Where digital meets travel + lifestyle … A collection of can’t-miss news from this week. Sign up to get the TURNER Weekly Download in your inbox every Friday.
Instagram Pop-Ups
Online and IRL (In Real Life) are converging! For proof, take a look at this new trend.
Pop-up, Instagram-friendly exhibits have been showing up in cities across the country. And they’re extremely popular. “It’s meant to feel like a dreamscape, a little oasis away from the chaos of the city,” said Michelle Price, on-site brand manager of The Egg House. This pop-up exhibit started in New York and is currently in Shanghai, attracting over 16,330 Instagram followers. With unique visuals, interactive elements and an otherworldly atmosphere, look for more of these types of fun temporary events to take place in the future.
Pin Your Hopes On Pinterest
Pinterest doesn’t get the same hype as other social media platforms. But it’s a powerhouse, with more than 200 million active monthly users. According to SmartBrief, 55 percent of Pinners say they use the platform to shop for and find products. That's more than four times the rate of other digital platforms. So
brands should definitely be Pinning. “One of the most valuable components of Pinterest is the lifespan of content,” writes Abby Katz. “Not only does Pinterest content last 1,690 times longer than the average Instagram post, but Pinners also actively engage with a Pin for an average of 3.5 months after it is uploaded to the site.”
Beyond Facebook
So you feel like ditching Facebook? Well, join the club. Maybe it’s time to get acquainted with
Openbook. TechCrunch has the details, reporting that the new platform is “an open source platform that rethinks social networking to make it friendly and customizable, rather than sticky and creepy. Their vision to protect privacy as a for-profit platform involves a business model that’s based on honest fees — and an on-platform digital currency — rather than ever watchful ads and trackers.” Sounds good to us. However, many have tried and failed to usurp Zuckerberg’s throne. Going forward, we’ll see how Openbook fares.
Mastodon Attack!
But wait! There are more social media alternatives emerging. Mastodon is not an extinct prehistoric beast or a beloved heavy metal band. No, it’s an open source decentralized social network – by the people and for the people.
And Wired’s Brendan Nystedt loves it. “Mastodon users are nice people,” he writes. “The wider federated network has posts in English, Japanese, Spanish, and from techy open source enthusiasts. It's way more queer and trans-friendly … Oh and don't worry—there are plenty of cute cat pictures here, too.”
Weekly Moment of Zen
Just when you think you couldn’t love Jon Stewart any more,
he goes and rescues some adorable goats.