Mediaboss Marketing

Category Artificial Intelligence

Date July 19, 2024

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the social media landscape, transforming how content is created, consumed, and monetized. As we navigate through 2024, the integration of AI technologies in social media platforms is not just a trend but a substantial economic force.

The market size for AI in social media is substantial, with a valuation of USD 2.10 billion. This figure is projected to soar to an impressive USD 7.25 billion by 2029, demonstrating a robust Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 28.04% during the five-year forecast period.

This surge is fueled by AI's ability to enhance user engagement. It does this through personalized content and automated operations. AI also optimizes advertising strategies, increasing revenue opportunities for social media platforms. Furthermore, AI-driven analytics tools enable precise audience targeting. They allow for real-time decision-making, making social media campaigns more effective than ever.

This article will explore various applications of artificial intelligence in social media. It covers algorithmic personalization and advanced analytics for user engagement. Additionally, it will delve into the economic impact of AI technologies. We will examine growth trends in the social media industry and forecasting future developments will also be a focus.

AI in social media marketing uses advanced technologies. These include machine learning and natural language processing. These technologies scrutinize user data and interactions across social platforms. Marketers leverage AI tools to enhance content creation. They also engage in social media listening. This boosts brand awareness and refines ad targeting. AI tools improve ad management and conduct in-depth influencer research.

AI's potential for hyper-personalization is transforming digital marketing. It ensures that consumers receive tailored content on social media. These feeds include relevant and engaging posts. They also feature finely targeted advertisements. This level of personalization is increasingly crucial in digital marketing strategies.

A recent statistic highlights this trend's significance. According to The 2023 State of Social Media Report, 97% of business leaders believe that AI markedly enhances the effectiveness of social media data and insights, thereby improving overall marketing strategies.

AI has a significant influence on the landscape of social media. It can simply help in enhancing personalization, efficiency, and content relevance. Let us look at the multiple applications to understand the impact of artificial intelligence in social media:

AI is employed to analyze the sentiment of social media posts and comments. Sentiment analysis helps businesses understand the mood and emotions behind content. It also monitors customer feedback and reactions. For instance, Twitter uses sentiment analysis algorithms. These algorithms determine the emotional tone of users' tweets. This enables businesses to grasp how people feel about specific topics or brands. It provides real-time insights into public opinion and sentiment trends.

AI-powered chatbots provide real-time support and information to users. They can answer questions while guiding users to relevant content. This enhances customer engagement effectively. For instance, Facebook Messengers AI chatbots boost customer service. They provide quick responses to user inquiries. This fosters engagement and improves user experiences. Consequently, users stay active on the platform. Their time spent on the platform increases as well.

AI is utilized to identify emerging trends on social media. It analyzes multiple conversations across various platforms. This empowers companies to create relevant content for their audience. By doing so, they align with current interests and discussions. For instance, Twitter uses AI to track trending hashtags and topics.

AI algorithms can predict user behavior by analyzing their past interactions and preferences. This empowers businesses to offer highly personalized content and recommendations. It fosters stronger customer engagement and satisfaction. For instance, Facebook utilizes AI to predict user behavior. The platform analyzes past interactions and user preferences.

AI-driven speech recognition technology is increasingly integrating into social media apps and platforms. This technology enables voice commands and transcription services for various purposes. For instance, platforms like Facebook now use AI-powered voice recognition. This allows users to issue voice commands and access transcription services seamlessly.

AI-enabled tools streamline advertising by analyzing customer data and targeting ad variations. For instance, Facebooks ad platform utilizes AI to optimize ad delivery based on user behavior. It is one of the simplest platform that can help you analyze the impact of artificial intelligence on social media

AI-driven bots scan and filter content for spam, guideline violations, or inappropriate material. For instance, Instagram employs AI to block comments that violate its guidelines.

AI plays a crucial role in facial recognition and image analysis software. It recognizes facial structures and identifies users. This includes those applying overly edited filters. This technology ensures content quality and authenticity. For instance, TikTok employs AI-based facial recognition. It analyzes images to identify users who apply excessive and unnatural filters to their videos.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the social media landscape. AI algorithms now power various features and tools in social media. These technologies make platforms more personalized for users. They also enhance efficiency for businesses. As a result, user engagement increases significantly. Here are some of the key benefits of AI in social media:

AI algorithms analyze user behavior and preferences. They also examine interaction patterns. This helps curate content that aligns with users' interests. As a result, user engagement improves significantly. A more tailored feed keeps users interested. Additionally, content creators gain more visibility.

