Facebook is one of the most popular social media platforms in the world, with billions of active users. With so many people using Facebook daily, there is always something new happening on the platform. Here is an overview of some of the most recent and notable things on Facebook in 2022.
New Features
Facebook is constantly rolling out new features to improve the user experience. Here are some of the newest features on Facebook:
- Reels – In 2022, Facebook introduced Reels which allows users to create and share short form videos similar to TikTok.
- Updates to Groups – Facebook has added new features to groups including admin assist, group chats, and more topic organization tools.
- Updates to Pages – Pages can now cross-post to Instagram and Facebook at the same time. Other new Page features include newsletter sign-ups and subscriptions.
- Profile Display Updates – Profiles now display pronouns, gender identity, religious views and more.
Reels
Reels are short videos set to music that users can create and share. This is Facebook’s version of the popular TikTok app. Reels can be up to 60 seconds long and offer features like audio, AR effects, timers, counters, align, and stickers. Reels allow creators to engage their audience in new entertaining ways. Reels can be shared to Stories or directly to the creator’s profile. Facebook launched Reels to stay competitive with other social media platforms investing heavily in short form video.
Groups Updates
Facebook has added several new features to enhance groups. Admin Assist uses AI to help group admins automatically moderate content based on rules. Group Chats allow members to connect in real time through text, audio and video chats. Other updates include topic tags for better content organization, personalized recommendations, and more tools for admin analytics and management.
Pages Updates
Managing business and community Pages on Facebook is now easier. Pages can now cross-post content simultaneously to Instagram and Facebook. Automatic captions for videos help make Pages more accessible. Businesses can enable newsletter sign-ups, member subscriptions, and more ways to engage their audience. The Page Insights dashboard also provides more detailed analytics.
New Ad Options
Facebook Ads continue to be a major revenue driver for the company. Here are some of the latest advertising options now available to businesses and marketers:
- Reels Ads – Promote Reels content through advertisements
- Link Stickers – Add links to Stories
- Updated Brand Collabs Manager – Simplifies influencer partnerships
- Aggregated Events API – Track website events for optimization
Reels Ads
Businesses can now promote their Reels content to new audiences using Reels Ads. These are full screen video ads up to 30 seconds long. They can be created from existing Reels or new content produced specifically for advertising. Reels Ads will appear in between normal Reels that users are watching.
Link Stickers
Facebook Stories now allow links in stickers, making it easier to drive traffic from Stories. This provides new opportunities for businesses to use links to promote products, events, services and content. Link stickers can be used for landing pages, e-commerce, signups and more. Users can also swipe up on Stories to access link stickers.
Updated Brand Collabs Manager
The updated Brand Collabs Manager on Facebook simplifies the process for brands to find and manage relationships with influencers. Brands can search for influencers based on criteria, send collaboration offers, track performance, and more. This makes it easier to identify and partner with creators relevant to a brand’s audience and goals.
Facebook Company News
There have also been some noteworthy company updates for Facebook in 2022. These developments relate to Facebook’s business performance, leadership changes, and response to political issues.
Financial Performance
| Metric | Q2 2022 | Q2 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $28.8 billion | $29.0 billion |
| Net Income | $6.7 billion | $10.4 billion |
| Daily Active Users | 1.97 billion | 1.91 billion |
Facebook’s second quarter 2022 earnings report showed strong user growth but a 1% year-over-year decline in revenue. Net income was down 35%. The company cited economic challenges including inflation and the war in Ukraine as headwinds to revenue growth. However, Facebook daily active users continued to rise to 1.97 billion.
Leadership Changes
There were some notable leadership changes at Facebook in 2022:
- Sheryl Sandberg stepped down as COO after 14 years.
- Javier Olivan became the new COO, overseeing key functions like revenue and operations.
- The CTO role was eliminated and key engineering leaders now report directly to Mark Zuckerberg.
These changes streamline the leadership structure but also remove Sheryl Sandberg who provided key business leadership paired with Zuckerberg’s technical vision. Javier Olivan is a 15-year Facebook veteran who previously led growth efforts.
