Abstract: An online system identifies an opportunity to present content to a viewing user and accesses a model trained to predict a likelihood that a user will perform an action responsive to being presented with a link that launches a messaging application and initiates a conversation with an entity via the messaging application, in which the likelihood is predicted based on which of multiple messaging applications is selected and attributes of the user. For each of multiple candidate messaging applications, the trained model is applied to predict the likelihood that the viewing user will perform the action if the candidate messaging application is selected. A messaging application is selected from the candidate messaging applications based on the likelihoods and a content item including a link that launches the selected application and initiates a conversation with the entity via the selected application is generated and sent for display to the viewing user.

Abstract: An online system allows users to exchange messages with other users, including entities such as businesses. A user, such as a business, may use a third party system to manage messages with users of the online system. The online system provides the third party information with instructions comprising tracking mechanisms that identify specific actions between users from messages exchanged between users. For example, if a user purchases a product from another user via a message thread, a tracking mechanism identifies the purchase and transmits information reporting the purchase and identifying users to the online system. Hence, the tracking mechanism transmits a description of an action and information identifying the users to the online system, and may also transmit additional information, such as a value of the action to a user. The online system may use the descriptions of actions for content targeting or measurement and reporting of actions.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for providing dynamic communication threads in response to a detected interaction with a sponsored digital content item. For example, systems and method described herein detect a user interaction with a sponsored digital content item and generate a screened communication thread between the user and the sponsor that is not available to the sponsor. The screened communication thread serves as a reminder to the user of the sponsored digital content item. Systems and methods described herein convert the screened communication thread to an open communication thread based on user interaction with the screened communication thread (e.g., after the user submits a reply in the screened communication thread). Thus, systems and methods described herein protect the user's online privacy unless and until the user indicates a desire to interact with the sponsor.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to tracking events that result from a conversation on a messaging platform and that occur outside of the messaging platform. In one embodiment, the messaging platform may provide a user-selectable option that enables a first party or a second party to indicate that an event has occurred outside of the messaging platform. In another embodiment, the messaging platform may be configured to detect when a document is exchanged in a conversation via the messaging platform. In yet another embodiment, information may be extracted from a document exchanged in a conversation via a messaging platform. The extracted information may be used to determine whether an event has occurred outside of the messaging platform.

Abstract: This disclosure covers systems and methods that generate and train a chatbot to automatically communicate with users concerning subjects related to a digital advertisement received for distribution. In particular, the disclosed systems and methods train a chatbot to simulate common conversation exchanges from messaging threads associated with previous digital advertisements that are similar to a received digital advertisement. By training the chatbot to simulate such conversations, the disclosed systems and methods create a chatbot that can immediately respond to a user's inquiries concerning the received digital advertisement and tailor automated exchanges that further the objectives of an advertiser or merchant associated with the received digital advertisement.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for providing dynamic communication threads in response to a detected interaction with a sponsored digital content item. For example, systems and method described herein detect a user interaction with a sponsored digital content item and generate a screened communication thread between the user and the sponsor that is not available to the sponsor. The screened communication thread serves as a reminder to the user of the sponsored digital content item. Systems and methods described herein convert the screened communication thread to an open communication thread based on user interaction with the screened communication thread (e.g., after the user submits a reply in the screened communication thread). Thus, systems and methods described herein protect the user's online privacy unless and until the user indicates a desire to interact with the sponsor.

Abstract: An entity such as a social networking system generates a dynamically customized user-specific advertisement using an advertisement template and user information from an advertiser. A request is received for an advertisement to display to a user, and the social networking system retrieves an advertisement template (e.g., provided by an advertiser) that includes one or more functions. The social networking system also retrieves user information that can be used to evaluate a value of a function contained in the advertisement. The template and the value of each function are then used to generate a dynamically customized user-specific advertisement for display to the user. These advertisements can be shown to a user while keeping confidential at least some aspect of the user's personal information from the social networking system and/or the advertiser.

