Missouri and Ukraine dominated the news this week, including the news from the social web. It’s been a long, hot summer for many, and if you’re following the evolving place of Twitter and Facebook in our lives, it’s been the summer in which every story seems to have a social media dimension. There’s been a lot of news to keep up with this week; here’s some of the salient news from the the world of the social web:

Latest from the Big 4

Every week Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+ announce policy changes, updates, design tweaks, new features and other changes that can affect how you use their tools. Here are this week’s highlights:

Slideshare Paid Features Now Free

Since its acquisition by LinkedIn in May 2012, Slideshare users have been wondering how its premium features will fit with its parent’s paid model, long-term. Well, now there’s an answer: according to LinkedIn’s blog, “all users will have access to our most popular premium features that include detailed analytics, profile customization and additional upload options, like video and private uploads.” For content marketers, Slideshare analytics in particular are an essential tool.

Vine Lets Users Upload Videos

As we reported a few days ago, Vine’s latest update introduces a big change that may open Vine’s doors to marketers: instead of users being forced to capture video from their smartphones within the app in real-time, they can now upload, edit, and publish Vines from existing videos. That means marketers will be able to share higher-quality videos. This policy change demonstrates how social networks are like bands: first they have to make a connection with young people, then they can open up to business and start making some money. Inevitably, though, they struggle to stay cool over time.

Instagram Blog

Facebook has been quiet this week, maybe due to the ongoing challenge of managing users’ adoption of its new Messenger app. As always, users abhor change. But change Facebook must—the social web is going mobile-first fast. If the world’s largest social network is in need of consolation after another week of bleating (and they’re probably not), they can turn to Instagram for consolation. The image-sharing app continues its cultural ascendance, as does the team behind its content. If you’re looking for an example of smart, creative content marketing, check out Instagram’s blog.

The Next Big Thing

The social web is a dynamic landscape, with new players constantly shaking things up. Whether it’s a new class of Y Combinator startup stars announcing their big ideas, or a surprise venture capital investment in an app rumoured to be the next Snapchat, this industry moves fast. Here’s the latest:

Good.co Raises $3 Million (Also, #HootHire!)

If you’re applying for jobs in this economy, you’ve got a wealth of tools at your fingertips that tell you what opportunities are out there. What you don’t have is resources that will tell you what it’s like to work at a place that’s hiring, or whether you’re going to work well with your future colleagues. At Hootsuite, we go out of our way to show prospective owls what life with us is like, and we find that being open about our culture helps us bring in great people.

From an applicant’s perspective, though, it’s hard to know whether you’re going to fit in a new workplace. For Hootsuite, that’s why we throw open our doors for #Hoothire. But if you’re not lucky enough to be searching for a new tech gig in Vancouver, now there’s Good.co. The TechStars-founded company aspires to solving the HR fit problem. With $3 million raised so far, they’ve got a chance at helping solve one of the biggest problems every young business (and job applicant) faces.

Snapchat Revenue to Come From… News?

Like the rest of us, since Snapchat founder Evan Spiegel turned down Facebook’s US$3 billion offer, you’ve been wondering how the ephemeral messaging phenom is going to make money. The answer? Surprise! It’s ads. As Gizmodo reports, it may be a weird fit for users. But then again, aren’t the world’s poo-poo-ers getting tired of being wrong about Snapchat yet? Personally, I’m not. But I have a very high tolerance for being wrong.

Long Read

There’s no long read this week. Why? Because I’m out. I’ve got a big stack of Wired and The New Yorker, and a lot of other stuff from great purveyors of long reading to catch up on. So instead of sharing things that I think are probably interesting to read longly, I will spend this weekend reading, and share insights via Twitter when warranted. Still reading? I like you. I’ll be sure to have something meaty for you next week.