In a show of support and presence in its apps, the Facebook team announced the addition of two new emojis to signify that you care. They also revealed Messenger Room, a video-conference tool for up to 50 people.
This week in social media, Facebook tried to reassure conservatives, Reddit introduced post embedding, and Twitter may stop counting photos and links against its character limit.
This week in social media, Facebook announced it was rolling out group voice chat to Messenger, while Snapchat upped its popular face swap feature by adding the iPhone's camera roll as an image source. Meanwhile, Twitter added Yelp integration, at least overseas, in an effort to make the platform more useful for users looking for information while they're out and about.
Facebook is rolling out voice calling for groups in its Messenger app. In adding yet another smartphone function to Facebook's domain, the company is taking another step towards total mobile domination.
This week in social media, Facebook and its subsidiary WhatsApp backed Apple in its encryption fight with the FBI, the same week that a WhatsApp executive was briefly jailed in Brazil in a similar case.
This week in social media, word leaked out that Facebook will start showing ads in Messenger very soon. Meanwhile, Twitter executives bought millions in their company's stock in a move to boost confidence, and Snapchat is rumored to have started delivering detailed ad analytics, possibly resulting in a dip in prices.
This week in social media, Facebook adjusted the algorithm for your News Feed another time, while again being declared the number one app on Android and iOS smartphones. Meanwhile, Twitter tested a GIF button for its mobile app, and Snapchat ran its first mobile app-install ad.
Instant messaging app WhatsApp is eliminating the small charges that it normally charged customers after their first year of using the app. Now, the app will remain free for life.
This week was a busy one for Facebook. It launched a new collaboration with Uber through Messenger, announced changes to its controversial "real name" policy, launched its fast-loading Instant Articles for Android, and finally, Facebook was named the most popular smartphone app of 2015 by a Nielsen report. Meanwhile, Twitter hit an all-time low on Wall Street.
This week in social media, Facebook began testing Snapchat-style messaging in Facebook Messenger. Meanwhile Pinterest introduced a smart, unique visual search feature, Twitter introduced GIFs you can control, and Snapchat is planning on making even more money off of its Lenses feature.
This week in social media, Facebook began rolling out new options beyond its "Like" button and Messenger released for Apple Watch. Meanwhile, Twitter's first change under new permanent CEO Jack Dorsey rolled out and Pinterest added localized results for its huge international user base.
This week in social media, two Facebook-owned messenger services hit major milestones. Meanwhile, Twitter is still on the hunt for a leader with a possible announcement soon, Snapchat (maybe?) hit a Facebook-style milestone in video, and Tumblr cleaned up its act -- on mobile.
This week in social media, Facebook finally decided to support animated GIFs, Twitter lost a high-level executive, and Snapchat raised even more money.
This week in social media, Facebook announced Facebook Messenger as its own platform, as the company's future now looks to rival Google. Meanwhile, Twitter unveiled its Meerkat live-streaming competitor, Periscope, and Snapchat's definitely, definitely the leader in the youth demographic.
