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Pinterest improves its skin tone search feature also adds more brands into its AR Try-On program

Pinterest has announced two new and very interesting options and improvements in the platform. First us the improvement for its skin tone search feature with which users can filter by skin tone to get more relevant results, and second is the addition of more brands and options for the AR Try-On Program.

Keep reading to find out more about these two new feature improvements, how they work, and how to make use of them.

Skin Tone search feature

Pinterest is expanding the availability of its skin tone matching options. The feature is designed to make it easier for users to find content relevant to them, says Pinterest. It’s a common problem in the search world that certain queries default to show white faces. By giving users the option to refine their searches based on skin tones, Pinterest says it helps users find the content they want to see.

This feature would be a very useful feature for getting the exact result a user wants. Imagine you can get image search results exactly for what you aim to see. The company offers searches like “grey hair on dark skin women,” “blonde hair color ideas for fair skin blue eyes,” and “soft natural makeup for Black women “as examples of the sort of fine-grained results the feature can deliver.

As explained by Pinterest:

“Skin tone ranges (our inclusive beauty results search feature) is now available beyond the US- in the UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand – and the design has been refreshed to surface options right from search results.”

The skin tone search option was rolled out in January last year, and it has made search results more personalized for each user, and now people in more regions will be able to access the same.

The Try-On feature

Pinterest is also expanding its AR Try-On program, with more brands signing on to take part in the new initiative. This feature, which is a very useful option, by the way, lets users search for lipstick shades and try them on in AR. This feature is currently only available in the US but is launching in the UK “in the coming months.”

This feature is mainly rolled out to make it easier for people to shop and be a little surer of their choice when deciding which product suits them.

The easier it is to try on, the more people are likely to buy, as Pinners come to Pinterest early in their shopping journey. Since augmented reality technology launched in January, Pinners try on an average of six lipstick shades and are 5x more likely to show purchase intent on Try on-enabled Pins than standard Pins.

Facebook Adds New Sponsored Post Options for Groups

Facebook is once more trying to improve its group engagement this time with a different goal, to create more opportunities for businesses within these highly engaged communities.

Facebook’s looking to add another potential revenue pathway specifically for group admins, with new brand partnership posts built into the group’s experience direct.

As it is clear in the image attached below, which is originally shared by Social Media Today, the new sponsored posts within groups are an extension of Facebook’s existing Branded Content tools, and will include a similar ‘Paid Partnership’ tag to signify funded posts.

Facebook has clarified the new update officially as below:

“Facebook has built monetization tools across different surfaces to help individuals and organizations generate reliable revenue that’s sustainable over time, and we’re excited to launch a set of tools that will enable communities, specifically, for the first time, to meaningfully monetize their engaged group audience by partnering with brands to create ‘branded’ posts.”

This option is a blessing for group admins, and it will make their business collaborations easier. Group admins will now have a clear process for partnering with brands, and essentially selling them on their group’s reach. Facebook already provides paid subscription options for some groups, another way to see admins get paid for the time they spend building their communities, and sponsored content will add even more opportunity – while also giving brands a direct line into engaged, focused audiences.

Facebook Releases Limited Version of New Gaming App on iOS

It was April 2020 that Facebook officially announced its standalone gaming app, Facebook gaming, to exclusively house gaming-related live streams and content.

The app was then launched on Google Play Store for Android users, and until now, there was no official rollout for the iOS version of the app. Today, the app is launched on Apple Store as well but with a little issue. The app is limited to the Apple store.

The first picture below is the version of Facebook Gaming on Google Play, and the second picture is its Apple Store edition, in which you can clearly see that The ‘Chat’ and ‘Play’ screens are not listed on the app store.

Why is Facebook Gaming launched as “Limited” on Apple Store?

That’s because Facebook has had to remove some functionality from the app for iOS due to App Store regulations, with Apple refusing to approve the app with mini-games included.

As Facebook Gaming has officially tweeted on their Twitter account, after months of submissions and repeated rejections by Apple, they’ve had to remove instant games entirely from the standalone app.

Citing App Store guideline 4.7, Apple rejected the app claiming the primary purpose of the Facebook Gaming app is to play games. It’s not. 95% of app activity on Android is from watching live streams. Facebook Gaming claims they have also shared this stat with Apple, but no luck.

Facebook then attempted to appeal under the new app review process revealed at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference but did not receive a response. Instead of continuing along the appeal process, the company opted to launch a limited version of the Facebook Gaming app to iOS users, to avoid inconveniencing streamers and fans.

