
Bluesky finally adds video content
Bluesky has seen a surge in sign-ups over the last month, but the absence of video content has frustrated newcomers looking to migrate from X. That issue was finally resolved on Wednesday, as Bluesky added the ability to share videos with a runtime of up to 60 seconds. To mitigate the risk of spam, users must verify their email addresses to upload videos. They can then post clips on desktop and the mobile app.
EU court upholds Google’s multi-billion dollar fine
Google will have to pay a $2.7bn fine after Europe’s highest court upheld a ruling that the tech giant deployed anti-competitive practices to favour its Shopping service over competitors in Search. The European Consumer Organisation stated: “The Court has confirmed that Google cannot unfairly deny European consumers access to full and unbiased online information.”
Facebook is the UK’s “most hated” app
Facebook has earned the unwanted title of being the UK’s “most hated” social media app, according to new research by Mailsuite based on user ratings. The UK is not alone in this sentiment, which is shared by 38 other countries. At the other end of the scale, TikTok was named the “most loved” in 30 countries, including the UK.
Fixing headings won’t improve a site’s search rankings
Google’s John Mueller has downplayed the impact of fixing header issues on web pages. While H1 and H2 headings help Google gain a better understanding of content, retroactively improving or fixing header structure is unlikely to improve rankings. He added: “I suspect you’ll find much bigger value in terms of SEO by looking for ways to significantly up-value your site overall.”
Instagram tests carousel mode for Reels
Instagram aims to improve previews for posts with multiple images and videos, as it tests a new carousel mode for Reels. The feature was spotted this week and could officially roll out in the near future.
“Rage bait” queries drive engagement on Threads
Threads is more likely to display posts with lots of comments than those with likes or shares. An interesting experiment by a Business Insider reporter found that “rage baiting” posts with controversial queries consistently attracted numerous comments, which significantly broadened the reach of the content. Meta has stated that it wants to incentivise discussion, so is posting questions the best way to drive engagement?
X wants to “decouple” DMs from posts
X is separating messaging functionality from the main app. Developer Nima Owji posted on X that one result of this “decoupling” is that users can block someone from messaging them without banning them from seeing posts and viewing their profile. Elon Musk added that users will soon be able to use the platform solely for messaging, foregoing public posting entirely.
Ryanair and James Blunt trade blows
James Blunt exchanged jabs with Ryanair on X this week. The singer-songwriter asked fans whether he should “add a Dublin show?” on X, to which Ryanair responded with a cheeky “no”. Blunt didn’t take kindly to this and replied with a four-letter expletive. Ryanair is known for its bold content strategy, often jumping into topical conversations with cheeky and irreverent responses.