Tenor is collaborating with LinkedIn to bring users the exciting new option of using GIFs in their messaging streams. Considering that Tenor powers over 400 million searches per day, LinkedIn users will not be wanting when it comes to a wide range of GIF options.
This is a smart move for both companies. Although it might seem odd for GIFs to be offered on a business-focused platform, GIFs are becoming increasingly popular as a way to express a friendly and compact sentiment. By adding a GIF option, LinkedIn is showing that it can keep up with the times, despite catering to a slightly older audience.
Tenor also has much to gain from the deal. According to TechCrunch:
Tenor has long positioned itself as a GIF search tool working across a number of different platforms, ranging from its own keyboard to Facebook Messenger. As such, it wasn’t a huge surprise that Google — a search platform — decided to acquire the company toward the end of march. Tenor at the time said it powered more than 12 billion GIF searches every month, and that kind of search volume fits pretty neatly with Google’s quest to index the world’s information in a way that’s easily searchable. LinkedIn adds another component to that Swiss army knife, and it also gives Google another entry point to a different platform when it comes to some variation of GIF search.
As of right now, the feature is in beta, with about 50% of LinkedIn users having access to the option, but the full GIF search platform is still pending for all.
What do you think? Are you excited about GIFs coming to your LinkedIn messaging? Or do you think it conflicts with the professional image of the platform?