Facebook My Day, Geostickers, Pinterest Lens, Facebook 360 - 10th March Social Media News Insight

This week in Social Media news, Facebook messenger adds a new feature, Instagram adds a new feature to their stories, Pinterest rolls out Lens in the US and Facebook launches a 360 degree VR app.

Facebook Messenger’s ‘My Day’

Facebook has added a new feature to their messenger app which definitely gives us a touch of the déjà vu. Basically, the feature borrows heavily from Snapchat Stories and Instagram Stories. The feature is called ‘Messenger Day’. To use the new feature, make sure you’ve updated your app to the newest version and you should see a camera highlighted with a sun. Once clicked, you will get a full screen camera which allows you to take a picture with the front or back camera on your phone. You can then choose to add effects, text or stickers. Then simply click the arrow at the bottom and you’ll find the option to send to a friend or to add to your day. Another way to add to your day is to simply click on the ‘Add to your day’ button at the top of your Messenger inbox. But seriously, who is going to add to their snapchat story, Instagram story and Messenger day? One of these platforms is surely going to suffer, but which will it be?

Original story spotted here.

Geostickers on Instagram Stories

Keeping very much on the same theme Instagram has added a new feature for its Stories. This feature is a definite rip-off of a Snapchat feature. They’ve now added in Geostickers, so basically Geofilters. So based on the location you’ve taken your image you’ll get the option of several Geostickers which will be based on cities but also specific neighbourhoods or landmarks. Also the great thing about the Geostickers is that you can add as many as you want to your photograph. Also worth noting, adding a Geosticker will not add your photo to the location feed, like it would with a normal Instagram snap with a tagged location. I love the Geofilters option Snapchat so I feel this is a very welcome addition to the platform.

Original story spotted here.

Pinterest Lens

Pinterest has been testing their Lens feature for a while now but they have officially rolled it their Beta version to all US users. (Hopefully UK soon!) The feature (which is super cool if you ask me), allows a user to search Pinterest by simply snapping a photograph, or using an image already in your camera roll. This conjures up memories for me of using Google Goggles, is that still a thing? Where you could find similar images and info about locations via a live camera.

To use the feature, you click the red camera icon which allows you to snap a picture of anything and find results related to it. Pinterest does warn that Lens is still in Beta and that the feature is still learning. Pinterest are asking for help from users who try out the feature and getting them to leave feedback about the results they see.

Original story spotted here.

Facebook launches 360 app

Facebook, keen to one up every other tech company out there have forayed further into the VR game by releasing a Facebook 360 app. The app is powered by Oculus and designed for the Samsung Gear VR. The app allows you to view any of the 360 degree media uploaded to Facebook. According to Facebook there are more than 25 million 360 degree photos on and 1 million 360 degree videos on Facebook to view, so really there shouldn’t be a shortage of content to view on the app.

At launch Facebook says there will be four different feeds to view content from.

-Explore: Allows you discover some of the most popular 360 degree content on Facebook

-Following: Allows you to discover the 360 degree content from people and pages you follow

-Saved: Any content you’ve saved on Facebook

-Timeline: Sounds the most interesting, promising to allow you to relieve your memories in a new way through your own 360 uploads.

I think I need to get hold of a VR headset to try this out for myself! It’s impressive the amount of new apps and features that Facebook churns out on a monthly basis. Is there ever going to be a point of oversaturation or will Facebook continue to foray into more and more sectors?

Original news here.