Meta's Threads App Looks to Add New Features to Take On X (Twitter)

In the ever-competitive world of social media, the race to attract and retain users is a never-ending game of cat and mouse. Enter Threads, an app from Meta, formerly Facebook that is urgently attempting to grab the attention of Elon Musk's X (formerly Twitter). Threads has a few tricks under its sleeve, and it appears they're finally ready to take on the big dog. Let's explore the amusing world of social media one-upmanship.

Threads Join the Party of Trending Topics

Threads has taken a risk in its drive for social media dominance. They're adding a "Trending Topics" feature to their app to keep users up to date on the newest debates, as spotted by Willian Max. Yes, you read that correctly - they are. They're adding a "Trending Topics" section to their app, allowing users to stay on top of the latest discussions. Yes, you read that right – they're taking a page out of X's playbook. This is akin to a friendly neighbor deciding to redecorate their house to look just like yours.

Threads users can now keep track of all the hot conversations taking place within the app thanks to this new feature. It's like listening in on the most juicy chatter at a crowded party. You can join the chat by tapping on any topic, just like you can on X. Threads, although claiming to be uninterested in news and politics, may now be giving X a run for its money in the real-time news conversation department. Talk about attempting to have your cake and eat it as well.

More Post-Creation Elements Than You Can Shake a GIF At

Threads aren't only interested in popular subjects; they aim to improve your complete posting experience.

Via: https://ift.tt/2oaeTHJ

Prepare for a slew of voice posts, GIFs, and polls! It's as though they're piling on extra toppings. your social media pizza than you ever thought possible.

Editing and Self-Promotion: Threads' Double Whammy

Threads is also considering allowing you to edit your posts - subject to a time limit, of course. It's like giving you the ability to change history, but only for a short time. They're also working on ways to promote your Threads activity on Instagram and within the app. It's similar to giving your social media game a boost.

#Threads is working on the ability to edit posts within 5 minutes 👀 pic.twitter.com/TlyoieQNcM

— Alessandro Paluzzi (@alex193a) September 21, 2023

Threads' Achilles' Heel and X's Achilles' Heel

Now, let's talk about X's dirty little secret: 80% of its users are merely observers, not active posters. They're like the audience at a stand-up comedy concert, laughing along but not taking the stage. Of the 250 million daily active users on X, only 50 million dare to share anything at all. That's a small fraction of the platform's user base.

And here's the kicker: 400 million of the 500 million posts on X per day are replies, re-posts, and quotes. Only 100 million of the updates are new. It's like a bad game of telephone, with everyone passing around the same message.

If media organizations, journalists, and publishers abandon X owing to changes in link previews, the platform could suffer a considerable setback. Not to mention Elon Musk's daily campaign against the "mainstream" media on X. Threads may find a home in the social media world if he continues to push them away.

Conclusion: Threads' Quest for Dominance

Threads is not backing down in the war of social media heavyweights. With its new features and focus on X's Achilles' heel, it's evident that they're prepared to compete with the big boys. It remains to be seen whether Threads will emerge as the ultimate social media champion or fall into the shadow of giants like X. But one thing is sure: competition is heating up, and it's all taking place in the realm of tweets, trends, and GIFs.

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by Rubah Usman via Digital Information World

The Curious Case of Google-Extended and Subtle Designs

We've seen two exciting developments in Google's ever-evolving universe, where artificial intelligence plays a starring role, that are as perplexing as trying to figure out why your grandparents still use AOL email. Google's effort to serve us with revolutionary AI-powered answers and experiences has resulted in some perplexing instances. Let's take a look at the amusing story of Google-Extended and the quest for nuance in Search Generative Experience (SGE).

The Google-Extended Fiasco

Consider yourself a website owner who has grown tired of Google's ravenous appetite for your site's material. You've probably heard of Google-Extended, the hero in shining armor who claims to keep your valuable content safe from Google's AI projects like Bard and Vertex AI.

Google-Extended is like a broken umbrella in a monsoon; it doesn't really shield you from the rain. In fact, it's about as effective as trying to stop a charging rhinoceros with a "Do Not Enter" sign.

The new child on the block, Google-Extended, was supposed to inform Google, "Hey, hands off my website content!" However, in an unexpected twist, it did not work for one AI-powered party crasher - Search Generative Experience (SGE). SGE, Google's wild child of search experimentation, kept munching on your website material like it was a never-ending feast, as spotted by Glenn Gabe.

So, what did Google have to say about this farce? Google Extended, they said, is about as useful for SGE as a chocolate teapot. According to a Google representative, SGE is a Search experiment, so website administrators should continue to manage their content in search results by using the Googlebot user agent via robots.txt and the NOINDEX meta tag, including experiments like Search Generative Experience.

