Instagram's New Facelift

Noncommerical Instagram Feed

By: Lexi Thayer

ATLANTA,Ga- Instagram changing the game and following in the footsteps of Facebook.

Instagram, which is an image and video-sharing platform that caters to almost 400 million users, announced on Tuesday, March, 15th, that they will incorporate an algorithm that shows theirs users feed by importance rather than chronology. Essentially Instagram users will have their very own personalized News Feed. This new algorithm assumes posts individuals want to see will be shown at the top of their Feed. According to an Instagram blog posting “If your favorite musician shares a video from last night’s concert, it will be waiting for you when you wake up, no matter how many accounts you follow or what time zone you live in." 

Instagram is following in the foot steps of Facebook. Facebook first began having posts rolled out that were "relevant" to each user. According to n4bb.com, Instagram allows you to follow someone and see their posts as and when they post. Facebook however, is a company that controls what you see first. Many avid Instagram users are not happy about this change. One Twitter user, "Any chance of having the option to turn the algorithm on/off ? One of my favorite things about IG was seeing everything." 

Noncommerical Instagram Feed Image

The company stated that the change is being implemented because about 70 percent of photos and videos are missed being looked at by users. The introduction of the algorithmic feed on the mobile photo-sharing app hopes to address issues where people would miss posts because they are bumped down due to newer posts taking their place. Instagram didn't address when these new changes will occur, but within a few months your Feed will look a little different. Social apps continue to face problems of delivering content to the ever increasing user base. News Feeds are essential to social networks like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Personally, I'm a little iffy about the change in the algorithm for Instagram. I understand they're trying to house more users and show their current users what they "think" they want to see. But it's the fun of Instagram browsing all the different photos and videos that you wouldn't normally see if they switch over to the algorithm. I think almost every IG user enjoys seeing posts they wouldn't normally see if their Feed is just categorized to what they usually look at or the individuals they follow on a daily basis. 

I think if Instagram slowly introduces the algorithm more people will begin to adjust to it. No one likes change, I know I don't. But this will allow you to look at posts from your friends and favorite celebrities you may not see on a regular basis if you're not on Instagram frequently. I'm indifferent, but I think Instagram needs a new facelift to their mass media platform. 

Facebook v. Periscope: Live debate

Facebook Live ad
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By: Lexi Thayer

ATLANTA, Ga- Facebook Live better than Periscope. You be the judge of that.

Facebook Live is the new feature Facebook has brought to its social media platform. Facebook Live is quite similar to Periscope in where individuals can view video that's occurring right in the moment. But Facebook has the idea to permanently save and show your streams then Periscope deleting streaming video within 24 hours. According to Facebook, people watch Live streams 3 times longer than saved ones. Facebook decided from the urgency and interaction with people and Live streams that the News Feed in where ranked videos appear higher in your News Feed than saved streams.

Facebook initially launched Live for celebrities in August before it slowly was released to individuals with Verified Profiles and Pages. Facebook also determined instead of spamming all your friends and family with broadcasts, it would send push notifications if the video came from a close friend, Page you interacted with, or you subscribed to a Live video. This process allows Facebook users to catch Live streams while they're still happening. Likes and comments will be seen immediately by broadcasters.

Periscope video of the Today Show
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Periscope and Facebook Live are actually quite different, but still great ways to interact with Live streaming content. Periscope's motive is to get individuals involved within the first few minutes of the Live stream. Facebook on the other hand, will use their new Live streaming to show their users the best on-going streams presented on their News Feeds.

I personally think Facebook's Live streaming is a great way for broadcasters to get involved with their viewers and readers. I will get push notifications from WSB-TV or 11Alive to alert me of breaking news or even weather related issues. I know this will be a great way for news corporations to get more viewers. As the article stated, "But it's urgency, interaction, and raw unpredictability that make Live videos so fun to watch." I can wholeheartedly agree that Live videos will make people want to interact through likes and comments.

Facebook Live will make a huge impact on how news and events will be displayed within the future. I think not only myself, but also my fellow peers obtain their news through social media. These Live streaming videos make you stop and want to watch in that instant. When there are videos that are so popular, it'll be a great way to get awareness out to the public. Live videos are the new wave of the future!

Emojis the new 'like' On Facebook

Desktop Version

By Lexi Thayer

ATLANTA, Ga- Emoji's in. 'likes' out. Emoji Reactions are the new 'like' on Facebook.

Facebook's 1.5 billion users will now have the option to sort from five different categories of emoji reactions. Categories range from 'love', 'haha', 'wow', 'sad' and 'angry'. But don't think you can run to your Facebook accounts too quickly to check out the new feature; conveniently called 'Reactions'. Facebook is currently testing out the feature in several countries. These include both Ireland and Spain. Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, stated his sites users will begin to see the emojis "pretty soon".

Emoji Reactions

Zuckerberg explained that the emoji faces will appear below individual user's posts. The 'like' button below user's posts has been a huge hit on Facebook's site. For years users have been asking for a 'dislike' button because certain content shared can be labeled as sad or make you angry. That is one reason Facebook has decided to add on the 'Reaction' tool. “When you only have a like button, if you share a sad piece of content or something that makes you angry, people may not have the tool to react to it," said Zuckerberg. 

According to pcmag.com, Facebook users in Japan are now using emoji's to interact with their friends' timelines. Reactions are also now available in Chile, Portugal and the Philippines. The Reactions are easily accessible by holding down the like button on your cellphone, or you can hover over on your desktop to see the options to choose from. No word on when Zuckerberg will bring Features to the U.S., but only time will tell. 

Emoji Reactions on cellphone

I discovered the phenomenon of emoji's when I got my first iPhone in 2012. They were a great way to express how you were feeling when you just didn't have the words to say how you felt. Personally, I would love for Facebook to expend the Reaction emoji's to the U.S. I think it would be a big hit because almost everyone I know uses emoji's on a regular basis. There is just something about sending a sad or happy emoji and that person immediately knows how you're feeling. 

Also, as Zuckerberg mentioned, there are certain content pieces that a user posts that either makes you sad or angry, and you don't want to go and 'like' it. It would be great to have an option where you can show how you really feel about the content. The Reactions won't replace the 'like' option; it will just be there in cases where the 'like' is not appropriate. If they're a hit in several other countries, I don't see why they wouldn't be a hit in the U.S. Zuckerberg; bring Reactions to the U.S. so we can crack our hand at it.

What do you think? Emoji Reactions a good thing? Should Zuckerberg implement them to the U.S.?