Retail News CRM

Tag: instagram

  • Metas AI Blunder: How a Chatbot Hack Shook Up Instagram and Spurred Investor Jitters

    Metas AI Blunder: How a Chatbot Hack Shook Up Instagram and Spurred Investor Jitters

    A concerning vulnerability was recently exposed in Meta’s AI support chatbot due to an Instagram hack. The attackers manipulated the chatbot into providing access to high-profile accounts, including the inactive Obama White House page, beauty retailer Sephora, and a high-ranking US Space Force official.

    AI Security Breach

    The hackers persuaded the chatbot to reset account credentials without authentication, effectively changing a trusted security tool into a glaring weakness. This event highlights a wider vulnerability – tech companies giving AI systems sweeping authority over sensitive tasks like account recovery, despite the systems’ susceptibility to manipulation through “prompt injection” attacks.

    Meta’s stumble comes at a sensitive time. The social media magnate has committed heavily to AI, with significant job losses and up to $145 billion dedicated to AI infrastructure. This incident may amplify concerns about the company speeding up automation before the technology is adequately equipped to handle these tasks safely.

    On Monday, Meta stated that the issue was resolved and steps were being taken to secure impacted accounts. However, the incident shook investors already anxious about Meta’s substantial AI investment, leading to a more than 5% drop in share price.

    AI and Security

    The attack, which occurred over the weekend, saw users locked out of their accounts and led to numerous complaints on various platforms. The hack underlines the latest challenge for Meta in its attempt to incorporate AI throughout its products.

    The company introduced the support chatbot in March to address the ongoing issue of inadequate human support for users who lose account access or face inaccurate penalties. Since its launch late in 2022, AI chatbots have been exploited by hackers using prompt-based attacks.

    Analysts and experts warn that this problem isn’t isolated to Meta, predicting more such exploits as hackers utilize AI. Unforeseen issues are arising with the use of AI, presenting a new type of risk. Previously, individuals were targeted by scams. Now, AI agents or autonomous digital assistants capable of performing complex tasks are being targeted.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the potential risk of using AI in critical functions?
    AI systems’ potential risks include susceptibility to manipulation, especially when given significant authority over sensitive tasks without adequate safeguards or verification processes.

    How was the Instagram hack carried out?
    The hackers manipulated Meta’s AI support chatbot into resetting account credentials, effectively turning a high-trust security tool into a significant weakness and gaining access to high-profile accounts.

    What implications does this incident have on Meta’s efforts towards AI?
    This breach heightens concerns about Meta’s heavy investment in AI. It suggests that the company’s push for automation might be outpacing the technology’s readiness to handle such critical tasks safely.

  • Zee Entertainment Sues Nykaa for Alleged Copyright Breaches in Instagram Reels, Seeks $210k in Damages

    Zee Entertainment Sues Nykaa for Alleged Copyright Breaches in Instagram Reels, Seeks $210k in Damages

    Zee Entertainment, a major Indian media conglomerate, has taken legal action against Nykaa, a prominent fashion and beauty retailer. The lawsuit accuses Nykaa of utilising Zee’s copyrighted music in Instagram reels as a marketing strategy for their products, a move that allegedly infringes on Zee’s licensing agreement with Meta Platforms. Zee Entertainment is seeking damages of US$210,000 for this alleged copyright violation.

    The Case Background

    The suit, filed in the Delhi High Court on April 3, contends that Zee’s licensing deal with Meta Platforms permits individuals to incorporate Zee’s music into their Instagram posts for non-commercial purposes. However, Zee alleges that Nykaa exploited several of its copyrighted songs in Instagram reels to promote products to its vast follower base.

    According to the lawsuit, Zee identified 12 specific Instagram reels where Nykaa purportedly used Zee’s licensed music in its product promotional posts. The court documents, while not publicly available, reportedly include screenshots from these reels as evidence of the alleged copyright infringement.

    During an initial hearing, Nykaa’s legal team informed the court that the 12 disputed links had been removed. The lawsuit documents, which amount to more than 900 pages, assert that Nykaa utilised Zee’s music “without obtaining any permissions/authorisations.”

