Facebook was established in 2004 in the States and became accessible for the rest of the world in 2005. For more than a decade, Facebook has been maintaining its position as the largest social network company on this planet earth with 2.3 billion monthly active users in 2018. Unfortunately, this fact might not hold true for this big fish anymore. With numerous data breached incidents, raising number of fake accounts and strong competitors, Facebook might fall off its throne anytime.

According to INQUIRER, Facebook has given access to more than 150 companies in regard of personal data of Facebook users without their consent. While Facebook did admit conducting such deals with those companies, it claimed that the deals were no longer effective since 2018. However, Facebook later changed its statement that the deals started in 2010 and are still effective in current year of 2019. Some of its dealing partners including famous company like Spotify, Netflix and even Royal Bank of Canada. Spotify said that it was able to read private messages of more than 70 million Facebook users per month. According to the survey, only 23% believe that they hold the full control of their information store on Facebook.

Another drawback to Facebook is the countless of fake accounts. Fake accounts on Facebook has been responsible for fakes news, spam, hate speech, terrorist propaganda and even online scam. Facebook announced that it has removed more than 1.5 billion fake accounts between April 2018 and September 2018, reported by TNW. Facebook also claimed that by removing fake accounts, it can reduce cyber-crime index happen on its social media platform. However, due to the continuously raising number of fake accounts, most users seem to be not buying Facebook’s statements.

Other Facebook’s cyber security issues, it is also facing competitors in the industry (Investopia). Snapchat is one of Facebook’s largest competitors. A lot of people consider Snapchat is better than Facebook privacy wise. Snapchat allows its users to fully control their own privacy, for instance, users can select some among their friends to be able to see their posts. Moreover, posting on Snapchat take less time and the posts will vanish after a period of time set by post owners. As a result, Snapchat continues growing. Facebook even tried to purchase Snapchat once after realising its potential but Snapchat rejected the offer.

A lot of consumers say that they don’t trust Facebook anymore and would turn to other social media platform because they don’t feel safe by entrusting their privacy to Facebook. Personally, I do not entrust my privacy to any social media platform including Facebook. In my opinion, if you cannot stop others from breaching your privacy, then why not protect it yourself. You should limit your contact with strangers online. You can even make up your personal information like fake names, fake contact numbers and don’t use profile pictures. As long as you don’t do any illegal online conduct and post no harm to others, I don’t see this as an issue.

According to the video of Zuckerberg’s above, soon the new privacy will be introduced but will it really work? Let me know what you think! Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

It is undeniable that these days’ technologies are taking over everything, the technologies as now already came to our door. It is impossible to ignore that the IoT technology have brought the technology of ‘Smart Home’ to make our life easier and bring more convenience as the smart home products are designed to save time, energy and money. These days the cost of the owning a house is also expensive but the facts that a house owner’s life is much more valuable. 

Majority of the Australian house owners are using the IoT of Smart home at home, there are about 55% of market grew in 2017. Since the Australian’s population is continuing to increase, alongside of the increasing use of the technology. More Australian are seeking for smart home for their convenience in everyday activities driven by the IoT like turning off/on lights, adjusting the temperatures in the house, play music and etc. The popularity of the IoT smart home is predicted to grow another 37% in 2022. 

Nest is the company that provides security products to help you manage your home better and it is the leader among the sphere of the security products. Nest products includes Nest Thermostat, indoor/outdoor cameras, smoke alarm, doorbell, lock and alarm system. Nest allows users to monitor and control all of the IoT devices on its application via your own mobile devices. Nest application also allows users to store data such as footage videos and information from the devices to their mobile devices.

Nest Cam IQ is one of the smartest security cameras as it is weatherproof and tamper resistant. Nest Cam IQ has the features of HD talk and listen, high power infrared LEDs and 360-degree rotation. Nest Cam IQ can detect a person up to 50 feet (roughly 15 meters) away then it’ll alert the house owner with a footage of who’s there. With Nest Aware, it allows the device to recognise a familiar face and send the alerts to users. The Supersight function of the Nest allows Nest Cam IQ with 4K sensor, 1080p HD with superpowers even in the lighting conditions so that the details will not get blown out or lost in the shadows. The Nest Cam IQ comes with close-up tracking shot which once the camera spots a person, the Supersight will automatically zoom in and follow that person around. The users can go back to see the key snapshots from the last three hours of the activity in the Nest app if missed something. 

Nest aims to create a smart home that is simple and easy for users. The smart technology of the IoT, Nest works with many kinds of things such as lights, appliance, fitness brands and cars. Nest products will automatically connect with the products that works with their brand which can be seen through Nest’s logo, if you see the logo on other products, it means it is compatible with Nest. Today, many of brands have now already connected and compatible to be use with Nest, such as Phillips Hue, Google Home, Fitbit, LIFX and etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKuJYyyRLuE&t=34s

What do you think about Nest? Would you purchase their products? Share your thoughts below 🙂

What is DIDI?