AI enhances search functionality on social media platforms. It uses natural language processing (NLP) to understand user queries. This technology captures the context and nuances of those queries. As a result, users receive more accurate search results. This leads to relevant profiles, tags, and content. Discovering information becomes more efficient for users.

Artificial intelligence apps enable real-time language translation of posts, comments, and messages. This technology breaks down language barriers among users. As a result, it fosters a more inclusive global community. Users from different linguistic backgrounds can interact seamlessly with each other. This interaction enhances understanding and collaboration across cultures.

AI algorithms are crucial in identifying and filtering out spam and malicious content. By analyzing patterns and markers that indicate suspicious activity, these systems help maintain the integrity and safety of social media platforms, ensuring a cleaner and more trustworthy user experience.

Artifical intelligence tools are used to moderate content. They identify and remove harmful posts. This includes hate speech and violent content. Automation supports human moderators effectively. It scales efforts to maintain community guidelines. This is crucial for managing vast amounts of posts.

AI enhances user privacy by detecting and preventing unauthorized data breaches. It also identifies suspicious activities in real time. These systems can automatically adjust privacy settings based on user behavior. They can alert users about potential privacy threats effectively.

For businesses, AI analyzes vast amounts of data. It identifies potential customers based on their interests. It also considers customer behaviors and demographic information. This precision targeting helps businesses focus their marketing efforts more effectively.

AI-driven analytics enable the creation of personalized ad campaigns. These campaigns resonate with the target audience. By understanding user preferences, businesses can enhance their marketing strategies. AI analyzes engagement patterns effectively. This analysis helps optimize ad placement and content. Additionally, it determines the best timing for each ad. As a result, brands can maximize their impact and improve conversion rates.

AI tools provide advanced analytics. They help measure the return on investment (ROI) for social media activities. These tools track engagements, conversions, and other relevant metrics. This tracking assesses the effectiveness of campaigns and strategies.

AI can analyze trending topics and engagement rates. It also examines audience feedback to suggest strategies. These strategies are more likely to succeed. This process helps maintain a dynamic content calendar. It ensures the content aligns with audience preferences.

AI-powered chatbots and automated messaging services provide instant responses to customer inquiries. They operate on social media platforms to enhance customer service. These tools offer 24/7 support to users at all times. They efficiently handle common queries and issues. This frees up human resources for more complex problems.

AI can automate social media contests and giveaways. It ensures fair handling of entries and winner selection. Communication with participants is also efficient. This helps in boosting user engagement and interaction without significant manual oversight.

ALSO READ: Impact Of Artificial Intelligence On Our Lives

The scope of using AI in social media is huge. The technology has the potential to improve and optimize many tasks related to AI in social media marketing such as:

AI tools are transforming content generation. The best known of these tools is ChatGPT. However, others like Claude and Jasper are emerging. Claude offers impressive vision capabilities, while Jasper features a new metrics suite. These advancements could be beneficial for marketers.

Content generation can be time-consuming for companies. This is true whether creating social media posts or long-form blogs. The challenge increases when theres no in-house copywriter or content marketer available. Businesses may struggle to maintain a consistent flow of content creation strategy.

By using ChatGPT prompts, marketers can streamline content creation. They can focus on key factors like keywords and target audience. Additionally, they can consider digital channels, tone of voice, and brand voice. This allows for the creation of social posts, articles, voiceover scripts, videos, and images.

As traditional advertising struggles to reach todays ad-fatigued customers, influencer marketing offers a solution. The right influencer can effectively connect with your target audience. It is not just about celebrities or wealthy content creators. It involves partnering with individuals who have the trust and respect of your niche audience.

Using AI in influencer marketing for apps helps identify influencers that your target audience follows. It also helps detect fraudulent influencers in your campaigns. These tools evaluate an influencers engagement level and content style. Additionally, they monitor performance and assess ROI effectively.

Luxury brand Balmain went one step further in its influencer marketing by casting virtual models. The campaign featured three models: Shudu, Margot, and Zhi. Shudu has 240,000 Instagram followers and claims to be the worlds first virtual supermodel.

AI can analyze user behavior and preferences. This allows marketers to deliver tailored content that appeals and is relevant to their target audience.

