This week on the #MMSocialReport: your favorite shows are moving to social media, Facebook signs new deals with several independent digital publications to push out original content in the future, Twitter adds in-app messaging feature in an attempt to optimize user experience, advertisers are starting to place ads on GIFs, and, there’s a good chance you’re using your Linkedin profile wrong.

1. Facebook Signs Deals to Push Out Original TV Shows For Upcoming Video Service

by @BStoly via @DigitalTrends

You might have seen original content from independent digital publications on Facebook in this past election cycle. Digital publications like Vox Media and ATTN produced numerous informational videos covering topics from political news to viral events. According to Digital Trends, Facebook has recently signed deals with a series of independent digital publications to produce original video content. In recent months, video sharing on Facebook has become increasingly prevalent due to its convenience and the friend-tagging feature. This deal indicates Facebook’s ambition in the increasingly competitive video-content realm.

2. Twitter Adds Handy Direct Messages Filter to Separate Friends from Strangers

by Trevor Mogg via @DigitalTrends

Almost every social media platform has its own in-app messaging feature; from Facebook’s messenger to Instagram’s DM (direct messaging,) the purpose of this feature is to keep active users to use the app for as long as possible. Twitter’s messaging feature, however, does not get the job done – many users find themselves tweeting at others, and then hopping to another messaging app to message each other. The reason is simple: Twitter’s messaging feature doesn’t allow strangers to message each other. In other words, only mutually followed twitter users can message each other, which is considerably inconvenient. In order to solve this issue, Twitter implemented a handy direct message filter that allows users to separate friends from strangers.

3. The Founder of Linkedin Says Too Many of Us Are Using the Site All Wrong

by @RichFeloni via @Entrepreneur 

How do you use your Linkedin profile? Do you accept every invitation to connect to your professional network? The Linkedin social network dynamic is quite nuanced comparing to that of Facebook or Snapchat – it’s an easy decision to ignore a Facebook friend request from a strange, whereas Linkedin invitations from a stranger can sometimes be mutually beneficial. In an interview, Linkedin’s founder, Reid Hoffman, revealed that many Linkedin users are not benefitting from the closed professional network Linkedin offers. Read more to learn about how to correctly use your Linkedin profile.

4. That Animated GIF You’re Sharing Could be an Ad in Disguise

by @JulianChokkattu via @DigitalTrends

Advertisers are getting smarter and smarter. Most importantly, they are getting more tech savvy. As millennials spend less time on traditional media – television, radio, newspapers – advertisers are desperate to reach the younger generation. The platform millennials use most frequently, social media, however, is quite difficult to advertise; people tend to avoid sponsored post or “suggested content.” Recently, advertisers came up with a new way to advertise, or to get free coverage on Facebook, since companies don’t even need to pay for this one – embed ads in GIFs on Facebook. In this way, when you share that dancing pizza GIF on your wall, you might have just helped promoting a pizza brand.

5. MTV Adds “Cribs” and “Girl Code” to Snapchat’s Roster of Shows

by @kerrymflynn via @Mashable

You might have seen popular TV shows appearing on Snapchat in recent months. From Washington Post’s newsroom to Discovery Channel’s Planet Earth, popular shows are moving to Snapchat in condensed version to capture the attention of the younger generation. MTV, “the channel once defined cool on TV,” is moving to Snapchat with two of its popular shows, “Cribs” and “Girl Code.” The return of the classic “Cribs” is scheduled in June, with guests Mac Miller, Austin Mahone and Travis Mills. As more shows move into Snapchat, the self-deleting social media has the potential to become a video platform.

Metter Media LLC is a Boston-based social media management company that implements community-based, localized social engagement strategies small businesses and corporations alike. Need help with your social media? Email Lauren today.