Facebook will receive more than two-thirds of all social media ad spending this year, according to a new study by eMarketer. Facebook is set to generate an estimated $22.37 billion (about £17 billion) in revenue in 2016, which is a staggering 30 per cent increase on the figure recorded for the previous 12 months.

Facebook has had to clarify its content removal policies once again after receiving criticism for temporarily taking down a video of the shooting of Philando Castile late last week. The social media giant said that the removal was “due to a technical glitch” and has since outlined how it differentiates between various types of graphic or controversial content. 

Facebook is expanding its Audience Network to challenge the Google Display Network and to help brands and publishers “show better ads to everyone.” For the first time, people who don’t use or aren’t connected to the social media platform will be able to see ads on third-party websites and apps.

Facebook is helping users to fast track to the most engaging parts of Live Video with a new visual timeline powered by reactions. Facebook claims that the feature will encourage viewers to spend more time with the content they watch on the site and help them to navigate longer streams and video replays more easily.

Publishers, celebrities and brands are now able to share branded content on Facebook after the social media giant announced major changes to its ad policies. Facebook has also released a new tool to make it easier for these users to tag sponsored content, including Instant Articles, videos, photos and text, on the platform.

Facebook has renewed its focus on streaming after rolling out a wave of new features for Live video for mobile, including invites, reactions, filters and the ability to share content with a specific group or event.

Facebook has announced video ads for Instant Articles, a new feature that will enable publishers to boost engagement for content they post on the social media platform and monetise their marketing strategies effectively. The new addition will launch alongside Instant Articles when it rolls out on 12^th April.

Facebook has launched a new analytics tool called Delivery Insights, which aims to help marketers to better understand how their ads are performing in auctions. Facebook has said that the tool will remove a degree of “guesswork” that has previously been part of building successful ad campaigns on the site.

Facebook is preparing to release a new plugin, which will enable content creators to publish Instant Articles from WordPress up to ten times faster. The plugin is set to arrive next month in time for the wider launch of Instant Articles, which is a new format that will make it easier for users to generate and post mobile-optimised content on the social media site.

The set of five new animated emoji expand on the now ubiquitous Like button and include Love, Haha, Wow, Sad and Angry. The Yay emoticon that was present during the pilot launch has not made the cut.