ENTREPRENEURSHIP

An Emerging Shopping Platform And More: Five Digital Developments From This Week

Cassandra Boler·September 18, 2020·2 min read

The 30-second read

Before this year, who would’ve thought a clash between the world’s two foremost superpowers would focus on an app where teens and twentysomethings lip-sync and challenge each other to plank? That’s 2020 for you. Before President Donald Trump’s executive order banning TikTok from the United States could go into effect and sap Americans of some of the only joy they’re experiencing during the pandemic, Oracle this week stepped in to assume oversight of the social media network’s U.S. operations. Though Trump and authorities in China still have to scour over and approve the deal between the software giant and TikTok’s Chinese parent company ByteDance, it’s looking like TikTok will be here to stay. So, don’t stop practicing your short-form video production and definitely dust off your dance moves. Of course, the TikTok drama didn’t totally dominate social media headlines this week. Here are five other digital developments from this week worth following.

In response to a surge in messaging, voice and video calling during the pandemic, Instagram rolled out automated captions for IGTV to make the platform more accessible. They are available in 16 languages to start. The World Health Organization estimates that more than 5% of the world’s population or 466 million people have hearing loss and can’t easily access information during a public health emergency. Keeping the hard of hearing and deaf in mind can help maximize your social media campaigns. Learn more here.

A few weeks ago, Google launched a shoppable video platform—and it’s taking off. Shoploop uses entertaining videos that are under 90 seconds to drive product discovery and education. For the moment, Shoploop is focused on products in the beauty industry such as makeup, skincare, haircare and nail polish. Later Media has all the information you need to get started on the platform. Click here to learn more.