A great example of this on social media is TikTok. Its algorithm is so successful in finding and recommending relevant content, that its more or less becoming a search engine.

People no longer use TikTok just to watch videos or follow influencers. They also use it to conduct searches. These searches would typically be done on Google.

You can use AI automation to optimize posting times on social channels. This optimization is based on past performance data. By analyzing automation tools, you gain better insights. These insights help track the KPIs related to each marketing campaign. Real-time tracking allows you to inform your social media outputs effectively.

You can also leverage social listening for personalization. It can identify relevant topics and trending keywords. You can also monitor consumer conversations on social media. This includes both positive and negative sentiments.

Social networking is becoming a medium for customer support. People swarm social media to contact companies because they want answers or problems fixed promptly.

Social media platforms have started using chatbots and virtual assistants driven by AI in response to this demand.

Through the use of chatbots on Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, Meta is able to do tasks, interpret queries, and respond to them. In addition to making sales, these AI solutions may offer a personalized online buying experience.

Additionally, Snapchat has introduced My AI, a chatbot. Because its target audience is younger, it seeks to be a friend. The platform offers advice on birthday presents for friends. It also provides meal suggestions and answers to pressing trivia questions. Some critics have raised concerns about improper content. You can read more about this in a Washington Post article.

Coca-Cola's chatbot, which debuted on Instagram's newsfeed as an advertisement, serves as one example. Through direct texting, the goal is to put customers in touch with nearby eateries for the "ideal meal." Once the ideal location has been identified, reservations may be made via the OpenTable app or website.

With so much noise online, it can be hard to get a good ROI for advertising campaigns. Savvy companies are leveraging AI. They use it to deliver more relevant marketing campaigns. This makes their campaigns more engaging and effective. AI also helps in optimizing resources. As a result, businesses can drive significant growth.

What can AI tools do for advertising?

Predictive analyticsLingerie retailer Cosabella replaced its digital agency with an AI platform named Albert. Albert analyzes the companys KPIs and content. It identifies emerging user behavior across paid search and social media. This innovative approach allows Cosabella to adapt quickly to market trends. Insights and suggestions were then provided for optimal performance and scalability.

ALSO READ: Mobile And In-App Advertising Trends

The impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on social media has been transformative, reshaping how platforms operate and how users and businesses engage with each other. Here's a detailed exploration of the key impacts of AI on social media:

AI has revolutionized the user experience on social media by personalizing content delivery. Algorithms analyze user interactions and preferences. They assess user engagement to tailor the news feed. This customization recommends content that is relevant and engaging. As a result, user satisfaction increases significantly. Users find more content that resonates with their interests. This keeps them engaged longer on the platform.

AI-powered search and discovery tools have transformed how users find content. They help users connect with people and groups that match their interests. Advanced algorithms now understand the nuances in user queries. These algorithms fetch more accurate and contextually relevant results. This improvement enhances the navigation experience on social media platforms.

One of the most critical applications of AI in social media is in content moderation. AI algorithms are trained to detect inappropriate content. They identify hate speech, fake news, and explicit material. This detection occurs at scale, ensuring effectiveness. Automation helps social media companies maintain community standards. It also supports regulatory requirements. This creates safer online environments for users.

AI transforms advertising on social media. It enables hyper-targeted campaigns using user data analysis. Advertisers can now segment audiences based on detailed criteria. This includes behaviors, interests, and preferences. As a result, they can create highly customized ads. These ads are designed to resonate with the target demographic. This approach improves the effectiveness of ads significantly. It also enhances ROI for advertisers.

ALSO READ: PPC Advertising for IT Service Startups: A Guide to Effective Campaigns

AI-powered translation services have removed language barriers on social media. This change makes content accessible across different linguistic demographics. The globalization of content fosters greater interaction among users. Users come from diverse backgrounds and cultures. This interaction expands the reach and impact of social media messages.

Social media platforms provide a wealth of data. When analyzed through AI, this data offers profound insights. These insights reveal consumer behavior and market trends. Businesses use this information to craft strategic decisions. They tailor content to meet consumer needs effectively. Additionally, they optimize the timing for posts and ads. This optimization is crucial for staying competitive in the digital marketplace.

AI has automated many aspects of customer service on social media. Chatbots handle initial customer interactions efficiently. More complex AI systems manage customer complaints and queries. This automation speeds up response times significantly. It allows human customer service representatives to focus on complex issues.

