Facebook suffers setback as Indian firms withdraw from Internet.org scheme
A group of Indian technology and internet companies have pulled out of Facebook’s Internet.org initiative, claiming it threatens the principle of “net neutrality”. Net Neutrality is defined as the principle that all websites and apps should be...New Instagram ad format turns viewers into shoppers
Instagram has taken another step towards e-commerce by running its first marketing campaigns that transform viewers into shoppers with a single click, according to a news report. The report, from AdWeek, suggests that Instagram is working on features that would make...Facebook admits tracking ‘non-users’…but blames bug
Facebook has admitted that it is tracking non-users, often referred to as ‘shadow profiles’, but denies claims it breaches EU privacy law. A report published last week by Belgian academics alleged that Facebook had been secretly installing tracking cookies on users’...Facebook sued over facial recognition database
Facebook has been accused of building a giant database of biometric information on people’s faces against their will, in court documents filed against the firm in the US. Filed on April 1, the class action suit lodged by the Edelson law firm on behalf of...Facebook begins WhatsApp integration
Facebook has reportedly started testing WhatsApp integration with its popular social network, looking to find ways of unifying the two services. Technology blog Geektime reports that Facebook has launched an updated test version of WhatsApp (v31.0.0.7.13) lets users...Hellmann’s runs £15m campaign based on customer Facebook posts
Unilever brand Hellmann’s is launching a new £15m campaign, taking its slogan from a Facebook fan comment. The brand has used a Facebook post from a fan posted earlier this year, that proclaimed the brand’s mayonnaise was “One Of The Greatest Things Ever Created”....Facebook ‘laser drones’ to boost rural web access
Facebook has tested a solar-powered drone that carries internet signal in the skies above the UK, beaming down laser-guided signals to remote locations which do not have internet access. Mark Zuckerberg said the first phase of test flights had been carried out as part...Facebook plans to meld social media with virtual reality
Facebook is planning a world beyond gaming and entertainment for its virtual reality headset Oculus Rift, aiming to create a more immersive social experience through the company’s communications tools. At a recent Facebook developer’s conference, company CTO...Facebook relives your past with ‘On This Day’ feature
Facebook has launched an “On This Day” feature that lets users see photos and comments from previous years. The feature displays status updates, photos, posts from friends, and other items that you shared or appeared in on this date in the past, Facebook...Facebook opens Messenger to third-party apps
Facebook has revamped its Messenger service, letting users send content like GIFs, photos, videos, and more from third-party apps within the Facebook Messenger app. The move means that app developers can now build Facebook Messenger support into their apps, making...Facebook hosts content for news publishers as ‘walled garden’ grows
Facebook has struck a revenue sharing deal with a number of publishes, with New York Times, BuzzFeed and National Geographic sharing revenues from advertising around their stories on the social network. The social network is hoping the deal will be mutually...Salesforce matches CRM data to Facebook ads
Salesforce.com has launched a new tool that syncs its customer relationship management (CRM) data with Facebook, so its users can send targeted ads to their customers on the social network. The Marketing Cloud Active Audiences feature for synchronizing CRM with...Facebook mobile app ad spend jumps 235% but clicks fall
Spend on Facebook mobile app ads rose a massive 235% last year, but click through rate (CTR) fell as competition increased, according to a new global study. The research, from Kenshoo, indicates that advertisers who use Facebook mobile app adverts to promote and drive...Facebook Messenger gets mobile payments
Facebook is expanding into mobile payments by letting users exchange money through its Messenger app. The move would mean that users would not need to open another app such as PayPal or Venmo to send them money- keeping users on Facebook’s site. The service will carry...WeChat Vs WhatsApp: Battle of the chat apps (infographic)
Chat apps have become hugely popular in recent years, with Facebook-owned WhatsApp and China-based WeChat becoming the places for people to chat on their mobiles while avoiding SMS charges. This infographic charts the success of the platforms and compares the marketing efforts of both.
