Social media trends in the US: Facebook dominates mobile as Snapchat surges
Facebook continues to dominate social media on mobile in the US, but SnapChat use is rocketing, according to new research looking into social media trends in the US.
Google buys social city guide app JetPac
Google has bought social travel app JetPac, as the internet giant continues to enhance its local search data.
Video viral of the week: Wilkinson Sword claims beards make babies cry
With bushy beards coming back into fashion, how does a shaving brand get rugged hipsters back on their side? This viral video from Wilkinson Sword Germany explains why the hirsute look might not be as fatherly as you might think. See why it’s our video viral of the week below…
Twitter tests ‘Promoted Videos’ to take on Facebook
Twitter has begun testing video ads embedded into user’s newsfeeds, as the social network looks to rival Facebook’s recent foray into auto-start video ads.
Twitter alters price model to compete with Facebook
Twitter has revamped its ad pricing model to compete with Facebook, letting advertisers specify which action they wish to pay for, such as downloading an application.
Is BuzzFeed worth three times more than the Washington Post?
BuzzFeed has raised $50m in a new funding round that values the web publisher at three times the amount of the Washington Post.
Facebook bans apps offering free content for likes
Facebook has cracked down on apps that incentivise app downloads in exchange for likes, as the social network looks to increase the value and meaning of its social metrics.
US smartphone penetration to reach 75% this year
The US will reach over 75% by the year end, with Apple and Android still leading the way in terms of phones and operating systems respectively, according to new data.
Google rewards secure websites with higher search ranking
Google is encouraging website developers to make their sites secure for visitors by using site encryption as one of the factors to determine search ranking.
Pinterest finally adds private messaging
Pinterest has added a private messaging feature, letting users to chat with each other in a private window while using the social media scrapbooking tool.