With the rise in popularity of social media, there’s no denying that the content that people post is heavily curated and (for most) somewhat of a highlight reel. This article gives a high-level overview of the psychological effects of only seeing other people’s “wins” online. Facebook commissioned a study into the impacts of social comparison, and the results are mostly what you’d expect: in summary, seeing more positivity in other’s posts on social media led to individuals comparing themselves to others. Read more to find out a few unexpected quirks in the data.
Snapchat has seen a massive increase in the number of users who are utilizing and engaging with the Snapchat Camera. Beyond entertainment and advertising, campaigns created using the AR Filter technology are being rolled out. The World Health Organization has developed a filter that overlays a digital circle on the ground in front of you, so you ‘re able to visualize how far away 2 metres is. With more people using the app and engaging with all the products, swipe-up rates on adverts have increased 22% so far during the pandemic.
Are you still a Snapchat user, or do you spend most of your time online scrolling through Instagram stories? Have you tried using filters, or are they not really for you? We had a LOT of fun testing out all the features on SnapCamera!
Facebook is coming through with the new! This article outlines a range of new video tools that Facebook are releasing, in response to the quarantine and social distancing. As we’ve previously discussed, social media platforms are going out of their way to ensure we’re able to connect at this time. Features to look forward to include “Messenger Rooms”. Hosted in Messenger, “Rooms” are available across all FB’s apps, Rooms gives the option for people to set up a virtual, unplanned video call.
With almost everyone’s schedules slightly skewed now, and an increase in overall usage, it’s no surprise that the best times to post on social media have changed somewhat. Sprout Social generated a report that indicates the best times to post on various social media platforms to achieve the most engagement. Across the board, it seems as though rather than massive change, the likelihood of engagement at certain times has expanded. Sprout states: “Previously, Wednesday at 11 a.m. and Friday from 10 a.m.–11 a.m. were identified as the best times to post. Now, we are seeing that out of an overall very busy span of weekday and working hours, Monday, Tuesday and Friday at 11 a.m. and Tuesday at 2 p.m. are the best times to post on Instagram.”
As a result of COVID-19, many small-medium businesses have had to slash advertising budgets. This article by Kristen McCormick highlights 11 FREE strategies to reach your audience online. My favourite of these strategies is supporting local businesses. We must step up at times like this to ensure independent companies can stay afloat.
Although we’ve still got a long way to go until “normality” resumes, and are still adapting to societal change, we must remember to continue looking forward! Larry Gurreri outlines three tips to help marketers prep for when the economy resumes. As so many more people are making purchases online, Larry recommends that digital marketing efforts focus on virtually guiding customers through to the point of sale: “Digital marketing should not be viewed as a supplement to sales teams, but rather as a virtual guide for the consumer journey.”
In summary; although social media keeps us connected, it is also possible for it to cause us psychological trauma. We should always remember that what we’re seeing is other peoples highlight reel. It’s especially important to remember this during a global pandemic – don’t feel bad if you’re not at your most productive and you see everyone on Instagram and LinkedIn completing online course after online course! Try to use social media as a tool to connect with people you know, not an environment that makes you feel alienated by people you don’t know.
