Facebook rolls out newest functionality with Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp

admin 2020年10月7日

Intermediate

science & technology, science & technology - intermediate

Pre-reading questions:

I will read each question. Then, please answer them.

What social media applications do you usually use?
How often do you use the internet?

Vocabulary:

I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.

press /pres/

[noun] – newspapers and magazines, and those parts of television and radio that broadcast news, or reporters and photographers who work for them
The press people were quick to get the latest scoop about the superstar’s new dating scandal.

fuse /fyooz/

[verb] – (of ideas, cultures, musical styles, etc.) to combine or be combined together
The band’s newest song fuses jazz, hip-hop, and electronic styles.

function /FUHNGK-shuhn/

[noun] – a purpose or duty, or the way something or someone works
The function of a battery is to convert chemical energy into electrical energy.

regarding /ri-GAHR-ding/

[preposition] – about
I have sent you an email regarding Teresa’s immediate resignation.

combine /KUHM-bahyn/

[verb] – to join together in order to make a single thing or group, or to join things together in this way
Different amino acids combine to form proteins.

Article reading:

Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.

Facebook told the press last September 30 that it will start to fuse its new functions with social networking sites Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. This will allow Instagram users to send messages to users of Messenger without needing to create an account on Facebook or switch applications. Aside from being able to send messages smoothly across other messaging apps, they are also adding more functions such as selfie stickers, animated message effects, and new reactions. Other updates include “watch together” where people can share videos with friends and family during a call, and a “vanish mode” option to instantly remove messages after closing the chat.

The plan to combine the three social networking sites was stated by the company last year. Users see this update as a smoother way to communicate between apps. For the industry observers, this step was seen as Facebook maintaining their power over the market in these messaging apps. Facebook will begin to release the said features on WhatsApp but did not say further details regarding the timeline.

Comprehension Questions:

I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.

What social media platforms will fuse with Facebook’s latest functions?
Apart from being able to send messages smoothly across other messaging apps, what are the other updates they added?
What does the “watch together” feature do?
What does the “vanish mode” feature do?
What do industry observers think of this strategy by Facebook?

Discussion Questions:

I will read each question. Then, please answer them.

Is Facebook popular in your country? Why or why not?
What do you think of Facebook’s strategy?
What is your favorite social networking site? Why?
Do you think more people are becoming addicted to social media nowadays?
What types of information should not be posted on social media?