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Tag: meta

  • Meta to bring more color to WhatsApp with new chat theme customization on iOS

    Meta to bring more color to WhatsApp with new chat theme customization on iOS

    Meta-owned WhatsApp boasts over 3 billion monthly active users, making it one of the most popular messaging apps globally. Despite its popularity, users have longed for more customization options, a gap often filled by competitors like Telegram. However, it seems change is on the horizon, as reports suggest WhatsApp is working on a new customization feature. In the latest WhatsApp beta for iOS, the go-to source for WhatsApp updates, WABetaInfo found that Meta is tinkering with a new default chat theme feature.

    The attached screenshot shows a section for selecting the app’s default chat theme. Similar to the branding color feature found in earlier WhatsApp beta updates for iOS, users will be able to choose a new color and wallpaper for the default chat theme from a selection of five different options:

    • Green
    • Blue
    • Black
    • Pink
    • Purple

    Once you choose a color, it will automatically become the default chat theme, adjusting both the wallpaper and bubble color accordingly. In addition to tweaking chat bubbles and wallpaper, WhatsApp is also working on a new feature to control the app’s accent color. If launched, iOS users can switch the in-app button color from green to one of the previously mentioned shades.

    Furthermore, choosing a default chat theme will only change your own interface and won’t affect how other chats appear. It is important to note that these features are still in development, so it may take Meta several months before they are available to the public – if the company decides to proceed with them at all. It is unclear at this time if Android users will also receive the same features.

    In other news, WhatsApp is rolling out support for longer voice messages in status updates and could soon let users generate AI-powered profile photos.

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  • Meta expands paid verification service for businesses

    Meta expands paid verification service for businesses

    Meta’s Verified for Business program is still in the testing phase, but many customers already benefit from its perks. The service was rolled out for the first time last year, but it was only available for businesses in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

    During the initial test, Meta noticed that small businesses are looking for more tools that can help build their credibility with new audiences, which usually drives more engagement and brand growth.

    Based on these findings, Meta announced that it’s expanding the test of Meta Verified for businesses on Facebook and Instagram. Starting last week, the program is available in Australia and New Zealand, and will soon be rolled out to Argentina, Chile, France, Italy, Mexico, and Peru.

    Additionally, Meta promised to bring Verified to businesses on WhatsApp, but didn’t provide an ETA. This will be the third social network to get access to Meta’s Verified for Business program after Facebook and Instagram.

    Last but not least, Meta announced the launch of additional subscription plans for the program. Verified for Business had just one subscription plan initially, but now it supports four in order to cover a wider range of business needs.

    Starting last week, businesses in countries where the program is available can choose from the following monthly plans: $14.99, $44.99, $119.99, and $349.99.

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  • Meta’s Facebook, Instagram down for hundreds of thousands of users across globe

    Meta’s Facebook, Instagram down for hundreds of thousands of users across globe

    Meta Platforms-owned Facebook and Instagram were down for hundreds of thousands of users across the globe on Tuesday, according to outage tracking website Downdetector.com.

    The disruptions started around 10:00 am ET, with more than 300,000 reports of outages for Facebook and about 40,000 reports for Instagram, according to the website.

    “We’re aware people are having trouble accessing our services. We are working on this now,” Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said in a post on X social media.

    Meta’s status dashboard showed the application programming interface for WhatsApp Business was also facing issues. There were around 200 reports of outages for WhatsApp on Downdetector, which tracks outages by collating status reports from several sources, including users.

    The outage was among the top trending topics on X, formerly Twitter, with several users saying they had suddenly been logged out of the Meta-owned social media platforms.

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  • Meta will begin to label AI-generated content across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads

    Meta will begin to label AI-generated content across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads

    In an effort to bolster transparency, Meta — the parent company for Facebook, Instagram, and Threads — is implementing new measures on its platforms. The company recently made an announcement about its plans to label content created using artificial intelligence (AI) and its goal is to provide users with clearer context about what they see and share on social media.

    The company will begin this initiative by labeling images, stating that “In the near future we will start adding labels to images created by AI tools across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.” It is currently working on an automated detection system that can identify markers commonly used for AI-generated content, including watermarks and metadata. Meta’s initial focus will be on images, but the long-term goal is to be able to identify AI-generated videos and audio as well.

    Meta already applies the “Imagined with AI” label on images created with Meta AI, and by working with other industry partners, the company hopes to have the new detection capabilities ready in the coming months for content created outside of Meta’s own tools. So far, the company has determined that it is capable of labeling images from Google, OpenAI, Microsoft, Adobe, Midjourney, and Shutterstock.

    However, a hurdle presents when it comes to video and audio. Because tools that generate this type of content have not yet widely embraced standardized markers, it is difficult for Meta to detect them.

    In order to address this issue, Meta has announced its intention to launch a new “disclosure and label tool,” which will enable the users to manually indicate when video and audio content has been generated using AI. Users will be required to make this disclosure for digitally created or altered “photorealistic videos or realistic-sounding audio,” and Meta has the authority to enforce penalties on those who do not comply.

    There is a growing concern about the potential misuse of AI-generated content, leading to a push for labeling. Deepfakes, for example, have the potential to be incredibly realistic, which can be concerning when it comes to spreading misinformation and manipulating content — specially when it comes to things like the upcoming U.S. elections.

    Although not a perfect solution, particularly when relying on the user to label video and audio, Meta hopes the detection system will be effective and not easily bypassed. It remains to be seen if Meta’s approach will successfully achieve its goals, but the initiative certainly ignites an important discussion about the responsible use of AI across social media.