    Zee is requesting the court to grant INR 20 million (approximately US$209,742) in damages to compensate for Nykaa’s alleged illicit use of its music.

    The Potential Impact

    Both Zee and Nykaa are major publicly traded entities in India’s entertainment and retail sectors, respectively. Legal observers suggest that the resolution of this case could potentially have broader repercussions.

    Aditya Gupta, a partner at Ira Law, pointed out that marketing departments frequently access content from music libraries without fully understanding the specific terms and conditions laid out by platforms like Instagram. He suggested that this case could offer much-needed clarity on the issue.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the basis of Zee Entertainment’s lawsuit against Nykaa?
    Zee Entertainment alleges that Nykaa used its copyrighted music in Instagram reels as a marketing strategy for their products, in violation of Zee’s licensing agreement with Meta Platforms.

    What is the requested compensation in the lawsuit?
    Zee Entertainment is seeking damages of US$210,000 against Nykaa for the alleged copyright infringement.

    What implications could this lawsuit have?
    Since Zee Entertainment and Nykaa are significant players in their respective sectors, the resolution of this case could set a precedent and offer clarity regarding the use of copyrighted music in social media advertising.

  • Nykaa Faces $210K Lawsuit for Alleged Copyright Violation on Instagram Reels

    Nykaa Faces $210K Lawsuit for Alleged Copyright Violation on Instagram Reels

    Zee Entertainment, an entertainment company based in India, has initiated a lawsuit against Nykaa, a fashion and beauty retailer. The entertainment company has accused Nykaa of using its copyrighted songs in promotional reels on Instagram, without the necessary permissions. As a result, Zee Entertainment is seeking $210,000 in damages.

    Zee’s Licensing Agreement with Meta Platforms

    According to the lawsuit filed with the Delhi High Court on April 3, Zee Entertainment holds a licensing agreement with Meta Platforms. This agreement permits individuals to use Zee’s music for non-commercial purposes in their Instagram posts. However, Zee alleges that Nykaa has violated this agreement by using various copyrighted songs to advertise products to its millions of followers on Instagram.

    The lawsuit in question is not available to the public. Both Nykaa and Zee Entertainment have refrained from commenting on the issue.

    Social media platforms such as Instagram, a Meta product, have seen a surge in their use for advertising purposes. Brands now frequently employ short-video formats, often accompanied by popular music, to promote their goods.

    Removal of Flagged Links

    The lawsuit filed by Zee Entertainment cites 12 specific Instagram posts where Nykaa allegedly used Zee’s licensed music unlawfully. Following a brief hearing on Thursday, Nykaa’s legal representative informed the court that the 12 flagged links had been removed.

    Zee’s lawsuit, which spans over 900 pages, asserts that Nykaa utilized the music “without procuring any permissions or authorizations” from the entertainment company. The lawsuit advances a claim for 20 million rupees (approximately $209,742) as compensation for Nykaa’s illicit use of Zee’s music.

    The legal dispute between these two major companies could potentially have broader consequences. Aditya Gupta, a partner at Ira Law in India, suggests that “Marketing departments often use content available on music libraries without reading the fine print of the Instagram terms” and that the court’s decision could “provide much-needed clarity.”

    Questions & Answers

    What is the basis of Zee Entertainment’s lawsuit against Nykaa?
    Zee Entertainment alleges that Nykaa has used its copyrighted music in promotional Instagram reels without the necessary permissions, thereby violating Zee’s licensing agreement with Meta Platforms.

    What action has Nykaa taken in response to the lawsuit?
    Nykaa has removed the 12 specific Instagram posts flagged in Zee’s lawsuit, as reported by their legal representative in court.

    What are the potential implications of this case?
    The case could have wider consequences, potentially affecting the way marketing departments utilize content from music libraries. The decision could also provide clarity regarding the use of such content under Instagram’s terms.

  • Unmasking the Mystery: Instagram Clarifies Source of Unsolicited Password Reset Emails

    Unmasking the Mystery: Instagram Clarifies Source of Unsolicited Password Reset Emails

    Instagram users have recently been reporting an influx of unsolicited password reset emails. Instagram has now responded by stating that these emails are the result of an internal glitch, not a security breach.

