Facebook has a facelift, Twitter users unite under #JeSuisCharlie and selfie sticks meet their match

Congratulations! You’ve made it through the first official working week of 2015, and doesn’t it feel oh so good? But before you start eyeing up the nearest pub to sneak off to, we’ve rounded up the latest news from around the digital and social world for you to mull over. Welcome to 2015...

New year, new Facebook Video Page

If your new year’s resolution was to be more like YouTube, then I’m afraid Facebook might have beaten you to it. The social giant has started to roll out a new (and rather familiar-looking) design for the Video section of Facebook Pages, allowing brands to select a featured video to be displayed extra-large on the page. Users will also have the opportunity to organise their videos in a nifty playlist, rather than keeping everything in chronological order. The design has already made its way to the ABC News page, and will be coming to a Facebook Page near you soon.

#JeSuisCharlie - Twitter users unite

Twitter users from all over the world have showed solidarity for the Charlie Hebdo attack victims with the hashtag #JeSuisCharlie. The hashtag, which translates to ‘I am Charlie’, has been mentioned over 2.8m times, and continues to be the top trending hashtag worldwide following Wednesday’s attack. Illustrators and political cartoonists also took to social media with illustrated messages promoting freedom of speech and the power of the pencil.

Facebook changes its algorithm

If a new-look Video tab wasn’t enough, Facebook are also kicking off 2015 by making changes to its News Feed algorithm. The changes will result in a limited reach for posts considered to be ‘overly promotional’, i.e. those that solely push people to buy a product, install an app or enter promotions without any real context. The changes aim to encourage brands to create posts geared on engaging, conversing with and helping fans, along with driving them to content across web channels.

We love you selfie sticks, we do…

But Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, they hate you. After the recent influx of selfie sticks (thanks, Christmas), the Mirror reported that the North London Premier league teams have banned the telescopic rods over fears they could be used inappropriately on match days. An Arsenal spokesperson said that the club’s ground regulations prohibit any object that could be used as a weapon or could compromise public safety.

Reddit’s record-breaking year

In a year that was marked by controversy for lack of content regulation (we all remember the ‘fappening’ of September 2014) Reddit reported a record-breaking 2014, with a whopping 71.25bn views. What can we say? Everybody loves a cat GIF.

And finally...tweet for toilet roll

When it comes to customer service going the extra mile, the social media team at Virgin Trains have gone all the way to Glasgow and back. Quite literally. On what was an ordinary journey from Euston to Glasgow, on just another very ordinary day, teenager Adam Greenwood found himself in a toilet, without any toilet roll. The sixteen-year-old responded in the only way he saw fit, by taking to Twitter to express his dismay. Within minutes the Virgin Trains social team responded and disaster was averted. Ah, the power of social media