Responses to Political Issues
Facebook continues to grapple with political issues including misinformation. Some steps taken in 2022 include:
- Fact checking political ads before allowing them to run
- Adding labels on content discussing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
- Limiting spread of misleading content around US mid-term elections
Despite these efforts, Facebook still faces criticism that it does not do enough to limit harmful misinformation. Balancing free speech and safety remains an ongoing challenge for the platform.
Acquisitions
Facebook has acquired the following companies in 2022 to enhance its offerings:
- Two Hat – Provides content moderation using AI
- Booth – Operates AI-powered app previously called Pronto
- CTRL Labs – Focuses on neural interface technology for wristbands
These acquisitions demonstrate Facebook’s interests in leveraging AI for content moderation and exploring cutting edge technology like neural interfaces. The company continues making acquisitions to expand into new technologies and markets.
Two Hat
Two Hat’s technology uses natural language processing and other AI techniques to automatically moderate harmful content across different languages. Two Hat was already working to help moderate content on Facebook prior to the acquisition. This demonstrates Facebook’s strategy of acquiring companies it successfully partners with.
Booth
Booth’s mobile app Pronto used AI to generate video chat responses without needing to type them out. Facebook sees opportunity in using conversational AI to enhance user experiences in video and text messaging. The exact direction for Booth’s technology within Facebook products remains to be seen.
CTRL Labs
This startup focuses on technology that allows people to control digital devices using brain signals detected by wristbands. The wristbands sense electrical pulses in the arm from neurons firing in the brain. Over time, AI learns to translate those signals into commands. This points to Facebook’s interest in brain computing interfaces as future platforms.
Partnerships
Facebook continues partnering with other companies to enhance capabilities and reach new users. Here are some notable partnerships from 2022.
Partnership with Spotify
Facebook and Spotify partnered to allow listeners to share and discover music through Facebook. Users can listen to songs directly on Facebook and share recent listens to their feeds. Facebook gains music as engaging content, while Spotify reaches Facebook’s massive user base.
Integration with DoorDash
DoorDash food orders can now be placed directly on Facebook. Users browse nearby restaurants, place orders for delivery, and track their orders without leaving the app. Facebook gets food delivery as a new feature, while DoorDash taps into Facebook’s highly engaged users.
WhatsApp Partnership with Uber
In India, Uber now offers ride booking and tracking through WhatsApp. Riders can book an Uber by sending a message, then get updates via WhatsApp during their trip. This integration provides greater convenience in one of Uber’s largest markets.
New Competitors
While Facebook remains the dominant social media platform globally, new competitors continue to emerge. Two platforms growing in popularity include:
TikTok
TikTok is a fast-growing short form video app with over 1 billion monthly active users. It is especially popular with teens and young adults. TikTok’s rise has prompted Facebook to release its own short video product Reels in an attempt to compete.
BeReal
BeReal is a photo sharing app where users post unedited photos once per day. It combines aspects of Snapchat and Instagram but focuses on authenticity. BeReal is gaining traction particularly with younger users looking for something different from highly curated platforms.
While these apps are growing, Facebook still dwarfs them in total users and engagement. Facebook will likely continue making strategic product updates to maintain its strong position if new competitors begin threatening its dominance.
Looking Ahead
Based on all the latest developments, here is what we may see next from Facebook:
- Further investment in AI, AR, VR and future platforms like neural interfaces
- More partnerships for e-commerce, content streaming, messaging
- Continued monetization of Reels and short form video
- More moderation features and policies in response to political pressure
- Potential impact to ad business from economic downturn
Facebook will likely continue pushing the envelope with innovative technologies while also playing defense to protect its current dominance in social media. Major new paradigms like the metaverse remain long-term strategic projects. In the near term, Facebook will focus on maximizing revenue from its massive user base.
Conclusion
In summary, some of the most recent and notable things happening on Facebook include major product updates like Reels and Groups, new ad options for marketers, leadership changes, responses to misinformation concerns, strategic acquisitions and partnerships, rising competitors, and long-term investments in the future of social interaction. As one of the world’s most influential technology companies, Facebook’s moves provide insight into where both social media and technology are headed next.