    Instagram’s Response to Password Reset Emails

    Instagram has clarified that the unusual password reset emails received by its users were due to a software glitch. This clarification came after numerous users voiced concerns about the possibility of their accounts being compromised.

    The company categorically denied that there had been any major security breach, countering last week’s claims that it had suffered a data breach. It was previously suggested that sensitive information of 17.5 million Instagram users, including usernames, email addresses, phone numbers, and physical addresses, was being offered on the dark web.

    In their statement, Instagram did not elaborate on the nature of the software issue that resulted in these emails being sent out. However, they assured users that there had been no breach of their systems and that user accounts are secure. Users were advised to disregard the password reset emails.

    Advice for Users

    Regardless of Instagram’s assurance, users are always encouraged to exercise caution when dealing with their account security. It is a standard security practice to ignore and delete any unsolicited password reset emails, without clicking on any links they may contain.

    To enhance account security, users should employ unique passwords for each of their accounts, and change these on a regular basis. In addition, enabling two-factor authentication provides an extra layer of security. Instagram users can check the devices logged into their account via the Meta Account Center, helping identify any potential security issues.

    Unresolved Issues

    Despite Instagram’s reassurances, there are still unanswered questions surrounding this incident. The company has not explained how external parties could have sent out authentic password requests, or who these external parties may be. Many hope that Instagram will provide more clarity on this issue, although it remains uncertain whether they will do so.

    Questions & Answers

    What were the email notifications Instagram users received?
    Users reported receiving unsolicited emails prompting them to reset their Instagram passwords.

    Did Instagram confirm a data breach?
    No, Instagram categorically denied any data breach, attributing the password reset emails to a software glitch.

    What should users do if they receive unsolicited password reset emails?
    Users are advised to delete such emails without clicking on any links they contain. It is also recommended to have unique passwords for each account and to regularly change these passwords. Enabling two-factor authentication is another suggested security measure.

  • Take Control of Your Feed: Instagram Empowers Users with AI-Powered Reels Algorithm Customization

    Take Control of Your Feed: Instagram Empowers Users with AI-Powered Reels Algorithm Customization

    The days when Instagram was simply a platform for checking in on friends and family are long gone. Nowadays, user feeds are filled with content that is supposed to align with their interests, however, this is not always the case. Meta, the parent company of Instagram, is aware of this and is providing Instagram users with a solution to optimize their algorithms.

    Controlling the Instagram Reels Algorithm

    Instagram has come out with a new feature that allows users to have a greater control over the type of videos that appear on their Reels feed. Named “Your Algorithm”, this feature provides users with details about the topics Instagram assumes they are interested in based on their past activity.

    The “Your Algorithm” settings can be adjusted by users to either add new topics or remove existing ones. This assists the app in determining the users’ actual video preferences. Instagram has stated that this feature is AI-based, although they have not provided further details about this functionality.

    Using this AI-powered feature, users now have the ability to view, personalize, and shape the topics that form their Reels, thus making the recommendations feel even more customized.

    More Customization Features on the Way

    According to Meta, these customizations are only the initial phase for Instagram. The company has future plans to introduce adjustable algorithms for the Explore tab and other parts of the app. Meta has also recently launched a feature on Threads, another of its platforms, that permits users to adjust the algorithm by tagging their posts with “dear algo”.

    Currently, “Your Algorithm” is available in the US and Meta has stated that it will soon be available worldwide in English. To utilize this feature, users need to:

    – Open a Reel video
    – Click on the icon with two lines and hearts at the top-right corner

    From there, users can view a summary of recommended topics and input the topics they want to see more or less of. They also have the option to share their list of interests via a story.

    While the new customization feature is a welcome addition, some users may desire even more control over their Instagram. For instance, after tailoring their Reels feed, some might prefer to remove them from their main feed and restrict them to the Reels submenu. Reshuffling features such as Direct Messages back to their original place before Instagram’s recent redesign is another potential request. While it may be a tall order, it’s certainly food for thought for the developers at Meta.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the new feature Instagram is rolling out?
    Instagram is launching a feature named “Your Algorithm” that allows users to fine-tune the type of videos that appear in their Reels feed.