Initial feedback on the app has been good, and Facebook has continued to build its gaming presence, with the integration of Microsoft’s Mixer platform also helping to boost its gaming presence.

All the issues aside, we can now download the Facebook Gaming app on both Android and iOS.

Snapchat is working on a New Option to Add Popular Music Clips to Your Snaps

Snapchat has once more surprised its users and is working on a new cool option, which would excite all Snapchat users out there. Snapchat’s working on a new way to share music within Snaps, which could be seen as another nod towards the rising popularity of TikTok, though there are some variances in the application.

There is one thing to note here. Snapchat does already have a music sticker option, linked to Spotify, but this is a more advanced, direct connection option for music clips.

This TikTok-like feature would make Snapchat one of the biggest competitors and TikTok alternatives these days, which the TikTok audiences have been exploring alternative apps as the Trump administration weighs a ban on Chinese tech companies over data privacy concerns.

What exactly is this new feature and how does it work?

This very interesting news Snapchat option will enable users to add music to their snaps – pre or post-capture. That could facilitate the type of lip-synching, dance clips that have been popularized by TikTok, so it probably is inspired by the app, but the feature has also been facilitated by Snapchat’s new deals with music publishers, which will enable it to include more music for use in the app.

When friends receive one of the new Snaps with music, they’ll be able to swipe up to view the album art, song title, and artist name. A “Play This Song” link will also be available.

When clicked, it will open a web view to Linkfire that will allow users to listen to the full song — not a snippet — on their preferred music streaming platform, like Spotify, Apple Music, or SoundCloud.

After the release of the option, Snapchat could qualify as the best TikTok rival and could welcome TikTok refugees warmly.

Snapchat will first launch the option in New Zealand and Australia this week, with a wider rollout planned for later in the year.

Microsoft says it is aiming to close TikTok deal by September 15th

It is almost known by most of the people all over the world that Microsoft is in talks to buy TikTok, as we wrote about earlier this week as well. But today, Microsoft has added some more details and clarities to the purchase after CEO Satya Nadella has talked to President Trump about the acquisition.

Following a conversation between Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and President Donald J. Trump, Microsoft is prepared to continue discussions to explore the purchase of TikTok in the United States. While they are unlikely to need the help of business acquisition loans to complete this purchase like smaller businesses might, should they be able to close on a deal, the cost of acquiring this growing platform will surely be huge.

The company notes that CEO Satya Nadella discussed the matter with President Trump and that it plans to solidify a deal no later than September 15th.

If Microsoft succeeds in buying TikTok, It would be a very grand move by the company, and the acquisition would mean Microsoft would own and operate TikTok in the US, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. The company also added that it might bring on other American investors as minority stakeholders.

“Microsoft fully appreciates the importance of addressing the President’s concerns,” the company wrote. “It is committed to acquiring TikTok subject to a complete security review and providing proper economic benefits to the United States, including the United States Treasury.”

How would the TikTok experience change after the acquisition?

Microsoft has made a promise to make the TikTok experience something better after the acquisition if succeeded. They said that they’ll add the best security and privacy to TikTok for users, one it never had before.

Microsoft could add some stability to the mobile app in the U.S., where ByteDance has been criticized for having nebulous ties to the Chinese government.

Another goal Microsoft is looking for is that it is aiming to Microsoft also says it’s aiming to “ensure transparency” with TikTok users while also maintaining “appropriate security oversight” by the governments where it’s operating the service.

When would the acquisition discussions end?

Microsoft says that in any case, their discussions about the acquisition from ByteDance would complete no later than September 15th, 2020 and that it is keeping discussion ongoing with the President and the U.S. government.

There is also the possibility that these negotiations would fall apart like so many other huge talks between huge companies, but this deal is particularly strange since it seems to be coming at the behest of a President who has talked of banning TikTok.

Microsoft Is in Talks to Buy TikTok in the U.S.

Microsoft is said to be in Talks to Buy TikTok, as Trump Weighs Curtailing App.

The discussions come as TikTok’s ownership by a Chinese company is under scrutiny by the White House and lawmakers.

If this deal is made, Microsoft would be the owner of TikTok’s operations in the United States without any hands of China on it anymore. A deal would give the software company a popular social media service and relieve U.S. government pressure on the Chinese owner of the video-sharing app.

And also, a deal with Microsoft could potentially help extract ByteDance from the political war between the U.S. and China.

On Friday, Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin, who leads the committee, briefed the president on the divestment plan. But it remains unclear what the president will do, including whether the U.S. would apply a divestment order to all of TikTok’s American operations and whether its actions would affect the app’s global business as well.

