Facebook and Privacy: We’ve been closely following the Zuckerberg testimony this week and highly recommend The Daily’s two podcasts (#1, #2) for some of the most succinct and thorough reporting on what was asked, what was said, and what it all means. We’re also encouraged that Instagram has announced they will soon allow users to download all uploaded content soon. While Facebook has allowed us to download posted content since 2010, Instagram has lacked that feature. And we’ve got some sweet top-down photos of avocado toast we want to keep forever. (LINK)
Why Are Teens Doing Elaborate Photo Shoots in Craft Stores: People are crashing popular craft stores to do the #HobbyLobbyChallenge and #MichaelsChallenge, snapping photos in the faux floral aisles to make it look like they’re anywhere else. And the results are gorgeous. Dare accepted. (LINK)
JT is Coming to Wherever You Are: This week we had Justin Timberlake in our office to introduce a track from his new album, “Man of the Woods.” Except it was a new augmented reality app from American Express that was projecting JT here and turning our office into the woods. And it sounded GREAT. Download the app here and bring JT into your life. (LINK)
LinkedIn is adding GIFs? You know what the only professional social network needed this whole time that nobody was asking for? GIFs. But it appears the next generation expects to interact with recruiters and new connections with the Excuse Me What Blinking Guy GIF. “Think about your company’s culture, your professional relationship with the person and the industry you work in to decide if it makes sense to send a GIF,” LinkedIn wrote in a blog post. Umm…there’s no going back now. (LINK)
Emoji Scavenger Hunt: You don’t have to fully understand “Machine learning” and “neural networks” to enjoy this new mobile browser game that uses your phone’s camera to send you on a scavenger hunt to find emoji in the real world around you before the timer hits zero. It’s Google’s latest consumer-facing application of their technology, and it’s surprisingly addictive. Stop what you’re doing and try it here! (LINK)
GREG SWAN 