Abstract: An entity such as a social networking system generates a dynamically customized user-specific advertisement using an advertisement template and user information from an advertiser. A request is received for an advertisement to display to a user, and the social networking system retrieves an advertisement template that includes one or more functions. The social networking system also retrieves user information to evaluate a value of a function contained in the advertisement. The advertiser can obscure the meaning of personal information from the social networking system, so that when the template and the value of each function are used to generate a dynamically customized user-specific advertisement for display to the user, the advertisement is obscured in some aspect from the social networking system. In this way, the advertiser may communicate with the user without disclosing all of the details of the communication to the social networking system that serves the advertisement.

Abstract: An entity such as a social networking system generates a dynamically customized user-specific advertisement using an advertisement template and user information. A request is received for an advertisement to display to a user, and the social networking system retrieves an advertisement template that includes one or more functions. The social networking system also retrieves user information to evaluate a value of a function contained in the advertisement. The user information is provided by both a first and second party (e.g., the advertiser and the social networking system), where the meaning of the information provided by each party is obscured from the other party. The template and the value of each function are used to generate a dynamically customized user-specific advertisement for display to the user, where both parties have provided user information that is obscured in some manner from the other party, allowing for a more personalized advertisement.

Abstract: This disclosure covers systems and methods that generate and train a chatbot to automatically communicate with users concerning subjects related to a digital advertisement received for distribution. In particular, the disclosed systems and methods train a chatbot to simulate common conversation exchanges from messaging threads associated with previous digital advertisements that are similar to a received digital advertisement. By training the chatbot to simulate such conversations, the disclosed systems and methods create a chatbot that can immediately respond to a user's inquiries concerning the received digital advertisement and tailor automated exchanges that further the objectives of an advertiser or merchant associated with the received digital advertisement.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to tracking events that result from a conversation on a messaging platform and that occur outside of the messaging platform. In one embodiment, the messaging platform may provide a user-selectable option that enables a first party or a second party to indicate that an event has occurred outside of the messaging platform. In another embodiment, the messaging platform may be configured to detect when a document is exchanged in a conversation via the messaging platform. In yet another embodiment, information may be extracted from a document exchanged in a conversation via a messaging platform. The extracted information may be used to determine whether an event has occurred outside of the messaging platform.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of the disclosure provide a promotional messaging system for efficiently providing promotional messages to customers via an electronic messaging system. For example, in one or more embodiments, the promotional messaging system identifies users of the electronic messaging system that have previously communicated with a merchant as part of a customized audience. Additionally, in some embodiments, the promotional messaging system analyzes activity patterns of the users to provide improved delivery of promotional messages in a non-intrusive, private, and timely manner. Overall, the promotional messaging system described herein improves communications via an electronic messaging system between users and a merchant.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of the disclosure provide a promotional messaging system for efficiently providing promotional messages to customers via an electronic messaging system. For example, in one or more embodiments, the promotional messaging system identifies users of the electronic messaging system that have previously communicated with a merchant as part of a customized audience. Additionally, in some embodiments, the promotional messaging system analyzes activity patterns of the users to provide improved delivery of promotional messages in a non-intrusive, private, and timely manner. Overall, the promotional messaging system described herein improves communications via an electronic messaging system between users and a merchant.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of the disclosure provide a promotional messaging system for efficiently providing promotional messages to customers via an electronic messaging system. For example, in one or more embodiments, the promotional messaging system identifies users of the electronic messaging system that have previously communicated with a merchant as part of a customized audience. Additionally, in some embodiments, the promotional messaging system analyzes activity patterns of the users to provide improved delivery of promotional messages in a non-intrusive, private, and timely manner. Overall, the promotional messaging system described herein improves communications via an electronic messaging system between users and a merchant.

Abstract: An advertisement interface receives an input identifying an object maintained by or otherwise accessible to a social networking system. A type associated with the object identified by the input is determined and one or more goals associated with the type are presented. Based on selection of a goal, one or more options are presented, where at least one of the presented options is associated with the selected goal. Hence, goals specific to a type of object may be presented and options specific to a selected goal are presented to increase advertisement effectiveness. Based on the selected options, an advertisement is created and displayed to other users of the social networking system.