AI tools analyze vast amounts of data to identify emerging trends and patterns in real time. This capability enables businesses and content creators to stay ahead of the curve by adjusting their strategies in accordance with evolving user interests and market demands.

AI helps brands identify influencers whose followers best match their target audience. AI analyzes the performance of influencer collaborations. It provides metrics on engagement and reach of top AI influencers. It also measures conversion rates. This data helps refine the influencer marketing strategy.

AI enhances security on social media platforms. It identifies potential threats, such as hacking attempts. It also mitigates breaches of privacy effectively. Additionally, AI plays a crucial role in fraud detection. It uses pattern recognition to spot suspicious activities. This proactive approach helps prevent harm before it occurs.

Utilizing AI to drive higher engagement on social media requires a strategic approach. This approach leverages the capabilities of artificial intelligence. It helps understand user behavior effectively. AI can also personalize content and optimize campaigns.

Implement AI algorithms to analyze user data. These algorithms deliver personalized content recommendations. They are tailored to individual preferences and browsing history. User interactions also play a crucial role. By understanding each users interests and behavior, you can curate a customized feed. This feed presents relevant content to users. It increases the likelihood of engagement and user satisfaction.

Integrate AI-powered chatbots into social media channels. They provide instant interaction and support to users. These chatbots utilize natural language processing (NLP) for better understanding. They comprehend user queries and deliver timely responses. This includes answering questions and providing information. Additionally, they can guide users through various processes. By offering instant assistance, chatbots enhance user experience and encourage ongoing engagement.

Leverage AI-driven sentiment analysis tools to monitor social media conversations. These tools help you gain insights into audience sentiment. Understand how users feel about your brand, products, or campaigns. By grasping the emotional tone of user interactions, you can identify key opportunities. Addressing concerns is essential for building trust. Amplifying positive feedback can enhance your brand image. Tailor your messaging to resonate with your audience effectively. This approach ultimately drives higher engagement and brand loyalty.

Utilize AI-powered tools to automate content creation processes. These tools can generate text, images, and videos. They work based on predefined parameters and user inputs. By analyzing trends and user preferences, AI helps you create compelling content. This approach ensures relevance and engagement at scale. You can maintain a steady stream of material to captivate your audience. Engaging content drives interaction and keeps users returning for more.

Deploy AI-powered analytics tools to gain real-time insights. These tools provide valuable data on content performance. You can also learn about audience demographics and engagement metrics. Analyzing data from social media platforms is essential. It helps identify what content resonates most with your audience. You can see which channels drive the most engagement. This information allows you to optimize your strategies accordingly. Use these insights to refine your approach and maximize engagement with benefits of AI in social media.

Utilize AI algorithms to develop predictive models. These models forecast future trends and anticipate content virality. By analyzing historical data, uses of AI identifies user behavior patterns. This analysis helps you recognize emerging trends and topics of interest. With this knowledge, you can create timely and relevant content. Such content resonates with your audience and drives engagement.

Deploy AI-powered image and video recognition technologies. These technologies automatically detect and filter inappropriate content. This includes harmful content on social media platforms. By proactively identifying violations, you can remove harmful material. This helps maintain a safe user experience. A positive environment fosters trust among users. It also encourages ongoing engagement within your community.

Leverage AI-powered social listening tools. Monitor conversations across social media channels. Gain valuable insights into audience preferences, interests, and behavior. By actively listening to your audience, you identify key opportunities. Join relevant conversations that matter to them. Address their needs effectively. Create content that resonates with your audience. This approach drives higher levels of engagement and interaction.

Implement AI algorithms to optimize advertising campaigns. These algorithms analyze performance data effectively. They adjust targeting parameters and allocate budgets wisely. This approach maximizes ROI for your campaigns. By automating campaign optimization, AI streamlines the process significantly. It ensures your ads reach the right audience at the right time. This targeted delivery drives desired outcomes such as clicks and conversions.

Integrate AI-driven features into your platform. Use augmented reality (AR) filters to create immersive experiences. Offer personalized recommendations that cater to individual user preferences. Include interactive polls to encourage user participation and feedback. By providing these innovative features, you enhance the user experience. Engaging content keeps users entertained and invested in your platform.