Didi Chuxing or DIDI is the world’s leading mobile transportation platform, and they believe that travel is more than a journey. The company offers a different type of transportation options for users including Taxi, Express, Premier, Luxe, Bus, Bike and food delivery. DIDI has committed to collaborating with policymakers, taxi industry and communities in solving the world’s transportations and environment issues. DIDI is also challenging safety and smart transportation innovations. DIDI has partnered with Grab, Lyft, Ola, 99, Taxify and Careem in a global ride-hailing network which has now reached more than 80% of the population across more than 1,000 cities. DIDI has already expanded to Australia, Brazil, China, Japan, Mexico and continuing to expand for more. More than 550 million users are now using DIDI; more than 31 million driversfound it flexible to work with DIDI and have income opportunities. DIDI continuously to improve users experience by striving to build a safe, sustainable mobile transportation ecosystem and create social value.

The launch of DIDI brings the service of mobile transportation into competition with Uber, Ola and Taxify. DIDI is the most serious competitor for UBER as DIDI is making a faster and larger move than UBER in expansion. DIDI has already been successful in gaining awareness and achieved outperforming scores compared with other companies in Asia. DIDI is also planning to beat UBERin the ride-hailing race in the US and other continents.

DIDI has developed and introduced technologies that help in improving users experience and safety. Behind the simple app, there is a multi-layer problem-solving procedure like “R-U-Going” feature. This feature was launched by the company’s big data and Al technologies to optimise the riders request experience. This feature will set the pick-up location for users and show the predict destination. DIDI has also developed smart traffic signalswhich analyses real-time trajectory data and calculate the speed at different locations, average stop times at different intersections and estimate the real travel time. DIDI is providing security checks, technologies to ensure that the riders are safe before, during and after the trip.

DIDI has launched special chauffeur servicesfor disabled and parent with infants to improve the equality of the accessible in transportation for all. DIDI provide hotline services for elderly who are unfamiliar with smartphone or people with special needs to assist and be on their behalf to make a payment for the ride. DIDI has a feature of  ‘Lost and Found”allows riders to report a lost item or call the drivers within 24 hours of the trip. Alternative, on DIDI’s app there is a chat tab between the drivers and the riders to communicate which helps in making it easier to find each other. For safety, DIDI introduced the feature for the riders to share itinerary through DIDI to their family and friends.

DIDI has successfully developed its marketing through many platforms including Mobile Marketing. DIDI attracts users and marketing their business through mobile devices. Mobile is already a part of marketing as majority of people these days are now using smartphones, 80% of mobile device time spent on apps, and the number of research through mobile search increased 200% year over yearin 2012. The mobile marketing strategies that can be seen in DIDI company straightway are app marketing, mobile search ads and SMS. DIDI has used their official app to encourage users to join them as they’re offering $20 off for the first ride, to get the redeem the offers, the users need to sign up first. Once users have already signed up with them, SMS marketing will be used in the way that the business will send users’ offers and discount to keep in the eyes of users. Google search ads is also another strategy that DIDI used as it is the basic ads that built for mobile often comes with a link to the official website and links to the download application like App Storeand Google Play. However, services like Google ADMob, UNiDAYSand  Promoted Post adsfrom Facebook can also be another option as those services will help the business to promote their business through the third-party mobile apps.

Not only for benefits for riders that get discount and offers but drivers also received the discount, special offers and safety from DIDI, so it’s win-win for both side via DIDI driver app. 

SO, have you tried DIDI? Try it now!

What is Tiktok? Some people may not have heard of this name before. Tiktok owned by ByteDance company in China, they describe themselves as “a destination for short – form mobile videos”. Tiktok is a short 15 seconds video that allows users to film their videos up to 15 seconds long with many sorts of special effects. Users can also add music and sound effects in the video for free which often seen through featuring dancing, lip- synching, dancing, doing ticks etc. The users allow to share it directly to other social media that they’ve linked accounts with and also the users can save it as private.

Once you started to watch videos of other users on Tiktok, you will have a feeling of brain freeze because they’re incredibly addictive. There are about 80 milliondownloads in the U.S and nearly 800 milliondownloads worldwide with 500 million global active users. Tiktok became so popular in many countries but especially in Asian countries such as Thailand, China, Japan, India, Nepal etc. Tikok is the world’s most downloaded app on the IOS app store in 2018 (via Sensor Tower), and the average rating for the app is around 4 to 5 stars in global.

Tiktok becomes brand awareness in Tiktok by tapping into trending of memes and challenges. The user base Tiktok is mostly in the ages of 13 to 24, and the majority of users are female according to Musical.ly data. Tiktok challenges usually involve using popular songs, funny sounds and hashtag. Some of the popular trends on Tiktok can be found on the search page; most of trend and challenges mostly come with a specific hashtag. Trending of hashtag will also list on the search with the number of times it has been used. Tiktok is reaching out to the large audiences through the concepts of comedy, beauty and music genres as for them it is the most important to draw extra attention to the audience. Here is one example of the most popular Tiktok videos challenges.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1j6bX2KI4g&list=PL2C129827A86F868E

Tiktok launched its own campaign “#gagadancemachine” that allows the motion sensor to detects motions and movements of users. Based on the principles of contagiousness, this campaign has advertised itself to Publicas the majority of people shared their recorded videos of this campaign on social media platforms such as Facebook or Instagram. Tiktok aims to launch another series with more Storiesscenarios to attract users’ attention and keeping users’ excitement. From this campaign, Tiktok became so popular and well known in the Asia market, especially in Thailand and Japan.

