that proves the dramatic side-effects that come with the endeavor.

Think along the lines of such smart technology negatively impacting a child’s growth. Be it physical or emotional, the research says voice assistants can stunt their growth.

Remember, most of the phones that kids utilize today have voice apps. Whether it's the breakthrough technology from Apple or Amazon, it’s definitely in there somewhere. But now, scientists are ringing the alarm on how these features can prevent the development of skills like empathy, compassion, and even critical thinking. Overall, it impedes their learning too.

This lack of ability to take part in non-verbal forms of communication really affects the social interactions of young kids. The news comes to us through the University of Cambridge’s latest media release.

In terms of normal interactions, a young kid would end up getting constructive feedback in cases when they didn’t behave properly. But that can’t be done through this smart device. It’s just beyond the scope of it.

The research is preliminary in regards to these voice assistants that serve as social companions for adults that are mostly lonely. They’ve been proven to be great for them but we’re not sure if that implies the same for kids too, especially those that are still young and growing.

Researchers claim such incidents are important if a child has been through COVID-19 and due to the lockdown, they’ve been spending more time at home and in isolation with such devices.

Authors of such research claim that so many gadgets can serve as friends for younger people and older ones too. They boost both the reading and interactive skills of such people, thanks to AI technology. But the long-term effects these have on young minds at this pivotal time in growth are definitely alarming.

The leading areas that need to be evaluated that have shown to have detrimental effects include social development, learning, and producing inappropriate responses. To help better shed light on the seriousness of the matter, well, one device even went as far as telling the child to touch the plug of their lamp. So as you can see, parental control over such products is needed to prevent such negative outcomes.

Other than that, researchers are outlining how such products aren’t teaching kids manners. Then there’s the matter pertaining to privacy matters. Think along the lines of having your most intimate or private chats recorded.

There are zero expectations of being polite from the device so kids are allowed to talk in whichever manner they wish. It’s almost as if please and thank you have been omitted from the child’s vocabulary. Also, there’s no consideration given to the tone of voice being used.

Voice assistants are ultimately there to help provide users with the information that they’ve requested. They’re supposed to be there for short and to-the-point answers. But the way kids pick up things and absorb information through such means is definitely not recommended to have good effects on their development.

It also prevents kids from thinking logically, added a few researchers.

More research is definitely required to assess the long-term effects of kids interacting with such products. So it’s best to act now before it’s too late.

Read next: The World Of AR Technology Is Years Away From Mass Consumer Adoption, Confirms IDC
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Google Tests Card-Style Pop-Ups For Its Discover And Search Instead Of Fullscreen Previews

The digital world that we live in today is all about experimenting and staying in line with trends. It’s no wonder why big tech giants like Google are conducting more tests to see what really works best.

It’s the ultimate way to ensure your users get the best and that’s why you’ll often find YouTube, Gmail, and even Google Discover undergoing scores of changes.

As a part of its latest trial, the company has opted to make use of card-style views in a pop-up form whenever an article pops up. Hence, it’s like shunning the classic fullscreen preview that many of us have been used to over time.

The change, if approved, will be applied to Google Discover and also to Google’s Search results.

The news comes to us thanks to 9to5Google. Their report says the test will now allow Google Discover and Search to open up like a card on the upper part of your screen. These changes were seen on the pixel phone’s home screen and also across the feed for the Discover app. And it’s definitely a new and happening interface that’s very different from what we’re usually accustomed to.

To open up the articles, you still need Google Chrome and many famous icons are still seen in the same locations, as noted by the testers. When you swipe in a downward direction, it shuts and you’re taken back to the Discover feed or your results for Search. And in case you wish to enter the full-screen mode, the app will allow you to do that with a simple swipe.

One interesting point noted by users is how the app continues to use the fullscreen method for previewing in certain scenarios like when you open up a particular video.

There is definitely plenty of ambiguity regarding the whole situation as to why Google is switching in the first place. But we do feel it’s so much more convenient now to get back to your search results in a more seamless manner.

In the end, you do lose up a bit on vertical space, thanks to the feed seen in the background. But we do feel the change is very welcoming in terms of an overall user experience.

9to5Google claims this new design may be rolling out soon as a test for users but there are rumors that it’s a widespread beta test across the company’s app as many people can see it running across their devices.

We do hope a wider rollout comes about sooner than later.

Read next: App Developers Are Scrambling To Find New Avenues For Monetization After The Discontinuation Of IDFAs And Cookies
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

YouTube Shorts Adds Many New Features That Are Popular On TikTok To Better Compete With The App

The race to become the world’s most popular social media app is on and YouTube is doing a pretty decent job at that.

YouTube Shorts was recently seen adding plenty of new features that you would call popular on TikTok. And that includes the launch of a new narration voiceover for iOS, commonly seen and loved on the app.

Creators can utilize the narration in cases where they feel commentary could add more value to the content that’s already been recorded. This might be in the form of cooking tutorials that comes with instructions, live reactions to content, or any form of narration that might be needed. Commonly sought-after examples include the likes of videos that surround the ‘day in the life’ theme.

To utilize the voiceovers across the Shorts app, simply click on the button with a checkmark that’s located on the bottom right-hand side of the camera screen. Then press on the button for voiceovers and start wherever you’d like to begin the narration. Don’t forget to click on the record button and be sure to adjust the volume to your liking afterward too.

Creators will be given the chance to redo and even undo so that their overall editing process is made easier.

YouTube Shorts was seen adding a new feature for iOS, other than the one described above. This includes the capability for creators to reply to comments using new videos. This feature was first launched by TikTok in the year 2020 and then we saw Instagram pick up the pace and launch its own version in December.

But one of the biggest news coming out from the app has to be its expansion for Shorts’ partner program. This is the first time ever that the app is giving creators who make short content the chance to earn funds via ad revenue on their content. And if things do go as planned, creators are going to be ecstatic.

Yes, YouTube does get a share but seeing these mighty developments is definitely a major and a new threat to TikTok.

By now, TikTok must be used to seeing all leading apps follow in its footsteps and this is no exception. But YouTube has been called out as one of the best ways through which creators can earn a decent living and that’s why such initiatives are being appreciated more than others.

Read next: YouTube Begins Testing New Creator Donation Feature ‘Super Thanks’ In Shorts
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World