    How does “Your Algorithm” work?
    “Your Algorithm” provides users with details about the topics Instagram assumes they are interested in based on their past activity. Users can then add new topics or remove existing ones to enhance their personalization.

    When and where will “Your Algorithm” be available?
    “Your Algorithm” is currently available in the US and will soon be available globally in English.

  • Instagram’s Hashtag Revolution: Limiting Tags Per Post, A Millennial Nightmare or Gen Z Evolution?

    Instagram’s Hashtag Revolution: Limiting Tags Per Post, A Millennial Nightmare or Gen Z Evolution?

    Over the past decade, hashtags have stood as a vital feature of Instagram, rarely experiencing any significant changes since their introduction in 2011. However, Meta, the tech giant behind Instagram, is in the process of testing what could potentially be the most significant change to the platform’s hashtag system to date.

    Testing Hashtag Limitations

    Instagram appears to be experimenting with restricting the number of hashtags users can include in their posts. Some users have taken to online forums to voice their experiences with the new limitations, reporting that the platform is preventing them from adding more than three hashtags to a post’s description. If users attempt to go beyond this limit, they are met with an error message.

    This restriction has not been officially announced by the platform and does not appear to be universally applied to all accounts. It seems that Meta is currently in the process of testing the change on a select number of accounts before deciding whether to roll it out platform-wide. Alternatively, the feature could be in the early stages of a gradual rollout, similar to Instagram’s recent interface redesign.

    Instagram’s Changing Landscape

    When Instagram launched its hashtag feature in 2011, it became one of the most effective methods for users to discover posts related to specific topics. For many users, particularly those looking to reach beyond their immediate follower base, the use of up to 30 hashtags per post was key to expanding their reach.

    However, the perceived importance of hashtags has been diminishing in recent years. Instagram’s ‘Explore’ page now curates posts and reels for users based on a variety of factors, including content and description, rather than just hashtag use. Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri has also publicly stated that hashtags do not contribute to a post’s reach, instead serving as a tool for categorization.

    Hashtag Use and Generational Differences

    For millennials, understanding and strategically using hashtags was a valuable skill in the mid-2010s. Yet, the perception of hashtags has changed, with their use now potentially being seen as outdated or even as an indication of trying too hard. Some have argued that changing the hashtag system is unnecessary and could be seen as an unwarranted critique of millennials. If, as stated, hashtags do not significantly impact the reach of posts, the utility of changing the system is questioned.

    Questions & Answers

    What changes are being tested by Instagram?

    Instagram is currently testing a limitation to the number of hashtags users can include in their posts, restricting them to a maximum of three.

    How important are hashtags in increasing a post’s reach on Instagram?

    According to Instagram’s CEO, Adam Mosseri, hashtags do not significantly increase the reach of a post, instead functioning as tools for categorization.

    What is the perception of hashtag use across different generations?

    While hashtag use was a valuable skill for millennials in the mid-2010s, it is now potentially viewed as outdated or trying too hard, particularly among newer generations of social media users.

  • Instagram is reportedly changing its mind about this long-ignored Apple device

    Instagram is reportedly changing its mind about this long-ignored Apple device

    Instagram is finally working on something users have been asking for since the early days — a proper app for the iPad. According to a new report from The Information, Meta has started developing a version of Instagram made specifically for tablets. That means, more than a decade after launching exclusively on iPhone, the social platform could soon be much more usable on Apple’s larger screens. Sound familiar? I thought I’d heard that before.

    This change of heart doesn’t seem to be random. The push to bring Instagram to iPad is reportedly tied to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding TikTok. With a possible ban of TikTok in the United States being debated in Congress, Meta sees a real opportunity to win over creators who may be looking for a new home. Offering better tools and support for creators is one of Instagram’s current priorities — and that includes making sure the app works well on more than just phones.

    Instagram has long resisted building an iPad-specific app. Back in 2020, Instagram head Adam Mosseri said the company had limited resources and too many other things to work on. In 2022, he added that there just wasn’t a big enough group of users demanding an iPad app to make it a priority. As a result, users have been stuck using the iPhone version of the app on their iPads, which looks awkward and doesn’t take advantage of the extra screen space.