The growing need for tailored and interesting user experiences is one of the main factors propelling the worldwide AI in the social media market. In the AI in the social media sector, several major technology companies lead the way. They develop and deploy innovative solutions. These market leaders leverage robust AI capabilities. Their goal is to enhance user experience. Here's a closer look at the key players:

Microsoft integrates AI across its various platforms. This includes LinkedIn to enhance content relevance. The integration also improves advertising efficiency. The company utilizes AI to analyze user data. This analysis provides better networking suggestions and job matching. As a result, professional interactions become more relevant and targeted.

Google employs AI in its social media applications. This improves content discovery and targeted advertising. With tools like Google Analytics, businesses gain valuable insights. TensorFlow helps in analyzing user behavior effectively. These sophisticated AI solutions enhance user engagement. They also optimize marketing strategies for better results.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) provides powerful AI and machine learning services. These services help social media platforms enhance user engagement. They also automate content moderation effectively. AWS capabilities include real-time language translation. This feature allows users to communicate across different languages effortlessly.

Adobe is well-known for its creative and digital marketing solutions powered by AI. Adobe Sensei is Adobe's AI and machine learning framework. It assists brands in social media spaces. The framework helps create more engaging content. It also delivers personalized experiences across various platforms. By leveraging data, Adobe Sensei analyzes user behavior.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, leverages AI across its platforms. AI powers content feed personalization and enhance advertising solutions. It also plays a key role in detecting harmful content. The use of AI in social media helps ensure user safety and compliance with global standards. Moreover, AI algorithms analyze user behavior to improve engagement. They adapt to individual preferences, creating a tailored experience.

To show you how AI can be used in practice in social media, here are some great AI in social media examples from brands big and small.

As artificial intelligence text-to-image programs captivate the online world, Heinz took action. The innovative minds at Heinz decided to explore AI's interpretation of 'ketchup.' They utilized the AI-powered tool Dall-E 2 for this creative endeavor. This tool generated a series of imaginative images. Prompts included "ketchup scuba diving" and "ketchup in outer space." Each image showcased the fun and quirky possibilities of ketchup. Intriguingly, many of these creative outputs resembled Heinz's iconic ketchup bottles.

The excitement didnt end there. Heinz enthusiasts suggested their own unique prompts. The most imaginative suggestions were transformed into social media posts. They also became part of print advertisements. This marked the launch of the first-ever campaign featuring visuals created entirely by AI.

Ryan Reynolds is known for his sharp wit and deadpan humor. He showcases this in his ventures, like Aviation American Gin. Reynolds cleverly uses humor to captivate audiences and engage them.

With AI stirring significant interest, many see cost-saving opportunities. Reynolds leveraged ChatGPT to craft a commercial script. This script mirrors his unique comedic style perfectly. It combines humor with engaging content, drawing viewers in.

He instructed ChatGPT to weave in the following elements to get use of AI in social media:

Sephora has harnessed the power of AI to transform the beauty journey for its customers. As an early adopter, Sephora embraced chatbots in 2016. This innovative approach achieved significant success for the brand.

To connect with millennials in France, Sephora launched 'Ora.' This chatbot operates on platforms like Facebook and Messenger. Ora provides 24/7 assistance with various inquiries. Customers can ask about frequent shopper points, order tracking, and product availability.

Beyond answering basic questions, Ora enriches the customer experience. It delivers personalized content tailored to individual needs. Users receive the latest news, trending beauty topics, and expert coaching. Ora offers tutorial videos and practical beauty tips, enhancing engagement.

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AI in Social Media: Enhancing Content and Connectivity - MobileAppDaily

When first starting my scoring journey in 2017, I connected with maestro santoor player Kunal Gunjal, which whet my appetite for exploring ancient traditional instruments and what they might sound like in different contexts (in this case, with western cinematic orchestral instruments). The result of that experience culminated in an album, Nature Of All Things, a talk At Google, and landing an Indian-Asian inspired fantasy feature, The Candle & The Curse.

'Dead Whisper' score behind the scenes.

My love for this style of music and experimentation grew, but as a composer in the beginning stages of my career, it was a struggle to find filmmakers willing to give me a chance. So, to find solace away from the screen, I turned to my other love of literature. This seemingly unrelated detour ended up being a career changer for me.

As I read The Wheel Of Time series by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson I was compelled to write a theme that was essentially a love letter to the books. I used my savings to commission the Budapest Scoring Orchestra to play it, and sent the video to the production team at Amazon Studios, in hopes that it might get their attention.