It is not hard to estimate that this deal would not be cheap at all. Any deal would likely be expensive. ByteDance’s valuation recently stood at around $100 billion.

Trump, on Friday night, said he would ban TikTok from the U.S., and had the authority to do so by executive order or under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. He was signing the document on Saturday, he said.

“As far as TikTok is concerned, we’re banning them from the United States,” the president told reporters. Asked when it would happen, he said: “Soon, immediately. I mean essentially immediately.”

Earlier in the day, he said that “we are looking at a lot of alternatives with respect to TikTok.”

According to Bloomerang, It’s also possible that other potential buyers could come forward, said another person familiar with the discussions. Microsoft’s industry peers Facebook Inc., Apple Inc., Amazon.com Inc., and Alphabet Inc. — fit the profile of potential suitors, though all are under antitrust scrutiny from U.S. regulators, which would likely complicate a deal.

A purchase of TikTok would represent a huge coup for Microsoft, which would gain a popular consumer app that has won over young people with a steady diet of dance videos, lip-syncing clips, and viral memes. The company has dabbled in social-media investments in the past but hasn’t developed a popular service of its own in the lucrative sector.

Twitter survey reveals the subscription options it’s considering, including an ‘Undo Send’ button

It was not long ago, this month, that Twitter announced they are considering adding remarkable and very fun options to the platform, but they would not be free. Twitter posted a job listing called ‘Gryphon’ for new positions, which, the ad explained, would be focused on building a subscription platform, one that can be reused by other teams in the future.

After that, Twitter officially said that you might have to pay to access tweets or additional features, and it was confirmed that Twitter is working on “subscriptions and other approaches” as potential revenue opportunities.

Moreover, so many users reported that they have been seeing a new Twitter survey that asks them about a range of potential options that they might be willing to pay for, another step towards the next stage for the project.

Details of the survey were first published to none other than Twitter itself by Twitter user @WFBrother. The findings were then amplified by social media consultant, Matt Navarra, who had also seen the survey.

The options which could be made available via Twitter subscriptions include:

Undo send: An option to recall your sent tweets within a 30-second window.
Custom color options: New ways to customize your Twitter profile presentation.
Advanced video publishing tools: The capacity to publish significantly longer videos in your tweets.
Profile badges: A profile badge that links back to your business/employer.
Auto replies: The capacity to add auto-response options to use in your tweet replies.
Social listening: More insights into your tweet engagement and discussion around your Twitter handle.
Brand surveys: An option to run surveys about your Twitter ads to get more feedback.
Custom stickers and hashtags: The capability to create custom stickers and ‘hashflag’ emoji-linked hashtags.
Job ads: Optional job ad listings.
Administrator role management: New options to define how staff/contractors can control Twitter your account.
Insights into other accounts: More analytics options, including the capacity to see all your past reactions with any account.
Education resources: Access to more Twitter training courses and tools.

Moreover, twitter might give its users the chance to avoid seeing any ads in return for paying.

Anyways, the survey does not represent features Twitter will definitely roll out as part of any future membership model, of course. It’s only the first step to gathering consumer feedback about what people believe is worth paying for.

By the way, which of the options, offered by Twitter, would you be willing to pay for? To me, it might just be the “Undo Send” and “No Ads” which would both give me somehow a feeling of more freedom on the platform. What about you?

Snap’s first diversity report says only 4 percent of the company identifies as Black

After so many years of not exposing such information, Snap, the company behind Snapchat, has decided to share its Citizen Snap Report, outlining the company’s diversity, community, and environmental efforts over the past year.

Without a surprise, more than 70 percent of Director-level jobs were held by white people. Snap is overwhelmingly staffed by white men. So where are the black?

Keep up with me to find out the exact statistics of the black working for Snap and the percentage of male and female staff of the company.

Snap’s diversity report

The report has detailed so much information about the diversity of the Snap Staff. According to The Verge, the report details the minimal growth. The 3,195-person company has made in regards to hiring people of color and women. Black and African American people only represent 4.1 percent of the entire workforce, the report states, and Hispanic / Latinx people make up 6.8 percent. Both groups account for only 3.2 percent of leadership; Black and African American people make up 2.3 percent of tech roles while Hispanic/LatinX account for 3.4 percent.

Meanwhile, women only make up 32.9 percent of Snap’s workforce, with only 16 percent in technical roles. Along with the numbers, Snap says it’s setting new goals, including doubling the number of women in tech at Snap by 2023 and doubling the number of underrepresented US racial and ethnic minorities at Snap by 2025. Long-term, the team says it wants to “reflect the racial and gender diversity (including non-binary) of the different places where we operate.”