    However, we have seen how quickly Meta can make features appear seemingly out of thin air, especially when it involves one-upping a competitor. Let’s not forget how quickly the Meta-owned app “Threads” gained a ton of new features once the company realized that competing app “Bluesky” began to rise in popularity and eating into their user base.

    There’s still no official confirmation or timeline for release, and details on what the app might look like are limited. But the fact that Instagram is even considering it now shows how much the competition has shifted. TikTok already has an iPad-optimized app, and YouTube’s Shorts platform runs well across all devices. Instagram risks falling behind if it doesn’t meet creators where they are — and many of them use iPads for editing, planning, and posting content.

    If this finally happens, it could unlock a lot of potential for iPad users. Instagram now has a chance to capitalize on an opportunity to gain more users, and the timing couldn’t be more critical. Maybe this is one thing we can agree to be thankful to TikTok for. Maybe.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Instagram’s biggest update is here to improve your social life

    Instagram’s biggest update is here to improve your social life

    Instagram usually rolls out small updates that add new features and improvements quite often, but every few months it releases major updates that completely change the way users interact with various aspects of the ap

    Earlier today, Instagram announced its biggest update for the year is making its way to users worldwide. The update focuses on the messaging experience, but Instagram also added new ways to share media, pin content, and made it easier to connect with people over DMs.

    One of the features that had been missing from Instagram ever since the app provided its users with the ability to message others is translation support. The latest update addresses this issue and introduces message translation, allowing Instagram users from different countries to communicate in their native languages.

    You can now use the translate feature in Instagram by holding down on the message sent or received in another language and tapping “Translate.” You should get a translation of the message below the original.

    Besides bringing the translate message feature to its users, Instagram is also adding the ability to share songs in DMs. Simply open the sticker tray in a chat and tap on the “Music” option to search for a specific song in the app’s library. You can then tap on the track to send a 30-second preview of the song to your friends.

    Another important new feature coming with the latest update is the ability to schedule messages. This comes in handy if you want to congratulate someone on a certain date, but you’re afraid you’re going to forget.

    You can now schedule text messages in DMs by typing the text message and holding down on the send button. You’ll be able to select the date and time when you want the message to be sent. This feature can also be used to schedule reminders for various tasks.

    But wait, there’s more! After introducing the ability to pin chat threads in a DM box, Instagram is now making it possible to pin specific messages to the top of any 1:1 or group chat. Users can try out the new feature by holding down on the message and tapping on “pin.” Up to three messages per conversation can be pinned at the moment.

    Last but not least, Instagram is finally adding QR code support, which means that users can now add friends to their group chats by sharing a personalized QR. When your friend scans the QR code you shared, it will be automatically added to the chat.

    To create a QR code invite, simply open the group chat and tap on the group name at the top. Select the invite link, then tap on QR code to view the QR code invite and share it with your friends via DM.

    Lees ook:

  • Instagram rolls out more actionable insights for its Creators

    Instagram rolls out more actionable insights for its Creators

    Instagram is making some changes to its Insights feature to help creators better understand how their content is performing. The goal is to give creators more actionable insights and personalized recommendations so they can learn more about overall trends across their audience and their content’s performance.

    One of the new metrics is called “View Rate.” This metric tells creators what percentage of their followers and non-followers continue to watch after the first 3 seconds. The first few seconds of a reel are the most important, so this metric can help creators see if their reels are grabbing their audience’s attention right away.

    Another new metric is called “Views Over Time.” This metric shows creators how many views their post has received so far compared to the average views their posts typicaly get over the same time period. Creators will also be able to break down their views between followers and non-followers.

    In addition to these new metrics, Instagram is also providing more actionable, personalized tips to help creators understand if their content is performing better or worse than usual. These tips are meant to help creators more easily see which content is resonating with their audience.

    These changes are part of Instagram’s ongoing effort to help creators grow their audience and reach. By providing creators with more data and insights, Instagram hopes to make it easier for them to create content that resonates with their audience and achieve their goals.