Lucky for me, the fans embraced and shared it widely, as did Tor.com (the publisher website for the series). The music eventually came to the attention of composer Lorne Balfe, who promptly hired me to write music and project lead on the series, as well as write music on his other TV shows. Another lesson came from the experience: No matter the outcome, putting oneself out there authentically can lead to unique and fulfilling opportunities, as well as the experience to be ready when those opportunities arise.

I learned how to better write for orchestra, pitch myself as a composer, collaborate with a large team, and approach storytelling discussions with filmmakers from a deeper and more nuanced vantage point.

Those two years were like a bootcamp for me: hundreds of cues and several shows later (including Netflixs Life On Our Planet, HBOs His Dark Materials, and Hulus Victorias Secret: Angels & Demons), I feel so grateful to have learned to work with a music team operating at such a high level, as well as learn how to receive and act on valuable feedback from Lorne, the showrunners and the networks.

I was also working on my own projects during that two year span, and using instruments from various cultures proved yet more valuable when recording the theme I wrote for Riot Games League Of Legends: Lunar Revel 2023. The idea of writing a theme that represents such a cultural and spiritual aspect of Asian culture was a daunting prospect, but thankfully my experience combining Asian instruments with a western cinematic palette gave me a solid starting point.

The team at Riot (then led by Kole Hicks) really helped by giving valuable feedback and resources so we could record the score the right way, and do justice to our shared vision.

Dead Whisper Trailer #1 (2024)www.youtube.com

Cut to later that year when Conor Soucy contacted me to score Dead Whisper (our 4th project together), a couple of things happened that allowed the score to come to fruition: Conor and I had a friendship and trust that allowed him to give me agency to take creative risks with the score and try out ideas in search of something unique.

During our spotting session for the film, we would watch scenes, and I would immediately try out ideas on his piano in real time, allowing for deeper and more spontaneous collaboration.

Secondly, we won the SESAC New Music USA Reel Change Grant, which gave us the resources to hire the right players, experiment with bespoke sounds and invest in taking risks to push our creative limits. We got to work with Joy Music House, who helped produce the live recording sessions and make sure everything ran smoothly.

All the lessons from Nature Of All Things, recording exotic instruments for The Wheel Of Time, and reading all those books allowed Conor and I to talk story from a different vantage point, and try out ideas with the singular goal to make the best non-obvious choices in service of that story.

The resulting mammoth 57-minute score was a logistical challenge, but also an opportunity that resulted in recording master percussionist Bobak Lotfipour (Netflixs Hellraiser, A24s Green Knight), vocalist Abby Lyons (The Wheel Of Time), and a killer mix from Brian R. Taylor (The Walking Dead: Dead City). The end result is a juxtaposition between an organic, live instrument heavy score, and mangled / processed sounds, matching the throwback horror roots of the film, as well as its more modern influences.

The cliche, it takes a village feels especially apt here, as the amount of incredible support and trust I have received both from the filmmakers and composers Ive worked with, and the people on my team for those projects brought these projects to fruition.

Its a dream to be presented with a scoring opportunity where there is the trust and resources to put our best creative foot forward, and Im so grateful for the career detours that allowed for it to happen as joyously as it did.

Continued here:
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With Spotifys recent launch of comments on podcasts, the streamer is taking yet another step toward building a social networking experience in an app primarily known for music. With comments, podcasters can now engage with their listeners directly within Spotify, as they can with other interactive features like Polls and Q&As. Combined with the apps 2023 revamp, which added a TikTok-like discovery feed, artist profiles where creators can hawk merchandise and concert tickets, as well as the ability to post to stories, Spotifys app is shaping up to be a social network centered around all things audio, not just a music-streaming app.

Following this weeks added support for comments on podcast episode pages a social networking feature if there ever was one the question now is whether Spotify will add something similar for music artists in the future. This could be an even more compelling addition to the app, as the fanbases around musicians tend to be larger and more active than those around most podcasts.

When speaking with Spotify VP of Podcast Product Maya Prohovnik about the launch of comments, we ventured a question about adding support for comments on artists pages, too.

Prohovnik didnt outright deny that such an idea was under consideration, instead initially declining to comment, before adding that: I can see a world where we extend [support for comments] to other formats on Spotify, but we always want to do whatever is right for the format, and those types of creators and artists.

