The Evolution of Social

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtxPdezclYw

Facebook hosted the opening keynote for its annual developer's conference today with a number of game-changing announcements made by CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Here are the top 5 takeouts from Day 1 of the conference that you need to know:

1. The Future Is Private

Privacy is one of the main factors that's been repeatedly emphasised at F8. End-to-end encryption on the messenger app along with Whatsapp and Portal will secure the way we communicate in the digital living room. Given this new and improved security, Whatsapp will soon be launching a business product with the option to send and receive payments via the app. It's ironic how Facebook is working on rebuilding trust by promising total privacy when the network has built itself on sharing. By meshing all of the above communication apps, the tech giant will have access to more data than ever before, including heaps more intel on our consumer behaviour.

2. Messenger Facelift

Facebook Messenger is aiming to be one of the fastest communicating apps in the industry. Its purpose being to solidify itself as a dedicated place for your closest connections. It's even announced that a desktop version of the app will be introduced. Messenger users will also have the ability to communicate directly with Whatsapp and Instagram users within the app -- whether in messages or video calls.

3. Facebook To Prioritise Groups & Events

Across all of Facebook's products, the bottom line is that they are striving for "tools to be used for good". Taking this into account, Facebook are going to begin downplaying the newsfeed and highlighting groups and events in order to create a more personalised community for its users. New features will include;  a stand-alone "Groups tab" and a personalised feed from the groups you’ve joined. You will also be able to posts to Groups in composer and even pause your newsfeed so you begin scrolling where you left off.

4. Instagram Introduces Ways To Combat Bullying

Instagram is testing out several features in a bid to reduce bullying on the platform. With the rise of influencer fame and unachievable lifestyles, this is a welcomed direction to pro-actively encourage the culture of kindness.

• Private Like Counts - posts no longer
• A new profile design to make the follower count appear less prominent
• Comment filters - users who take it too far will receive a gentle warning in the form of a "nudge" from Instagram
• Away Mode - A setting for users to switch on when they're feeling vulnerable and need a break from social media.

The platform has also announced a new "Create Mode" camera feature where users can share content beyond photos and videos, such as links and quizzes.

5. Doubling Up With VR

Two new virtual-reality headsets, the Oculus Quest and Oculus Rift S, will go on sale on May 21st at an affordable USD $399. The completely wireless Oculus Quest is set to transform the VR industry with zero cables and total freedom of movement. The new headset will also feature a casting function to any device along with movement mapping. The rollout of VR is an exciting time for brands to incorporate wearable technology into their campaigns.

We as marketers, know all too well that the digital landscape is ever-changing. Technology and more importantly, the way we use technology is in constant shift and we must learn to adapt and grow with it in terms of how we communicate our brands' messaging. All of the above announcements will impact our future digital strategies with one of the biggest changes to take into account being Facebook favouring Groups and Events rather than pages.

The evolving digital guerillas at New Beach Media are not one bit phased by change and are happy to assist you in understanding Facebook's new direction. Get in touch: gemma@newbeach.co