    I think these metrics are very valuable to Instagram creators, and it’s frankly surprising they hadn’t been made available until now. As a creator myself, I’m always looking for ways to improve my content and reach a wider audience. These new features and personalized tips in Insights will definitely be helpful in this regard. I’m also excited to see how these changes will help other creators grow their audience and reach. With TikTok right now on shaky ground, it’s important for creators to diversify and be able to find ways to monetize in more than one platform, and I’m glad Instagram is providing the tools to assist with that goal.

    Lees ook:

  • New Instagram feature to entice TikTok users also compromises privacy

    New Instagram feature to entice TikTok users also compromises privacy

    It is highly likely that within a few hours TikTok will cease operations in the U.S. In an effort to capitalize on this golden opportunity Instagram is adding a new feature to the app to entice TikTok users to switch platforms. However this new feature also compromises your privacy and may be something that you wish to turn off.

    Adam Mosseri — head of Instagram — announced in a video that the app will be rolling out a new feed where you will see reels that your friends have liked or commented on. The idea is that you can quickly start a conversation with your friends about content they’ve watched. While the concept definitely encourages more interaction over Instagram it also means that your history is being shared openly.

    I quite like that I can watch whatever I want on Instagram — mainly cat videos — and not announce it to the world. This new feature is one that I will turn off immediately once it arrives in my country. Meta is only releasing the update in certain regions for now and will expand coverage once the company has studied how it is received by users.

    The whole TikTok debacle has sent multiple platforms racing to replace it. Instagram is already quite similar to TikTok and is trying everything it can to win over people looking for a new short-form video sharing app. However this hasn’t gone exactly to plan as TikTok users are migrating to another Chinese app instead: RedNote.

    While Instagram would have welcomed the influx of new users with open arms, RedNote is not as thrilled. The company is already considering isolating foreign IP addresses from Chinese ones so “American influence” can be minimized. This transition from TikTok to RedNote is also profiting an unsuspecting third app

    Instagram has taken some very welcome steps in recent years to protect user privacy on the platform, especially for minors. This is why I’m hopeful that the new dedicated feed will be optional as well. The app had a similar feature years ago that it discontinued and I wouldn’t be surprised if this new addition eventually meets the same fate.

    Instagram can still play its cards right and snag some former TikTok users as RedNote hands out bans for “inappropriate” content.

    Lees ook:

  • Global disruption of Meta services hits Facebook, Instagram

    Global disruption of Meta services hits Facebook, Instagram

    Meta’s apps like Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp experienced outages Thursday, leaving users worldwide unable to connect or facing intermittent disruptions.

    The Vinh of Ha Dong District in Hanoi said at around 1 a.m. on Thursday he received a message notification on Messenger but was unable to view it as the app failed to load.

    “Initially I thought it was due to an undersea fiber-optic cable issue or heavy nighttime gaming traffic slowing the internet.

    When he tried to access other Meta apps, he found Facebook was accessible, though slowly, but Instagram displayed login errors. Many users reported being unable to access Messenger or Facebook on both phones and computers.

    According to Downdetector, a tool that monitors the status of internet services, reports of issues began surfacing globally at around 12:30 a.m. Vietnam time and peaked at 1 a.m.. There were over 80,000 reports for Facebook, 66,000 for Instagram and more than 10,000 for Messenger and WhatsApp.

    Unlike in March this year the outage did not cause a complete service disruption. Users experienced sporadic connectivity issues; some could not use the platforms on computers but managed to chat on their phones. Many users took to X to express their frustrations, causing hashtags like #facebookdown and #metadown to trend widely.

    By 2 a.m. Meta’s official X account acknowledged the issue in a statement: “We’re aware that a technical issue is impacting some users’ ability to access our apps. We’re working to get things back to normal as quickly as possible and apologize for any inconvenience.”

    By 5:26 a.m. Meta announced that the recovery process was “99% of the way there – just doing some last checks.” By 6 a.m. Instagram’s X account confirmed that the issue had been resolved.

    In March Meta’s services were down for about an hour. A comparable event occurred in 2021 when its multiple platforms were inaccessible globally for six hours due to a “configuration error” in their system. In 2019 Facebook’s web version also experienced a 24-hour connectivity loss.

