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Wait... They shipped what!?

Meta is rolling out several new ad slots on Facebook and Instagram.

Details: New ad slots and formats include:

• Facebook Reels

  • Post-loop: 4-10 second skippable ads that play after a Reel ends (A/B test)

  • Image carousel: Horizontally scrollable ads of up to 10 images (A/B test)

• Instagram

  • Explore home: Ads that sit within the Explore tab grid (full rollout)

  • Profile: Ads shown in a profile feed. Creators to get a cut (A/B test)

  • Multi-advertiser: Users who engage with an ad will see another related ad underneath (full rollout)

Why it matters: Meta has to take major action to address it's falling revenue, but you can only prioritize ad dollars so much before you end up with a shitty experience.

The latest changes aren't fun for consumers, but what's notable is that this time the shitty experience extends to advertisers. If a user engages with an ad, IG will now show similar ads underneath, including those of competitors. If I made a compelling ad that a user clicked on, I'm not sure I'd want them to see a rival ad straight after.

Features & products hot off the press

Big tech

• Google Chrome will limit the effectiveness of ad-blockers from 2023  

• Twitter rolls out its experimental Status feature to more users

• Google unveils a new Nest Doorbell and a faster WiFi router  

• Google revamps the Home App in preparation for Matter

• Tesla is removing ultrasonic sensors from Model 3 and Model Y vehicles

• Meta will kill Bulletin, it's newsletter subscription service 

General and early-stage

• GoPuff adds a new wellness focused private label offering

• Zillow lets users explore neighborhoods with Apple's Look Around feature 

• Hulu is set to undertake a series of price increases

• Wisk Aero unveils its self-flying air taxi 

• MasterCard launches Crypto Secure to help banks combat crypto fraud 

• Recelery lets users resell food items to minimize waste

Getting 1% better at building product

• Craft - Product Sense demystified, by Marty Cagan

• PMF - Finding product market fit | Sachin Rekhi & Fareed Mosavat, by Reforge

Broader tech happenings

• Not so rosy. Apple's App Store revenue declined by 5% in September

• Of two minds. Musk offers to proceed with the acquisition of Twitter 

• About time! EU approves a law that will require all phones to use USB-C 

• None spared. Amazon freezes corporate hiring in its retail business

• EV galore. Sixt to buy 100,000 electric vehicles from China's BYD

Courtesy of mindless Twitter scrolling

@DataGwen

@LBacaj

And that’s a wrap for today. Stay tuned for more!

- Amol