Its worth noting that the idea to build a social network in a music app has been tried before by Spotifys top competitor, Apple.

In 2010, Steve Jobs introduced iTunes new social network Ping as Facebook and Twitter meet iTunes, calling it a social network all about music. Clearly, Jobs was onto something, but Ping never found success in the Apple founders lifetime. Shortly after Jobs death, Apple shut down Ping in 2012, a rare flop for the iPhone maker. Apple later tried again with a social feature for musicians, Connect, which also didnt last.

Even today, Apple continues to half-heartedly embrace social networking in its Apple Music streaming service, with an optional feature that will periodically check the contacts on your devices to recommend new friends to follow so you can see what theyre listening to.

However, unlike Apple, Spotify has never made a bold declaration that it was building a social network focused on audio.

Rather, the company has quietly and slowly rolled out a series of features that simply make the app more social for both creators and their fans. With last years redesign, for instance, Spotify added in-app video feeds across its Home pages, including its tabs for Music, Podcasts and now Audiobooks. Though those feeds designs have been tweaked since launch, the move served as a signal that Spotify was taking learnings from Gen Zs preferred social network, TikTok, when designing its own product.

Spotify CEO Daniel Ek spoke to TikToks influence during the companys Q1 2024 earnings, telling investors that TikTok and others had improved the user experience and that the industry was learning about these trends and trying to improve our products.

We are not any different than anyone else in that were trying to learn from the marketplace, Ek said, hinting at the apps TikTok inspiration. We learn what consumers like. We try to improve upon it and make the best possible user experience.

Over the past year, the company also added new ways for artists to reach fans, through a Spotify Clips feature, that worked similarly to Stories on other social networks. Here, artists could add 30-second videos to their profile pages and album pages.

Artists can also get fans excited about new releases with Countdown Pages, and fans continue to hear from favorite artists through video messages via the companys annual Spotify Wrapped campaign. Meanwhile, Spotify users can continue to follow creators and friends on the platform to stay updated on the latest music and events and see what friends are streaming. They can collaborate on playlists with others in many ways, including in real time. The company has previously been spotted testing a Community feature that would allow users to see, in real time, what others were streaming.

With the addition of comments, Spotify envisions an app where users arent just launching audio and then returning their phone to their pocket, but one where theyre actively engaged, sharing their thoughts, feelings and opinions as they would on a traditional social network.

Combined, these features are beginning to add up to an app thats not just another music streamer, but one that aims to compete for users time and eventually, the ad dollars spent on larger social networks.

Read the rest here:
Spotify is no longer just a streaming app, its a social network - TechCrunch

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy made headlines last year after he issued an advisory about social media and youth mental health. In a New York Times op-ed published in June 2024, he declared that it is time to require a surgeon generals warning label on social media platforms, stating that social media is associated with significant mental health harms for adolescents. This is just the latest volley in the surgeon generals fight against the youth mental health crisis, which he has called the defining public health issue of our time. By proposing a surgeon generals warning label akin to those on tobacco products, Murthy is implying parallels between Big Tech and Big Tobacco. Both are multibillion-dollar industries where profits are prioritized over peoples well-being and where vulnerable and impressionable youth are seen as key targets for gaining market share and potentially lifelong customers.

I teach an undergrad course on technology use and adolescence at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and I frequently give talks to the general public about social media and youth mental health. A big part of my job is thinking about how to distill a complex and constantly updating field of research into accurate yet accessible take-home messages, and I think the analogy between Big Tobacco and Big Tech is the wrong one to make.

Such an analogy is misleading about the effects of social media. Tobacco is clearly and definitively harmful. The research on social media is more ambiguous and complicated. While some youth are harmed by itlike those who are cyberbullied or using social media so excessively that it is disrupting their schoolwork or sleepothers benefit from or even thrive on it. The surgeon generals advisory even has a whole section on the potential benefits of social media use, like increased feelings of social connection and online social support, especially for youth with marginalized identities who may struggle to find in-person support. Simply warning that social media use is associated with harm flattens a complex reality without offering specific solutions.

The relationship between food and health is extremely complex, and we intuitively understand that such complexityexists.

My preferred analogy when discussing social media and mental health is not tobaccoits food. Big Food is also a multibillion-dollar industry that puts profits over health and hopes to turn youth into long-term customers through marketing and careful product design. But the relationship between food and health is extremely complex, and we intuitively understand that such complexity exists.