  • Instagram levels up DMs with live location sharing and nicknames for your friends

    Instagram levels up DMs with live location sharing and nicknames for your friends

    Instagram rolling out a few new features for Direct Messages that will make it easier to meet up with friends and family in real life. One of these is a new live location sharing feature. This means you can let others know exactly where you are for a set period of time, which is perfect for coordinating meetups at events or when you’re out and about.

    To share your live location, you just need to open a direct message with a friend or a group chat. From there, you can choose to share your live location for up to an hour. If you’d rather not share your live location constantly, you can also just drop a pin on the map to show people where you are.

    If you’re worried about accidentally leaving location sharing on, you don’t have to, because the feature is turned off by default and you have to choose to use it each time actively. Plus, Instagram has added a handy reminder at the top of the chat to let you know when you’re sharing your location. Additionally, to enhance privacy, you can only share your location with people you’re already connected with in a chat.

    In addition to location sharing, Instagram is rolling out a new feature that lets you create unique nicknames for your friends (and yourself) within your direct messages. It’s a fun way to personalize your chats and add some extra laughs. These nicknames are only visible within your DMs, so they won’t affect your actual username on Instagram.

    You will have complete control over your nicknames and can change them whenever you want, in addition to being able to decide who has permission to change your nickname in a chat —  whether it’s just you or the people you follow. To start using this, just head to the top of your chat and tap on the chat name, then select “Nicknames” and choose the person you want to give a nickname to.

    And if you’re a fan of stickers, Instagram has also added a bunch of new sticker packs to its DMs, giving you even more ways to express yourself. You can now also favorite stickers from your chats so you can easily reuse them later, and create your own stickers using the “cutouts” feature.

    I think the location-sharing feature is the most impactful feature from this update as it could be really useful for planning meetups with friends. It could also be helpful for letting people know you’re safe and on your way, especially if you’re traveling alone. I’m a little bit concerned about privacy, but it seems like Instagram has put some safeguards in place.  I guess we’ll have to see how it works in practice.

    Lees ook:

  • Instagram launches new DMs filtering options for creators

    Instagram launches new DMs filtering options for creators

    New changes are coming to Instagram creators these days. The social network announced over the weekend that a new set of tools that makes filtering direct messages much easier will be making its way to Instagram creators.

    Thanks to the new tools, messages will arrive in a user’s inbox based on the controls they have previously set. Specifically designed for Instagram creators, the new tools will add the ability to sort and filter message requests by follower count, verified accounts, brands, creators, and more.

    Besides the new filtering tools, Instagram also added a new “Story Replies” folder that makes it easier to access story replies by putting them into a single place. This is one of the changes requested by creators over the years, and it looks like Instagram has finally decided to listen to the feedback and deliver.

    Adam Mosseri, Instagram’s head, recently explained the new changes in a post: “Now when you go to the Requests inbox, sometimes it can be really overwhelming. So, what we’ve done is added ways to filter down those requests to just see the ones that you’re looking for. There’s a lot more to do to improve the inbox for creators and requests. But hopefully, this is one step in the right direction.

    Creators will find “Sort & Filter” options at the top of the inbox, where they will be able to choose to sort requests by date or number of followers the sender has. A few other options can be enabled/disabled to fit different scenarios that creators might have in mind, such as where or not the account is Verified or if it belongs to a creator/business.

    These are just some of the first major changes coming to the DMs portion of the app, but Instagram promised to continue to provide new features and improvements to this very important aspect of its app.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Instagram unveils spooky suite of features for Halloween

    Instagram unveils spooky suite of features for Halloween

    In anticipation of Halloween, Instagram has launched a collection of interactive features and creative tools designed to elevate user engagement and celebrate the spooky season. These features, available until November 3rd, offer users a fun and festive way to connect with friends and express their creativity.

    One of the most notable additions is the integration of Meta AI’s Imagine feature, which allows users to transform themselves into Halloween creatures, such as vampires, through AI-generated costumes. These costumes can be shared in Stories, inviting friends to join the fun and showcase their own spooky transformations.

    Adding a playful touch to conversations, Instagram has incorporated interactive elements within DMs and Notes. By using keywords like “Happy Halloween” or “Trick-or-treat,” or emojis like a Jack-O’-Lantern, a ghost, or a spider web, users can trigger special effects and animations, making their interactions more engaging.