Now, here's the punchline: there have been instances where SGE merrily displayed AI-generated answers from websites that explicitly told Google not to use their content for AI purposes. So, if you thought Google Extended would be your savior, think again. It's like ordering a salad at a burger joint – it won't save you from the indulgent delights of SGE.

But here's the kicker: If you don't want SGE to have access to your content, you'll have to do the unthinkable: block Googlebot entirely. And cutting off your hand to avoid a handshake isn't something most website owners are willing to do.

The Inconspicuous SGE Experiment

Now, let's shift gears and explore the area of nuance, which is frequently lacking in Google's grand plans. Consider Google to be that friend who can't help but give you the finale of a movie before you've even purchased your popcorn. They chose to experiment with a "lite" version (courtesy of again Glenn Gabe) of Search Generative Experience (SGE), which some have jokingly called "SGE Lite."

SGE Lite is like ordering a small coffee in a world of super-sized lattes. It's all about being more discreet, a quality that Google doesn't often embrace. Instead of the usual SGE spectacle, where it takes up your entire screen like a toddler throwing a tantrum, SGE Lite is a bit more well-behaved.

Google SGE Lite provides a brief teaser of AI-generated material, similar to a movie trailer that doesn't reveal the entire plot. Users have the option of expanding this teaser and delving deeper into the solution. It's like getting your cake and deciding whether to eat it, share it, or save it for later - the choice is yours.

In conclusion, Google's forays into artificial intelligence, from the Google-Extended blunder through the launch of SGE Lite, have left us with more questions than answers. It's a universe where the rules are as elusive as a mirage, yet where subtlety peeps through the chaos now and then. Whether you're a website owner trying to protect your content or a user seeking a more understated search experience,

Read next: New Survey Says Four Out Of Five Apple Employees Approve Tim Cook’s Decisions As CEO
by Rubah Usman via Digital Information World

New Survey Says Four Out Of Five Apple Employees Approve Tim Cook’s Decisions As CEO

Tech giant Apple appears to be on a roll as a new rating survey has shown massive approval and popularity of its CEO amongst the company’s employees.

The approval rating survey showed that four out of five employees are more than happy with Tim Cook’s work and decisions as head of the firm. And it’s a massive slap in the face for X where only four out of 100 X employees approve the decisions made by Linda Yaccarino who was recently appointed as CEO of the firm.

But the question is whether or not such decisions are a surprise to us or not. Remember, as far as X is concerned, there are hardly any people left working there. In case you did not know, the workforce figures keep shrinking as the company makes its way to downsize further. Yet, the approval rating is clear proof of how people are not happy.

We do find that it’s slightly greater than the approval ratings observed for Snap where the head Evan Spiegel gets a 3% approval as revealed by this survey. Nevertheless, both leaders happen to be shining stars when you compare them to names in Western Digital as well as Nordstrom. The former and latter got a shocking 0% approval rating from workers.

The report comes forward to us from Blind which talks about a whopping nine million people who are verified as anonymous individuals that are making up the social network. Such results happen to be linked to 13,171 workers in the US who gave out responses in August when requested to provide approval ratings depending on the feedback coming from employees.

As far as Linda Yaccarino is concerned, this is right before the famous X CEO displayed her calmness as well as control during an interview for the recently held Code Conference. And that’s where we saw tech entrepreneur Elon Musk attain a whopping 38% approval in this survey.

Tim Cook who heads Apple faces tough competition in terms of ratings by the CEOs at Walmart, Palo Alto, and even Nvidia. But other than that, he’s leading the pack full throttle. Meanwhile, the front runner of this race happened to be Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang who got the highest approval with a rating of 96%.

We agree that Tim Cook’s 83% ratings aren’t as high as his customer satisfaction statistics which currently stand at 99%. However, the leading CEO of Apple is definitely not coming slow when it comes down to performing well against his archrival peers in the industry.

Moving on, there were some other insightful findings from this survey that showed how other big names in the industry didn’t quite meet the expectations of their own workforce, despite running huge companies in the tech world.

Mark Zuckerberg from Meta only got 45% approval while Satya Nadella from Microsoft got 30% approval. On the other hand, Sundar Pichai from Google attained 26% approval while Andy Jassy from Amazon got just a 10% approval rating.

So as you can imagine, it’s not easy to please the masses and it wouldn’t be wrong to mention how these individuals happen to be a touchy bunch of people to impress with high expectations from those they’re working under.

To help better prove this point, Disney’s Head and very popular figure, Bob Iger only attained a shocking 26% approval from his employees despite being adored by millions around the globe.

So what could the reason behind such low figures be? Well, there are plenty of factors that play a role in such considerations. And we feel workers certainly appreciate things like compensation coming from shares as well as higher company rankings. Meanwhile, no one is a fan of layoffs as it just enhances uncertainty in the field.

