Social media pioneer ASKfm has updated its iOS and Android apps to bring a new look and features to the platform.
Unlike Facebook, where people go to post photos and gain Likes, ASKfm focuses on the conversation between users, a steady stream of communication through questions and answers.
Among the new features is a simpler invite and notification system that allows users to invite people via SMS, as well as allowing for @mentions and viewing people who ‘liked’ your answers in a list.
The Dublin-based is also hoping a new colour scheme and mascot called OwlCat can tempt its youthful core audience to use the platform.
The firm, owned by InterActive Corp, is looking to shed its past ‘cyber-bullying’ image, the company has made a number of conscious efforts to turn this around..
The product’s redesign came from user feedback, says Andrea Cutright, COO of ASKfm. “Our users are young and tend to be digital natives, which is a very visual language,” she says. “So we built an integration GIPHY, giving users the ability to answer questions with GIFs.”
Some 150 million global users ask more than 18 billion questions annually — about 4 million questions daily. They ask and answer questions in more than 49 languages.
More than 75% of ASKfm users interact with people they know in real life. Users can now invite friends to join ASKfm conversations via text message, which allows for tagging and exchange between users through @mentions.
Soon after launch, the ASKfm “Question of the Day” feature will be programmed by a selection of Vine stars, including Rickey Thompson, DSharp, and Marcus Perez, thanks to an integration with Collab, a partner platform for Vine creators. ASKfm will update the content in the US daily. A new “Grab n’ Ask” feature will also fuel new conversations by allowing users to easily share questions they find interesting with their friends.
Announced this week as part of the new ASKfm experience:
Find and connect with friends more easily. More than 75 percent of ASKfm users interact with people they know in real life and the new ASKfm makes it easier than ever to invite and engage with friends. Users can now invite friends to join ASKfm conversations via text message, and allows for tagging and exchange between users through @mentions.
A fresh look and feel. The new experience is awash with bright colors, featuring bold hues of orange, blue, yellow and green, and offering a youthful feel more aligned with its core user base. A new mascot, OwlCat, embodies the fun, curious and playful nature of ASKfm with his wide eyes and cute features.
More tools to showcase your unique personality. ASKfm now includes an integration with GIPHY, the world’s largest and best GIF library, allowing ASKfm users to browse, search and select from millions of GIFs in response to questions. In addition, users can add a photo to the banner behind their profile, which comes into sharp focus when another user swipes down on the profile picture. On iOS, double tapping a post to “like” it now brings up a dancing heart icon, designed to amplify positivity among users.
Enhanced safety controls. Safety remains the top priority for the site and ASKfm continues to update guidelines and introduce features that keep users squarely in control when it comes to how they want to ask and answer questions. A toggle allows users to decide whether or not to accept anonymous questions at anytime.
Visit the new ASKfm or download it for free for iPhone and Android here.