    For those who enjoy staying on top of trends, Instagram has introduced five custom Halloween Add Yours templates. These templates, accessible in the ‘Happy Halloween’ section of the new Add Yours Templates Discovery Surface in Stories, provide a platform for users to connect with others and participate in Halloween-themed trends.

    To further enhance creative expression, Instagram has also introduced a new Halloween-themed font called “Halloween” and a text effect called “Haunted.” These stylistic elements can be applied to Stories, Feed posts, and Reels, allowing users to personalize their content and capture the spirit of the holiday.

    Finally, a Halloween-themed chat theme is available for DMs and IG broadcast channels, adding a festive ambiance to conversations and enhancing the overall Halloween experience on the platform.

    This isn’t the first time Instagram has integrated fun and interactive features into its platform. In the past, they’ve introduced augmented reality filters for trying on makeup and accessories, interactive polls and quizzes in Stories, and even the ability to add music to Stories. These features not only enhance the user experience but also encourage creativity and connection among users.

    These new features demonstrate Instagram’s willingness to provide its users with creative and engaging ways to connect and celebrate. The integration of AI, interactive elements, and creative tools showcases the platform’s openness to evolve with the trends and providing users with a dynamic and enjoyable experience.

  • Instagram is recommending highly inappropriate content to teens

    Instagram is recommending highly inappropriate content to teens

    If you have a teenager with a phone, you might be perturbed to discover that Instagram has been recommending content of a sexual nature to users as young as 13. This inappropriate content appears on teen’s feeds only minutes after they log in to their accounts. Over seven months ending in June, separate tests conducted by The Journal and  Northwestern University revealed that Instagram parent Meta is not living up to a promise it made this year.

    Back in January, Meta said that it would focus on giving teens an experience on the platform that was more appropriate for their age. As a result, the company said that it would restrict sexually suggestive material. While the company says that users 16 and younger should not be shown sexually explicit content, it appears that Meta is dropping the ball.

    For its tests, both The Journal and Northwestern University computer science professor Laura Edelson created new Instagram accounts listing the age of each subscriber as 13. At first, Instagram sent these accounts videos of women dancing seductively or posing in a way that put an emphasis on their breasts. The accounts skipped other content but watched the videos that were sexually suggestive. As a result, Reels would then recommend content that was even more racy.

    The Journal says that adult sex content creators started showing up on the feed for the 13-year-old user after only three minutes. After less than 20 minutes of watching the Reels videos for the test accounts, they were full of promotions from these creators with some offering to send nude photos to Instagram subscribers willing to interact with their posts. The testing revealed that the short-form video platforms belonging to TikTok and Snapchat did not deliver the same sexually-focused content to underage users. A TikTok spokesman said, “We err on the side of caution,” and noted that teen subscribers have a limited pool of content that they can view.

    Northwestern University’s Professor Edelson said, “All three platforms also say that there are differences in what content will be recommended to teens. But even the adult experience on TikTok appears to have much less explicit content than the teen experience on Reels.” While most of the testing took place from January through April, this month the Journal once again opened an account for a fake 13-year-old who watched only videos about women recommended by Instagram. After a half hour, the account was being sent videos about anal sex.

    Meta, as you might expect it would, shrugged off the results of the tests as not being representative of the overall experience of teens on Instagram. Spokesman Andy Stone said, “This was an artificial experiment that doesn’t match the reality of how teens use Instagram.” The spokesman added, “As part of our long-running work on youth issues, we established an effort to further reduce the volume of sensitive content teens might see on Instagram, and have meaningfully reduced these numbers in the past few months.”

    An internal analysis conducted by Meta in 2022 and reviewed by the Journal revealed that Meta knows that Instagram shows more pornography to teens than its adult users. The report showed that teens saw three times the number of posts containing nudity, 1.7 times the number of violent posts, and 4.1 times the number of posts showing bullying than those over 30 viewed.

    Meta’s own internal analysis suggested that to resolve the problem, Meta build a separate recommendation engine for teens. So far, there does not appear to be any plan to do this. Part of the reason why teens are seeing such content is due to how the algorithm works. Content is recommended to users based on the type of content they view the most and linger over for the longest period of time.