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Instagram is working on new Reels feed that combines two users' interests
Instagram is working on a feature called Blend, a private feed of Reels for two people. It's testing the option internally only for now.
Meta limits 'political' content recommendations on Instagram and Threads
Meta is allowing users to limit political and social content from accounts they don't follow on Instagram and Threads.
Instagram porn bots’ latest tactic is ridiculously low-effort, but it’s working
Porn bots are pervasive across social media, despite platforms' best efforts to stamp them out. In order to avoid detection by moderation tools, the scammers behind them continually change their methods.
Researchers ask Meta to keep CrowdTangle online until after 2024 elections
The Mozilla Foundation and dozens of other research and advocacy groups are pushing back on Meta’s decisions to shut down its research tool, CrowdTangle, later this year.
Meta sets a date for killing off CrowdTangle
Meta is shutting down CrowdTangle in August. Reporters and researchers used the platform to investigate social media practices.
41 state attorneys general tell Meta to fix their customer support for hacking victims
A group of 41 state attorneys general are demanding that Meta step up its support services for users who have been victims of hacks and account takeovers.
Instagram finally lets you edit DMs
Meta just announced a software update for Instagram that finally lets users edit DMs within 15 minutes of being sent. There’s also a new tool to pin three of your favorite conversations at the top of your DM feed.
Meta is testing cross-posts from Facebook to Threads
Meta is testing a feature that allows users to post to both Facebook and Threads at the same time.
Meta will make advertisers cover Apple's 30 percent fee on boosted Facebook and Instagram posts
Influencers and businesses who promote Instagram and Facebook posts through Meta's iOS apps will soon need to pay more to cover a 30 percent cut that Apple is taking.
Instagram and Threads will no longer recommend political content
Meta will no longer recommend political content to users on Instagram or Threads unless users opt-in to a new setting.
Meta plans to ramp up labeling of AI-generated images across its platforms
Meta says it will ramp up labelling of AI-generated images across Facebook, Instagram and Threads in the coming months. It plans to do the same with AI-generated audio and video as third-party tools start incorporating industry-standard invisible signals.
How to delete your Instagram account
Tap Account Center and a menu will appear showing you the singular or multiple profiles you manage and all the tools on one page. Instead of selecting “Personal details” as you would on a mobile device, tap “Your information and permissions,” which will open up three drop-down menus, one of which reads “Deactivation or deletion.” Tap and then select the profile you want to deactivate or delete, then select which action you want to proceed with. Either way, you will be prompted to write your password for that profile if you select to deactivate or delete the account. Finally, you will need to select a reason for deleting or deactivating the account, and then you’re done. Once you select the reason, for a second time, Instagram will ask you to confirm deletion and give you a date that your account details will be permanently deleted off of the platform. Again, after your request goes through, it can take Meta up to 30 days to delete the account and affiliated information permanently. Meta does warn that during the 30 days pass, your content will remain subject to Instagram’s privacy policy, but your information and profile will not be accessible to other people using Instagram. It also is worth noting that it can take up to 90 days for the deletion process to finish after it gets initiated. So if you're really trying to disappear, it could take a while.
Instagram is testing 'flipside,' a finsta feature that already kind of exists
Instagram is testing yet another feature meant to give users an alternative to finstas, called "flipside."
New York City has designated social media as a ‘public health hazard’
New York City has officially become the first city in the US to designate social media as a “public health hazard.”
Facebook and Instagram will block DMs to teens unless they're from a friend
Facebook and Instagram users under 16 — or 18, in some places — can no longer receive DMs from anybody they don't follow by default, even if they're sent by fellow teens.
Meta’s Oversight Board raises concerns over automated moderation of hate speech
Meta's Oversight Board has raised concerns over the company's ability to effectively moderate hate speech with its automated systems.
Meta is letting users uncouple Messenger and Marketplace accounts in the EU
It follows regulations in the Digital Markets Act, which goes into effect in March.
Instagram will start telling night owl teens to close the app and go to sleep
Teens who use Instagram late at night will soon see full screen prompts suggesting that they close the app and get some rest. Younger users won't be able to turn off these 'Nighttime Nudges.'
Facebook and Instagram's algorithms facilitated child sexual harassment, state lawsuit claims
An unredacted Meta internal presentation has revealed that the company's own employees recommended that 100,000 child users were harassed daily.
Instagram and Snapchat can use Samsung Galaxy S24's native camera features
Samsung has integrated some of its native camera features into Instagram and Snapchat, in order to boost the quality of uploaded photos and videos.