In leadership roles, forget about it. More than 70 percent of Director-level jobs were held by white people, with 16.5 percent held by Asians, 2.6 percent held by Black/African American employees, and just 2.6 percent held by Hispanic/Latinx workers.

91 percent of employees in tech roles were either white or Asian. Ninety-one percent.

“We also collected a more inclusive DEI data set: Our first DEI Self-ID Survey enabled US-based employees to self-identify as LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, veterans, or first generation in their family to attend college. The Self-ID data collection is voluntary, and 60 percent of our US team completed the survey. Later this year, we will begin a global rollout of this expanded data collection,” the company reported.

WhatsApp could finally let you mute those pesky group chats forever

Whatsapp is working to roll out an option we have all been waiting for really long. WhatsApp will soon let you mute your chats and groups FOREVER and not only for 8 hours, a week, or a year.

Since the very beginning of Whatsapp’s emergence, one of the biggest issues with the app was that it doesn’t let you permanently mute a contact or group. But now the app could soon let you permanently mute groups and contacts.

Regarding serial leaker, WABetaInfo has uncovered evidence that the WhatsApp team is working on the ability to permanently mute contacts and groups.

The screenshot suggests that the “always” option will replace the “one year” option when muting notifications. Check out the screenshot below.

That is a blessing for someone like me who always mutes chats and especially groups. But that was really hard that the last option I had was to mute notifications for a year. After all, I have to mute those groups all over again in 365 days. The only other option right now is to simply leave those groups — not ideal for the likes of family chats and workgroups.

Enabling this option, after it is globally rolled out, is as before, and all you have to do is to long press and hold on a chat or group and choose “Mute” and then “Always”.

This reported tweak also comes a few days after more evidence surfaced for multiple device support in the chat app. So here’s hoping we see both features coming soon.

Facebook Releases New Web Collage App via its Experimental NPE Team

Facebook has rolled out a new app that is not like any of the apps it has made before. Facebook’s experimental NPE team has released its tenth new app, this time with an early-internet inspired collage board tool called E.gg. Under the banner “Free your Creativity,” this new app from Facebook’s NPE team is a nostalgic call to bring back “the raw and exploratory spirit that was so emblematic of The Early Internet.”

E.gg is an experimental new platform for weird and wonderful expressions of who you are and what you love. E.gg was inspired by early web platforms like Geocities and MySpace.

What are E.gg’s functions?

E.gg enables users to create what it calls ‘canvases.’ Free-form mixed media collages/pages that let you express anything from your favorite films/albums/novels to a collage of succulent pics to, say, an about page for an app. You can add various types of media, re-size and shape them to fit your display, then paste them to your canvas, which you can then share with other E.gg users.

Canvasses are created within the E.gg app, but they can be viewed and shared across the web via personalized e.gg URLs, with no logins or downloads required. Despite it being a Facebook app, there are no likes or comments possible on canvasses. Toff explained that such metrics were seen as limitations to creative exploration.

There are a lot more about E.gg which is still not known but here is a glimpse of what they have to say about themselves on their about page:

“We started working on E.gg after a few of us found ourselves missing a certain raw and exploratory spirit that was so emblematic of The Early Internet. Sure, it was clumsy to use — dangerous at times, even — but in that awkward mess was a weird and enlivening bazaar of manically-blinking GIFs, passionate guestbook entries, personal webpages made by people who cared deeply about a niche interest of theirs and wanted simply to carve out their own digital space.

So we wondered: Is this misplaced nostalgia? What if people could express themselves more freely today? Can we make more room for the weird and off-beat? Give creative control back to people? Create a low-pressure space for the really unpolished and mismatched things?

We offer to you our experiment at recapturing that atmosphere.”

E.gg has divided its features into three different categories, as mentioned on their website:

Create

Create without constraints. Bring a wide variety of content into the E.gg app, which can then be freely positioned and sized to look; however, you want. To encourage experimental content, we left out like counts and comments.

Share

Share anywhere on the web. Canvases are created in the iOS app, but you can view and share them anywhere on the web via a personalized e.gg URL. No logins or downloads required.

Discover

Discover others w/ similar tastes. Bits can be used and reused across multiple canvases, and because canvases are linked by these bits, you can easily discover new canvases and other creators by following bits you like.

Anyways, I can estimate that E.gg would be welcomed really warmly, especially by creators and artists. To see how users would like it, all we have to do is to wait until it is more official, and more people start using it and leave feedback on it.