Facebook today announced its plans to celebrate the 2020 graduates on both Facebook and Instagram this week. Starting today on May 11, the series of events will include the company’s previously announced plans to air a virtual graduation ceremony on May 15, featuring celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Awkwafina, Jennifer Garner, Lil Nas X, Simone Biles, and Miley Cyrus among others. Facebook will now launch a variety of new Facebook and Instagram graduation-themed items and programming, including AR effects, chat filters, stickers, competitions, student spotlights and homages, contests, gift guides, interactive films, and more.
The happenings serve a dual purpose. In addition to celebrating marks, Facebook intends to expand the time spent on its applications by students, their families, and friends, beyond the virtual graduation ceremony itself.
To this end, it has scheduled online events worth a week for graduates and others to be interested in. Starting today, May 11, Instagram will add a new countdown graduation sticker to Stories to support the May 15 graduation ceremony. Users may also post back from the main @instagram Story and set a reminder about the event for themselves.
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Additionally, Instagram is launching two new hashtag competitions, including a # GradPhotoChallenge throwback and # MySeniorQuote challenge to feature quotes from seniors around the U.S. On Facebook, the company is beginning the “College Spotlight” series to highlight the excellent grades this year.
Both platforms are now gaining degree-themed AR effects. This includes speech and cap filters with adjustable tassels and Facebook ranking cap and walks stickers on stories from Instagram graduation AR. Facebook can also have profile frames in a range of school colors.
A grad-themed video chat filter will be introduced on Messenger, featuring several types of rating limit experience. In Instagram’s Posts, college-themed grad cap and gown experiences will also launch at the Effects list.
Instagram will host a virtual senior athlete-focused evening on Tuesday, May 12, featuring star athletes including Sabrina Ionescu, Myles Powell, Shay Knighten, and Andrew Pryts.
Also on Wednesday, Facebook will begin posting grade walks in the Stories section of its Facebook app and invite others to do the same using the # GradWalk2020 hashtag.
Thursday, May 14 kicks off Superlative Day on Instagram, where featured designers will share some of the students’ best superlatives.
Instagram will also host an art contest co-hosted by @brooklynmuseum and @design, which demands that student portraits appear on both pages in a virtual “art show,” with help from Instagram’s @creators as well. Five winners will receive Instagram grants worth $5K. Additionally, the @creators account will feature Bryce Xavier, Nia Sioux, and Livvy Dunne, as well as “Yearbooks on Instagram,” beginning Thursday.
In the meantime, @shop of Instagram will open a graduation gift guide featuring items from a variety of small businesses that can be shopped right in the app.
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Other online activities, along with Facebook, include the virtual gradation of YouTube on June 6 featuring the opening addresses of former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, as well as the participation of BTS, Lady Gaga, and former State Secretary Condoleezza Rice.
