MM Tech, Media & Publishing Roundup #2

Social Media:

1. NFTs are Coming to Instagram, Facebook to Follow

Starting this week, a select few U.S-based creators and collectors can now share their digital collectibles as Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) on Instagram. 

In addition to giving creators new tools to earn income, fans can now purchase digital collectibles - art, images and videos, music, or trading cards - as non-fungible tokens (NFTs). 

Meta’s CEO announced it would soon roll out similar NFT features on Facebook and other Meta platforms.

Via Medium 

2. TikTok Introduces ‘TikTok Pulse’ As A New Way For Advertisers To Reach Users

TikTok has brought out a new feature aimed at advertisers called TikTok Pulse. This new contextual advertising solution displays ads around the top content, specifically in the users’ For You feed.  

TikTok stated that its new Pulse solution would show your brand’s TikTok ad among the top 4% of all videos on that platform. 

There are 12 categories in TikTok Pulse that brands can select where their content is shown. The benefit of these categories is that it provides the ability to engage directly with the most relevant groups. 

Via Search Engine Journal 
 

3. YouTube Shorts Green Screen Now Compatible With All Videos

Previously, the green screen feature was only available on YouTube Shorts; however, any video on YouTube can now be used as a background in a short video. 

Utilizing the green screen effect allows you to overlay footage of yourself on top of the background video, commonly used as a way to react or provide commentary on other videos. 

When content is remixed into a YouTube Short, creators will receive full credit for the original video as a new avenue to reach an expanded audience.  

Via Search Engine Journal

4. Facebook and Instagram Turn Off AR Filters In Texas and Illinois

As privacy laws expand in the U.S, Facebook and Instagram have turned off Augmented Reality (AR) filters in Texas and Illinois due to those states' facial recognition and privacy laws.  

Meta, the two platforms’ parent company, recently stated, "The technology we use to power augmented reality effects like avatars and filters is not facial recognition or any technology covered by the Texas and Illinois laws, and is not used to identify anyone."

The states of Texas and Illinois have passed their own privacy law and proceed to sue any company that does not appropriately obtain consent from Texans’ biometric data.

Via Cnet

Streaming:

5. Disney+ Exceeds All Expectations For March Quarter, Growing Up to Nearly 138 Million Subscribers

Disney’s flagship streamer gained 7.9 million paid customers in the first three months of 2022, to stand at 137.7 million, up 33% year-over-year.

The quarterly results “once again proved that we are in a league of our own,” Disney CEO Bob Chapek boasted in prepared remarks. He added, “We believe Disney+ is one-of-a-kind,” with appeal across “all four quadrants.” Chapek said Disney+ remains on track to hit 230 million-260 million subscribers by the end of fiscal 2024.

Via Variety

6. Netflix sets its sights on an ad-supported tier by the end of 2022

Having a difficult start to 2022 after losing over 200,000 subscribers, Netflix has announced it’s considering accelerating plans for an ad-supported tier after its long reign maintaining a strictly SVOD model.  

Netflix competitors like HBO and Hulu have maintained strong brands while offering an ad-supported service. 

In addition, Netflix may even consider a FAST model for Africa and Latin America audiences as another cost-efficient option for subscribers. 

Via Fierce Video

Monetization:

7. Podcast Advertising Hits $1.2 Billion-Dollar Business Driven By Dynamic Ad Insertion

Podcasting is now one of the fastest-growing digital media channels sitting at $1.4 billion - up 72% from 2020 due to increased automated ad delivery, particularly DAI. 

The IAB predicts podcast ad revenue will top $2 billion this year and hit more than $4 billion by 2024.

DAI ads can be tailored to the listener using a variety of data signals and enable publishers to remonetize back-catalog podcast episodes. 

Via Ad Exchanger

8. Connected TV made up 46% of video ad impressions in 2021

CTV viewing gained momentum last year, while linear TV views declined. Advertising platform Innovid showed that CTV made up 46% of all video ad impressions last year, up from 40% in 2020. 

The report by Innovid indicates that CTV campaigns demonstrate a higher engagement rate than the same campaigns on mobile and desktop. 

Via Fierce Video

9. Is Virtual Environment Optimization (VEO) the next big SEO?

With e-commerce dominating the industry, customers are looking for an immersive online experience making VR and AR the answer for the future. 

Mindy Weinstein, Founder and CEO of Market Mindshift, stated, “The Metaverse’s growth is inevitable, and it is something that we should start taking into account now. For instance, given that the metaverse is a visual environment, we should ensure optimized images are included in our SEO content strategies.” 

Via Search Engine Land