This week’s top five social media must-know news sees Instagram and Google working to raise standards, shows how podcasting continues to grow and new innovations from Facebook. And, we see how women are leading the world of content marketing.  Read on…

1. Instagram takes action on fake accounts

Instagram, which has more than a billion users, is introducing new features to eliminate fake accounts and to reduce hacking. “About This Account” is rolling out to allow users to see the date the account joined Instagram, the country it’s located in, accounts with shared followers, any recent user name changes and any ads running. Also a new blue ‘verified’ badge will start appearing on the profiles of notable public figures. In addition, Instagram has announced support for third-party authenticator apps has begun rolling out. They seem a little late to the game, but these new initiatives should go some way in dealing with Instagram’s spammy issues.

2. Facebook introduces 3D posts

Facebook is introducing a cool new feature, 3D posts, and some big brands are already using it. This brings AR and VR together so audiences can interact with and explore visual details of 3D images, objects, and videos directly in their News Feeds. Wayfair, an online homewares retailer, Jurassic World and fashion brand Coach are among the first brands to try it out. The new feature allows brands to give their audience an intimate, immersive experience.

3. Google to provide training to support journalists’ election reporting

The Google News Initiative is partnering with the Society of Professional Journalists Training Program in workshops designed to support journalists in reporting the upcoming US mid-term elections. The idea is help fight the spread of misinformation and other digital attacks on quality news. The workshops will cover data security, verification and fact checking and data journalism. Quality journalism is good for everyone especially those of us working in the media industry.

4. Podcasting continues upward trend

Podcasting popularity continues to rise. A Nielsen Fanlinks survey showed that the number of self-identified “avid” podcast fans rose from 13 million homes in 2016 to 16 million in 2017 — a 23 percent increase. An Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) survey earlier this year found that podcast revenues topped $314 million in 2017, an 86 percent increase from 2016. Marcoms pros should take note of this effective channel.

5. Top 5 Content Marketing Influencers and Experts are women

Women top the list of the Top 50 content marketing influencers to follow, from the folks at the Top Rank Blog. They used the Traackr influencer marketing platform to filter the content marketing experts who are speaking at the upcoming Content Marketing World conference. Ann Handley, Erika Heald, Pam Didnger, Carla Johnson and Kelly Hungerford round out the top five. Yes!!

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