Favorite Finds

This week’s headlines reminded us to keep sharpening our social media skills – but keep those crisis PR tools in our back pockets, too.

·         We’re Gonna Need a Bigger Boat: This week, Discovery Channel aired its 26th annual Shark Week, and – despite making unwelcome waves with its mockumentary “Megalodon” – it’s on par to exceed the channel’s 2012 record 21.4 million total viewers.

·         Beg, Borrow, Steal? Facebook began testing a trending topics feature on its mobile site with select users. This isn’t the first time the social network has borrowed from Twitter, but we’re looking forward to the next truly new and unique feature to hit our newsfeeds.

·         A Picture’s Worth 1,000 Words: A study released this week found that Instagram users are 18 times more engaged than those on Facebook and 48 times more engaged than users on Twitter. Results were attributed to the more visual elements of Instagram and have big implications for brands – even those that aren't officially using the platform.

·         May the Odds Be Ever in Your Favor: A Florida summer camp raised some eyebrows this week – hosting its own “Hunger Games,” inspired by the widely popular book by Suzanne Collins. Children participated in a series of challenges in which they could “collect lives” – although the focus on team-building didn’t stop one camper from writing on her poster “LOSING MEANS CERTAIN DEATH.” No word on if the camp will open again next year.