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In this week’s Platform Five: Instagram is testing a new video response option for IGTV

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What’s changed in the last seven days? What does it mean?

Facebook rolls out a faster, smaller and simpler version of Messenger, Instagram is testing a new video response option for IGTV and LinkedIn and Twitter are introducing Stories.

Let’s take a look at these changes in more detail.

Facebook rolls out a faster, smaller and simpler Messenger for iOS

Last year at F8, Facebook announced that it was working to redesign and simplify Messenger. The goal, a Messenger that is faster, smaller and much simpler to navigate. The result is a streamlined app that is twice as fast and a quarter of the size. The most notable difference is the removal of the Discover tab within the app. Facebook says people who use the app frequently will notice the difference.

Learn more about the updates here.

Instagram is testing a new video response option for IGTV

Instagram appears to be trialling a Tik-Tok inspired video response option for IGTV. The new feature, which was discovered by reverse engineering expert Jane Manchun Wong, would allow people that watch your IGTV videos to respond with their own video. It’s not yet clear exactly how the feature would work.

Take a look at the feature for yourself here.

LinkedIn and Twitter test new Stories formats

Both LinkedIn and Twitter have announced new Stories formats this week. ‘Fleets’ is Twitter’s version of Stories that will sit at the top of a user’s profile. They won’t show up in the Twitter feed, search or be able to be embedded into external websites. LinkedIn is testing Stories internally and hopes to roll out the feature to users soon.

Read more from Twitter and LinkedIn.

Facebook rolls out Messenger app for Mac

Facebook also announced at F8 last year that they were working on a desktop version of Messenger for Mac. Nothing had been mentioned since until this week when Facebook announced that they are testing a macOS app in a few markets. They haven’t yet confirmed when it will be fully released.

Find out more here.

Snapchat publishes usage report designed to attract Olympic campaigns

While we’re not certain that the Olympics are going ahead, Snapchat is putting its best foot forward and demonstrating why it should be the platform of choice for tie-in campaigns around the event. They’ve published a new report that demonstrates why brands should use them to reach sports fans, particularly the younger demographics.

Read the report for yourself here.

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