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

A Decade-Long Active User Banned from Facebook Finds Mental Health Boost

A-decade long active user Leah Borski, who was banned from Facebook says that the experience has improved her mental health. She had been using the platform actively for networking and marketing for her business, as well as to stay in touch with friends and family. However, she says that she was constantly checking notifications and thinking about other people's posts, which led to social media addiction.

After being banned from Facebook, she was forced to find other ways to connect with people and set her priorities differently. She also had more time to focus on her own well-being. She says that she now feels more calm and clear-headed, and that her relationships are stronger. She also says that she is now more focused on her strengths and on living a life that is aligned with her values.

The woman's story is a reminder that social media can have a negative impact on our mental health. It is important to be mindful of how much time we spend on social networks and to take breaks when needed. If you find that social media is causing you stress or anxiety, it is important to take steps to reduce your usage or to quit altogether.

Read the complete story story of Borski on Insider.

Also read: Global Report Reveals Alarming Trends in Hosting Online Child Abuse Content
by Irfan Ahmad via Digital Information World

TikTok’s Rise Fails to Dim Instagram’s Shine in the Eyes of Influencer Marketers

When TikTok first entered the scene, it felt like it was going to supplant the entire social media industry thanks to its advanced algorithm and the unbelievable rate of virality that its videos tended to reach. In spite of the fact that this is the case, other platforms were quick to adapt, and it turns out that Instagram in particular is performing well at least as far as influencer marketing is concerned.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that 53.7% of marketers in the US plan to use Instagram Reels in their influencer marketing campaigns in the present year. This data comes from Insider Intelligence, and it sheds some light on the durability of Instagram in the face of TikTok’s paradigm shifting onslaught on the industry.

Based on the data presented in this report, 97.6% of marketers say that they plan to use Instagram in some capacity because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up allowing them to avail its multiple features. These features include the variety of content formats, with both long and short form videos as well as images on offer, as well as the wide array of creator tools that Instagram has available.

Furthermore, Instagram has a massive user base, which can help marketers to get more traction than might have been the case otherwise. However, just because Instagram is performing well does not mean that TikTok is falling behind all that much.

Indeed, TikTok is still used by 50% of marketers for influencer campaigns, so while it is not quite as popular as Instagram, it does not have all that much ground to cover either. TikTok is expected to reach 57.7% by 2025, which is still short of Instagram’s projected 62.2%. This indicates that TikTok will struggle to catch up, although the industry is inherently unpredictable and there is no telling what it might look like in the near future.

TikTok is competing with Instagram Reels, but Instagram in general is the go-to platform for marketers. Facebook is stagnating, with Instagram Reels set to surpass it by 2025, and YouTube is languishing at the very bottom of the list with a meager growth rate predicted at least for the next two years.

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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

YouTube Makes Community Posts a Bigger Part of the Home Tab

Good news for readers! YouTube is experimenting with a new Community Notes feed feature for its mobile user. The feed will be a dedicated place for text updates from channels, and YouTube is hoping to make Community Posts a bigger part of community engagement.

As per YouTube help page, the Community Notes feed will be located in the Home tab of the mobile app. It may feature a mix of popular and trending Community Posts from creators, as well as personalized recommendations based on the user's interests.

YouTube is still testing the Community Notes feed, and it is not yet available to all users. However, the platform is planning to roll it out more widely in the coming months.

This is a significant development for YouTube, as it shows that the company is committed to making Community Posts a more important part of the platform, particularly in the times when X (formerly Twitter) not performing well. Community Posts can be a great way for channels to connect with their viewers and share updates about their content. The new Community Notes feed will make it easier for viewers to find and discover Community Posts that they are interested in.

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Twitter Rebrand May Be Costing the Platform Money

Twitter's rebrand has not been a success, according to new data from AppFigures. The company's downloads have dropped consecutively for the past three months, and revenue has also taken a sharp turn downwards in September. However, revenue is still nearly twice as high as it was in January.

The rebrand was launched in July 2023, and it was met with mixed reactions from users. Some praised the new design, while others criticized it for being totally out of this world. The logo X is something users are considering as cross lines to the epic Twitter bird.

As per AF, X "downloads have dropped consecutively from 13M in July, rebrand month, to 11M in August, and 9M in September". And as per AF's estimate "net revenue in September was $4.8M, nearly a million dollars less than August."

This data shows X is still not able to churn out good revenue as a social network.

Only time will tell whether Twitter's rebrand will ultimately be successful. However, the current data suggests that the rebrand has not been a success so far.

Read next: Data Shows ChatGPT Revenue Growth Slows Despite Strong Downloads
by Irfan Ahmad via Digital Information World