Changes are coming to life as we know it
Big and small changes are coming. We've selected the ones you should know about right now.
The European Parliament will soon change life online as we know it
With Article 13 being finalised in negotiations, the EU wants to make internet platforms directly liable for any copyright infringements committed by their users. Since all original texts, photos, videos, etc. are automatically copyrighted, Article 13 will apply to all platforms where users express themselves, such as Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter, Twitch, Giphy, and many others.
The European Parliament and Council are still negotiating the final details of exactly to what lengths an online platform must go to avoid or limit its liability. That will, of course, impact how much they will restrict users' ability to post and share creations online.
Next week, the national governments will vote on the Council’s position ahead of the final negotiation, and the final vote in the European Parliament will take place in March or April.
Instagram introduced a way to post one post to multiple accounts
This week, Instagram took a turn from originality towards simplicity for users with multiple accounts. The app is adding the ability to publish feed posts to multiple accounts at once. You can toggle the different accounts you control within the composer screen.
This new feature will make it easier for businesses, influencers, and users with multiple accounts to publish duplicate content across their profiles simultaneously, eliminating the hassle of posting one at a time. But the risk is that it makes Instagram’s feed feel less original, with different audiences across accounts seeing the same shots and captions.
Get ready for a consumer backlash against chatbots in 2019
Recent research by Acquia, an open-source software company, found that 45 per cent of consumers find chatbots "annoying". This is based on responses from more than 5,000 consumers and 500 marketers in North America, Europe and Australia.
Simultaneously, 80 per cent of CMOs are using chatbots or expect to do so within two years. Therefore, some fear a revolt against corporate chatbots in 2019. When phone menu mazes became common, people quickly started sharing tips on how to avoid them when trying to reach customer service.
Soon, consumers might trade tips on how to avoid dealing with chatbots because of the time and frustration involved.
Tool of the week: Hemingway App
Most people spend a lot of time writing online today. Hemingway App is a neat little writing app that highlights lengthy, complex sentences and errors in your text.
The Hemingway App will help you find words you can swap with simpler ones or sentences that are too complex and need more straightforward language. Additionally, it will help you identify weak adverbs and passive voice to improve your text.
You can paste in something you're working on and edit away or compose something from scratch. There’s also a desktop app if you fall deeply in love.
