Brian Acton is the co-founder of WhatsApp, purchased by Facebook three years ago for $19 billion. He’s only ever tweeted 74 times since 2009…only once during the past two years. He tweeted yesterday. Here’s what he had to say:
Facebook Rolls Out a Messenger Kids App for Children Under Age 13
Born after 2005? Facebook has spotted the obvious untapped market and developed a new Messenger Kids product just released, initially available in the U.S. on Apple products.
The app gives Facebook access to a new market whose age prohibits them from using the firm’s main social network. Unlike with its full social network, the data collection will be limited, Facebook said, and children will need their parents’ permission to use it.
To find out more about how the next generation is being nursed by brand loyalty by Facebook, watch the video from Reuters here.
NYC & Company is Trial Partner as Chute Launches Destination Concierge Travel Bot
Chute, a user-generated content platform for travel brands and destinations, has launched Destination Concierge.™ The bot platform is intended to enable destinations to provide personalized recommendations and information to travelers.
The pilot program launches with NYC & Company to reach over a billion users through Facebook Messenger.
Chute’s clients include Travel Nevada, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, Pure Michigan, Norwegian Cruise Lines, and San Francisco Travel.
To read about how Destination Concierge™ works, click here. To experience the official New York City chatbot, go to m.me/nycgo.
Expedia View: What Now for Chatbots in Travel?
Things are moving fast.
Last month, Expedia added a chatbot booking facility via Skype “so travelers can book trips and manage complex travel arrangements without needing the support of Expedia customer service agents,” said Vice President of Global Product David Fleischman, according to Digital Trends. And since November, a traveler can simply say “Alexa, launch Expedia. Get my flight details. Reserve a car.” In June 2016, Expedia revealed a chatbot for Facebook Messenger geared toward helping travelers to narrow down hotel options within a destination.
Catch up with the latest innovations and trends at eTourism LABS in March, where Expedia Media Solutions is presenting.
To read a bots viewpoint by Scott Crawford, vice president of product management at Expedia, as published 1/4/2017 in Tnooz, click here.
Instagram’s Latest: Disappearing Live Video and Messaging
Instagram’s head of product says, “We pivoted.” The platform started rolling out two big new features for iOS and Android in late November. Disappearing live video and messaging are kind of an intersection between Snapchat and Periscope, suggests TechCrunch. To learn more about the Instagram update, click here.
