This week in social media news, Snapchat’s latest survey reveals how its users plan to observe holidays in March and April, Instagram says a ‘drafts’ feature for Stories is coming soon and that it may expand the Stories poll feature to groups. Facebook tests a green screen tool for Facebook Stories, plus it’s developing new audio-only features for Rooms.
Snapchat Survey Reveals Users’ March And April Holiday Buying Behavior
Snapchat’s latest survey found that half of Snapchatters plan to observe an upcoming holiday or festival, like Easter, Ramadan, Passover and Holi, and many are prepared to spend more money while doing so.
Why it matters: Sixty percent of Snapchatters say the pandemic has forced many of them to get creative with their celebrations this year, but their desire to uphold these traditions remains strong. Brands should find ways to enable the cohort to remain connected with friends and family through photo and video sharing, perhaps through Snap’s Lens feature, which an average of 31.5 million Snapchatters used daily during Easter weekend last year.
The details: According to Snapchat’s findings, more than half of Snapchatters are brainstorming ways to make the holidays in March and April feel special. A top purchase for these users will be specialty foods and drinks, along with new outfits and gifts for friends and family.
In addition, 57 percent of respondents said they’ll be spending the holidays with their family while another quarter of Snapchatters plan to spend them with friends.
Instagram To Launch Drafts Feature For Stories
Instagram announced that a ‘Drafts’ feature coming soon to Stories will enable users to save their content as a draft, then post it at a later time.
Why it matters: Currently, Instagram users can save a feed post as a draft and post it at a later date. The ability to create Stories drafts will prove especially useful for brands who wish to plan out their creative and messaging within Stories ahead of time.
The details: Stories drafts have been a highly requested feature from users, with Instagram chief executive Adam Mosseri tweeting, “You asked and we’re delivering…story drafts coming soon.”
Facebook Tests Green Screen Creative Tool For Facebook Stories
According to Social Media Today, Facebook is testing a ‘Green Screen’ creative function for Facebook Stories, which will let people overlay their video over a still image or another video.
Why it matters: The Green Screen option is already available in Instagram Stories, but Facebook may be looking to implement its own as a means to compete against TikTok, where the effect is widely used. Doing so will provide Facebook marketers the opportunity to make their organic and paid Stories content more interactive.
The details: As per this screenshot from social media expert Matt Navarra, the Green Screen feature on Facebook Stories would be placed between the text feature and boomerang feature. Users can add a photo or video from their camera roll as the background of their Stories. Then they’ll be able to use a recording of themselves or a still image as the overlay.
Facebook Rooms Tests Audio-Only Broadcast And Private Room Features
Facebook is testing new audio-only features for Rooms, its multi-user video chat option, reports Social Media Today.
Why it matters: Facebook is gearing up to compete against similar audio experiences from invite-only Clubhouse and Twitter’s Spaces, which Twitter plans to open to all users by April.
The details: As seen in this screenshot shared by developer Alessandro Paluzzi, Facebook will give users the option to choose from two additional functionalities in Rooms—one, a live audio-only room and two, a private audio room with friends.
Instagram Looks To Expand Stories Poll Feature To Groups
Instagram may be expanding its Stories poll option, which gives individual users the ability to ask a question with two answers and see results in real-time, to groups, according to Digital Information World.
Why it matters: With the impending demise of third-party cookies, a poll option for groups could help businesses looking to gather more information about their audience on Instagram.
The details: Developer Alessandro Paluzzi first discovered the Instagram poll option for groups, which appears in the Stories’ sticker section under a gradient pink icon.
