Welcome to another edition of our Dreamers Digital Digest. Stories this week are very social focused with stories from Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Google.
Changes to Google’s sitelinks cause drops in GCS data
Google have (link: http://searchengineland.com/recent-changes-organic-sitelinks-cause-major-drops-impressions-gsc-264424 text: released some changes and updates) to organic sitelinks and the way they are shown within the search results. Following some changes to the small sitelinks underneath a search listing which was in fact a bug, Google then rolled out a change which reduced the 6 big sitelinks under a search listing into 4. This caused reports of drops of impressions and average positioning within Search Console.
AMP results now showing in Google Images
There have been (link: http://searchengineland.com/amp-results-now-showing-google-image-search-265543 text: reports) that Google have started to show AMP listings within image search results. Google rolled out AMP listings earlier this year. The transition from the launch, to the top carousel and now to image search means AMP is being taken seriously in Google’s eyes.
Being an ‘Emoji Translator’ is now a career choice
Emoji’s are here to stay! A translation firm in London has begun a search for its first ever (link: http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/emoji-translator-job/ text: Emoji Translator) showing that people have no intention of stopping from sending the colourful characters. The successful candidate must have a “passion for emojis” as well as being able to report on trends, usage and cultural differences. With stats of emojis being used over 2 trillion times in 2016, with half of all messages using at least one symbol, the job couldn’t come soon enough for some people.
Facebook Messenger does a Snapchat
Facebook have (link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-38331908 text: launched selfie video filters) to messenger. With a selection of masks and filters which are also included in both pictures and video chat, the social media giant are taking a leaf out of Snapchat’s book. The whole industry has become quite competitive with a number of companies following in the same steps including Instagram which is owned by Facebook.
Instagram officially launches live video
Instagram have announced that its (link: http://www.theverge.com/2016/12/12/13921624/instagram-live-video-now-available-android-iphone text: live video feature) will be rolled out to users within the United States. The difference between Instagram’s live video feature is similar to Snapchat where the live video will disappear once the video has finished and isn’t available to replay afterwards.
Instagram now has 600 million users
Following on from Instagram’s live video rollout, the company has also announced that (link: http://www.digitaltrends.com/social-media/instagram-600m-users/ text: 100 million users) have joined the app within the last 6 months. This brings the total of overall users to 600 million since its inception. Comparing to other social media giants, Instagram now has almost double the amount of users compared to Twitter and 150 million more daily users than Snapchat.
Google partners with Fiat Chrysler to develop self-driving cars
Google have(link: http://www.theverge.com/2016/12/13/13933140/google-self-driving-car-fiat-chrysler-partnership text: announced partnership plans) with auto company Fiat Chrysler to develop and manufacture a new prototype vehicle in order to roll out a self-driving mini-van next year. The move and partnership comes from concerns that a previous idea of manufacturing self-driving cars without steering wheels as impractical.
YouTube blocks North Korean state-run channel
YouTube have (link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-38325104 text: announced) the block of North Korea’s state run television channel. The video-streaming service removed the channel and replaced it with a message letting viewers know that the account has been “violating YouTube’s Community Guidelines”. The reason for the removal could be due to the possibility of Pyongyang earning money from advertising on the channel which is a violation against US sanctions.
Join us again next week for some more festive digital news before the food and alcohol consumption begins for Christmas!