Celebrities endorsement are one of the powerful spotlights in encourage people to participate and join with Tiktok. Tiktok started to rise internet celebrities to reinforce the power of the social network in getting higher user growth. For instance, the hashtags #tumbleweedchallenge and #elfontheshelfchallenge create by NBC Tonight Show Host Jimmy Fallon have created more than 19 million views.

(Screenshots of celebrities’ participations through hashtags on Tiktok)

TikTok is not only for public users but also available for some businesses to advertise and promote their brands to gain brand awareness through Tiktok app. For instance,, Guessis the first brand experimenting with Tiktok through hashtag campaign #inmydenim. Guess launched the first official video featuring with popular creators on Tiktok, and from there, users are following to submit their versions of “mess to best dressed” with wearing Guess jeans. Guess aims to targets young customers and create an image for their brand. Guess’s campaign has been successful with 34 million views with users participated in organically and enthusiastically. The short video format allows the business to create the most attractive features of products and services to present the company and also to turn customers experiences into the powerful Social Currency.

Let me know your thoughts of TikTok, would you download TikTok app and share your video to others?

Social Media play such a major role in business marketing these days; the majority of businesses are now using social media to promote their company and to advertise their products. Businesses that do not participate or involved themselves in social media would potentially lose the customer as the business will lose the opportunity in building a relationship with customers online which could cause businesses to be in the blind spot position in the market and lose the opportunity to create awareness for their brands.

Nowadays, no matter if you run a small business or just a big national company, social media is needed as a part of your business. Social media helps business to connect with customers, increases awareness of the brand and boost up sales. More than Three billion people across the world are now using social media on a daily basis and 52% of social media marketers believes that social media has a positive effectfor the company in increasing sales and revenue.

Benefits of Social Media for Business

• Boost and Create Brand Awareness
• Lower ads costs
• Attracting customers
• Real time performance analysis
• Networking
• Brand development 
• Revenue

Every business now these days need to use social media channels as much as possible, the more channels they use, the more benefits they’ll get. Business these days are now targeting audience from the most uses social media platforms for their social media marketing such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, etc. Choosing the right social media platforms is also important for business as based on different factors such as the type of business run in the market, how many target audience does the business want to reach, how well can the business monitor the social media for the business, etc. Here are some of the social media platforms as a guide to choose whether it’s suits your business or not.

Facebook

Facebook is one of the best social media platforms right now on for businesses for the company to reach out to their target market. Facebook is the world’s largest social media platform with the diversity of the audience; Facebook has a combination of all age users from 13 to 65 older or maybe older in both female and males. Facebook has its unique features that offer to business which is Facebook ads, with this features it allows business to target their audience easily as once you have visited the individual website, data will get stored, and the advertisements of the site you’ve visited will pop up on your feeds. In doing this Facebook makes it easy for the business to have their ads appear on customers newsfeed which creates brand awareness and also making it for the customer to make purchases through Facebook just a few clicks. Facebook also allows business to interact with customers through Facebook Messenger which give the business the opportunity to provide information about shipping update and other notification through the Facebook platform.

Instagram

Instagram is also one of the popular social media platforms that have many active users across the world. Instagram is a unique social media platform that more focused on visual presentation in both images and video, no matter what company Instagram can be the showcase for the product. One of the interesting features on Instagram that can be useful for business in social media marketing is the Instagram stories, which allows business to announce important news and updates through live video with their followers. Similarly, to Facebook, Instagram also allows users to direct message to each other directly, this gives an opportunity for business to provide customer service to their clients in the way that it allows business to answer questions and address concerns to customers directly.

YouTube

Second place after Google, YouTube become the second largest search by users on the Internet. YouTube allows business to post an unlimited amount of video without having to pay for it which help business in saving cost and also allows business to reach out to the audience from all over the world. It is accessible for both company and customers to have access to the videos as it is searchable in both YouTube and Google. 74% of YouTube users have searched to watch brand channels weekly, and 63% of users have taken actions based on a brand or creator video on YouTube. These give the opportunity for business to engage the audience to watch the video and opportunity to present their brand creatively.

Source: ‘The YouTube Generation Study”

Twitter

Twitter is one of the social media platforms after Facebook, as nearly the same amount of users as Facebook this make it advantage for business to share updates and become part of the online conversation surrounding the company. Business can use Twitter to reach out to their audience. Hashtags allow business to follow up with what society thinks or says about the company and also allows the company to participate in the conversation about the trending topic in the company as well. Twitter has its feature for the business to promote their account and option to promote some certain trend that company might want to speak out, this offers  advertising opportunitiesfor business to attract their target customers on social media.