Brazil bans WhatsApp for 72 hours
Brazil’s five major operators have been asked by a judge in the state of Sergpipe to block WhatsApp for 72 hours because it did not hand over information in a criminal investigation.
Social
Twitter ad spend drops (but user growth returns)
Twitter has released a mixed earnings report for the first quarter of 2016, as the social network struggles to com[pete with larger rival Facebook.
Facebook profits triple as mobile ads smash expectations
Facebook shares have jumped after reporting a tripling of first quarter profits from a year earlier to $1.51bn, boosted by a huge increase in mobile.
Controversial Tinder tool reveals which friends use dating app
Tinder is testing a new feature called ‘Tinder Social’ that reveals which of a user’s Facebook contacts are using it.
Dawn of the chatbots: 89% of consumers want to talk to virtual assistants
The overwhelming majority of customers (89%) would prefer to engage with AI-driven virtual assistants to speed up finding information from companies, according to new research.
Video viral of the week: Knorr ‘taste tool’ matches strangers for dinner dates
Unilever brand Knorr has created an interactive digital tool that lets users figure out their flavour preferences, and used it to match up strangers on a first date to see if a shared passion for certain tastes would create chemistry. See why it’s our video viral of the week below…
1 in 3 use social networks for product research
One-third of consumers are using social networks to research products before making a purchase, strengthening the case for Facebook’s recent AI Messenger chatbots, according to new research.
Global social ad spend jumps 86%: Mobile, Instagram and Product Ads key drivers
Marketers spent 86% more on social advertising year-on-year in Q1 2016 with spend on mobile ads on social networks going up by 122% globally according to the latest quarterly data from Kenshoo.
Facebook tip jar: Users to donate cash for a good post?
Facebook is considering introducing a ‘tip jar’ which would let users give a cash tip in exchange for a good post, rather than just a ‘like’, according to a news report.
Emojis boost email open rates: ‘Tears of joy’ most popular
Brits are 63% more likely to open an email with an emoji accompanying the subject line, ahead of US and other European couterparts, according to new research.