For starters, we do not argue about whether food is good or bad. We recognize that some foods are healthier than others, some are OK in moderation, and others should be avoided at all costs. Similarly, some social media behaviors are clearly beneficial (making meaningful connections with peers), some should be more carefully monitored (comparing yourself to others that you see online), and others should be banned outright (viewing or creating content advocating for self-harm or problematic eating behaviors).

Furthermore, we know that individual characteristics may determine what is healthy for someone to consume. People with a family history of heart disease may need to be extra careful about what they eat, and many parents try to wait as long as possible before introducing their children to juices and sodas. Similarly, people with a history of depression may need to be extra careful about what they consume online, and parents should wait to introduce social media until their kids are mature enough to handle using it responsibly. (There are also parents who think their children should never have sugary drinks, just as there are parents who think their children should never have social mediaand children will probably manage to sneak access to both.)

A surgeon generals warning that food is associated with significant health harms would be technically true but not practically helpful. Instead, public health measures around nutrition and youth are multipronged, including more detailed and nuanced education about healthy eating habits for children and parents, involving pediatricians, schools, and communities, restricting what types of food are available at school, and regulating how foods can be marketed to children.

Likewise, a blanket warning about social media would not be especially helpful on its own. It may discourage some users or push some parents to pay closer attention to their childrens digital media habits, but it does not make the platforms any safer to use. We also need efforts from families, schools, health care workers, and communities to address the youth mental health crisisand tech companies must do their part as well.

I worry that requiring a surgeon generals warning could even backfire by discouraging tech companies from cooperating with researchers and mental health experts. The World Health Organization, U.S. National Cancer Institute, and former U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin have all declared that there is no safe level of tobacco use, so getting Big Tobacco to make their products safer is a nonstarter. But some researchers argue that a modest amount of screen time is associated with the greatest adolescent well-being, and Big Tech can make their platforms safer. (For example, Meta currently redirects searches associated with self-harm or disordered eating to mental health resources instead of harmful content.)

Murthys Social Media and Youth Mental Health Advisory contains a detailed bullet-point section on what platforms should do to minimize risks and maximize benefits. But would tech companies still want to work with a surgeon generals office that is portraying them as dangerous to our youth?

I also worry that a surgeon generals warning could end up shielding the tech companies against liability for harms caused by their platforms. Imagine how such a warning would be implemented: Every time users log on, they would see a pop-up about social media being associated with mental health harms. They may read it, or they may just reflexively tap I accept the risks, and now the responsibility for any consequences has been shifted to the user. Just requiring a warning lets tech companies off too easily. They can and must do more to protect people on their platforms.

A surgeon generals warning for social media is not going to solve our youth mental health crisis. That said, in just proposing this warning, Murthy is using his bully pulpit to bring national awareness to the importance of understanding how social media affects youth mental health. I am curious to see whether Congress will approve the surgeon generals request and, if so, whether it will be the first piece of a larger effort to improve youth mental healthor if it will end up as just a Band-Aid that plasters over deeper issues.

Original post:
The Surgeon General Says Social Media Is Like Tobacco. Hes Completely Wrong. - Slate

Politics in Japan can be a staid affair. The race to become the governor of Tokyo, which reached its climax on July 7th, was anything but that. Fifty-six candidates, many of them eccentrics, traded barbs. Pets featured on election posters; so, in one case, did pornography. A candidate dressed as the Joker from Batman spouted nonsense on national television. Another took off her clothes.

In the end Koike Yuriko, the incumbent governor, bagged herself a third term with some 43% of votes. Yet it was the second-place finisherIshimaru Shinji, an outspoken but little-known former bankerwho stole the headlines. Up to now, Japanese voters have seemed curiously unmoved by the kinds of social-media-fuelled populism that have upturned politics in other countries. That no longer seems so true.

Most people expected that the race would be a head-to-head between Ms Koike, a former national legislator for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Saito Renho from the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP), the main liberal opposition (who goes by just her given name). Both Ms Koike and Renho gained fame as television newsreaders before they entered politics. Yet relative obscurity was no obstacle for Mr Ishimaru. His brief political careerfour years as mayor of Akitakata, an unremarkable town in Hiroshimadid not produce any noteworthy achievements. His candidacy was not backed by any political party.

Read more from the original source:
Social-media populists have arrived in Japan - The Economist