The world of mobile apps is constantly evolving, and there are always new developments to keep an eye on. Here are some of the biggest app-related stories from this week.
Period Following Application Protection
Last week, Apple rolled out its new App Tracking Transparency feature, which gives users more control over the data that apps collect about them. This week, we’re starting to see the effects of that change. According to data from Flurry Analytics, only 4% of iOS users in the US have allowed apps to track them since the new feature was rolled out. This could have big implications for the advertising industry, as advertisers may struggle to target ads as effectively without access to user data.
Snapchat’s Paid Membership
Snapchat has launched a new paid membership feature called “Snapchat Plus” that offers users exclusive features like custom emojis, lenses, and filters. The feature costs $2.99 per month, and is currently only available to users in Australia. It’s not clear yet whether the feature will be rolled out to other countries in the future.
Calls for TikTok Boycott
Some users of popular social media app TikTok are calling for a boycott after allegations surfaced that the app was suppressing content from users who were deemed “too ugly, poor, or disabled” to be popular on the platform. While TikTok has denied these allegations, the company has faced criticism in the past for its moderation practices.
Other App News
In other app news this week, Facebook announced that it is working on a version of Instagram for children under the age of 13. The move has been met with criticism from some child safety advocates, who argue that young children may be exposed to inappropriate content on the platform.
Meanwhile, Twitter announced that it is testing a new feature that will allow users to undo tweets within a certain time frame after posting them. The feature will be available to users who pay for Twitter’s upcoming subscription service, called “Twitter Blue.”
Finally, WhatsApp has launched a new feature that allows users to transfer their chat history from iOS to Android (or vice versa). The feature has been highly anticipated by users, as transferring chat history between different devices has traditionally been a cumbersome and time-consuming process.
Other notable app-related news this week includes:
- Google is reportedly working on a new feature for Google Maps that will let users pay for parking directly through the app. The feature is currently being tested in select cities in the US.
- Amazon is planning to expand its Amazon Care telehealth service to all of its US employees later this year. The service offers virtual doctor visits, prescription delivery, and other healthcare services.
- Spotify has announced a new feature called “Enhance,” which uses machine learning to recommend songs to users that would fit well into their existing playlists. The feature is currently only available to Spotify Premium subscribers.
- Clubhouse, the invite-only social media app, announced that it is launching a new feature called “Payments” that will allow users to send money to creators on the platform. The feature is currently only available to a small number of creators in the US, but is expected to roll out more widely in the future.
As the app landscape continues to evolve, there will no doubt be more developments to watch in the coming weeks and months. From new features and products to controversies and boycotts, the world of mobile apps is never dull.
