Five things worth sharing from the last week or so, brought to you by a different member of the Browser Media team every Friday.
This week’s My Five is by Will.
1. Buy on Google
Google has been making significant changes in order to make it easier for businesses to reach more consumers and help shopping find the perfect products, at the right price. This week Google has announced a new way it is trying to help retailers, by removing commission fees and lowering its costs in order to get businesses of all sizes selling on their marketplace.
Unfortunately, this is currently only in the pilot stage, but will soon be rolled out to all eligible businesses – in the US! So if you aren’t based in the US looks like you’re still going to be slammed with commission fees.
2. Twitter stamps down on hateful content
This week Twitter has finally updated its policies to include links to hateful content within its guidelines of unacceptable activity.
We’ve clarified our approach to reducing the amount of harmful content on Twitter from outside sources.
Here’s an outline of the types of links we may block, and how we identify them to help keep you safe from malicious URLs: https://t.co/MhlSMJoxXs
— Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) March 23, 2020
Twitter has commented that among the URLs they may already block, it now includes:
“Content that promotes violence against, threatens or harasses other people on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, caste, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religious affiliation, age, disability, or serious disease.”
This appears to be a step in the right direction in attempting to squash any hateful content being spread online. Hopefully, other social media platforms will start to follow suit. *ahem* Facebook *ahem*
3. Kentucky Fried Crocs
This has to win the award for the two brands you never thought would collaborate, but hey 2020 isn’t strange enough already, right?
Everyone’s favourite fried chicken chain has teamed up with everyone’s favourite footwear brand to bring the world the hottest shoes of the year!
First debuted at New York Fashion Week in February this year the shoes went on sale earlier this week and were all gobbled up within 30 minutes, leaving a lot of shoppers disappointed.
Unfortunately, if you want to get your hands on a pair you’ll have to splash the cash with certain sizes selling for nearly £200 on the resale markets.
4. Is 2020 the year of the mobile?
It’s predicted that worldwide video viewers are expected to reach 2.72 billion by 2023, making understanding consumers’ attitudes to mobile video content increasingly important. As a result, Snapchat owner Snap Inc. has commissioned The National Research Group to carry out a study looking at how Gen Z and Millennials interact with mobile video. See below for some of the key findings:
- Smartphones lead the way with consumers spending more time with mobile media compared to any other device.
- Short-form content is king with 7 in 10 Millennials and Gen Zers saying they would prefer to interact with shorter videos.
- Snapchat is the number one app for making users feel connected with others. (I think there could be a bit of bias here…)
Check out the full findings from the report here.
5. The perfect example of insurance fraud
If you’re ever feeling down a quick scroll through Twitter and you’re sure to find a stupid video to brighten up your day.
This week’s example of excellent Twitter content: a dad who preys on unsuspecting golfers by pretending their stray shots have hit him right on the noggin!
Possibly the best thing I’ve ever seen. Can’t. Stop. Laughing… pic.twitter.com/4q52xC0FG2
— Rex Chapman?? (@RexChapman) July 29, 2020