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  • Meta launches much stricter message setting for teens on Facebook and Instagram

    Meta launches much stricter message setting for teens on Facebook and Instagram

    Following its recent changes to the teen experience on its social apps, Meta announced a harsher change intended to protect teens from unwanted contact.

    After limiting teens’ ability to see sensitive content on Instagram and Facebook, Meta introduced today a stricter message setting for teens who are using these two social apps.

    Until now, Meta restricted adults over 19 from messaging teens who don’t follow them. Also, the company limits the type and number of DMs people will be able to send to someone who doesn’t follow them to one text-only message.

    The new setting announced today makes it possible to turn off teens’ ability to receive DMs from anyone they don’t follow or aren’t connected to on Instagram, including other teens, by default.

    When the new setting is toggled on, teens will only receive messages from people they already follow or are connected to. According to Meta, teens in “supervised accounts” must get their parents’ permission to change this setting.

    The new default setting will apply to all teens under the age of 16 (or under 18 in certain countries). Those affected will receive a notification about the new changes on Instagram at the top of their Feed.

    Apart from Instagram, Meta revealed that it’s also changing teens’ default settings on Messenger, so those under 16 (or 18 in certain countries) will only receive messages from Facebook friends, or people they’re connected to through phone contacts.

    Finally, Meta plans to launch another feature that will help protect teens from seeing unwanted and potentially inappropriate images in their message from people they’re already connected to.

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  • Meta implements new restrictions for teen accounts on Instagram and Facebook

    Meta implements new restrictions for teen accounts on Instagram and Facebook

    Meta announced it will start hiding harmful content for Instagram and Facebook teen accounts. The company confirmed that it will automatically place all teens accounts into “the most restrictive control settings” on both its social networks, Instagram and Facebook.

    Besides that, Meta will restrict additional terms in Search on Instagram. Harmful and other types of age-inappropriate content aren’t usually recommended to teens in places like Reels and Explore, but once these changes are implemented, Meta will no longer show it too teens in Feed and Stories, even if it’s shared by someone they follow.
    New teens who join Instagram and Facebook will now have their accounts placed into the most restrictive content control setting by default. In the future, this will expand to teens who are already using both Meta’s social apps.

    Another important change involves content about suicide, self-harm and eating disorders. While these topics are very serious and must be treated accordingly, Meta will start hiding related results when teens search for these specific terms.

    Instead, teens will be directed to expert resources for help. According to Meta, this specific update will roll out for everyone over the coming weeks.
    Last but not least, Meta will start sending new notifications encouraging teens to update their settings to a more private experience. If they choose to “Turn on recommended settings,” Meta will automatically change their settings to restrict who can repost their content, tag or mention them, as well as include their content in Reels Remixes. Also, only their followers will be able to message them.

  • Tax collections from Meta, Google, TikTok soar

    Tax collections from Meta, Google, TikTok soar

    Sixty-seven cross-border digital platforms, including Meta, Google, TikTok, and Microsoft have paid taxes of VND5.8 trillion (US$241.7 million) so far this year compared with VND3.5 trillion for 2022.

    The General Department of Taxation said it would urge other foreign service providers who have yet to declare and pay taxes to do so, and upgrade its electronic information portal to facilitate online payment.

    As of Sept. 18 some 350 e-commerce platforms had provided tax authorities with information about 191,000 organizations and individuals that did a total of VND44.5 trillion worth of business through them.

    Tax collections in the first nine months stood at VND1,050 trillion, down 5% from the same period last year, according to the department.

    Taxes on crude oil were down 20% at VND46 trillion.

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  • Facebook is removing the dedicated news tab in some countries

    Facebook is removing the dedicated news tab in some countries

    Facebook is making many changes to how it operates in the EU due to the local regulatory entities. Besides taking into consideration paid versions of Facebook and Instagram in Europe, Meta is also removing the new tab in some countries later this year.

    Meta announced today that it will discontinue the Facebook News dedicated tab in the UK, France, and Germany in early December. The move seems to be an attempt to cut costs and focus instead on the products that bring the company a steady flow of income.

    According to Meta, news makes up less than 3 percent of what people around the world see in their Facebook feed, which basically means that news discovery is a very small part of the experience offered by the social network for the majority of its users.

    The company also said that it must focus its time and resources “on things people tell us they want to see more on the platform, including short-form video.” Meta acknowledged that people don’t come to Facebook for news and political content but to connect with people and discover new opportunities and interests.

    While we’ll be deprecating Facebook News in these countries, we will honor our obligations under all existing Facebook News deals with publishers in the UK, France, and Germany until they expire. However, to ensure that we continue to invest in those products and services that drive user engagement, we will not enter into new commercial deals for news content on Facebook News in these countries.

    Even though Facebook users in the UK, France, and Germany will lose access to the Facebook News dedicated tab, but they will still be able to view links to news articles on Facebook.

    Additionally, Facebook confirmed that European news publishers will continue to have access to their accounts and pages, where they can post links to their stories and direct people to their websites.

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  • Meta took down more than 7,000 fake accounts related to pro-China propaganda

    Meta took down more than 7,000 fake accounts related to pro-China propaganda

    Fake accounts on social media aren’t something new. Most likely, many of us have come across at least one fake account during our time on social media. Facebook reportedly holds the largest number of fake accounts compared to any other social network in the world. However, it appears that Meta has managed to eliminate at least some of them.

    Meta shared details about a network of fake accounts that had spread pro-China propaganda on Facebook. The company mentions that the takedowns were tied to “individuals associated with Chinese law enforcement” who also ran similar fake accounts on other platforms.

    The company often shares updates about taking down fake accounts that are up to no good, but what Meta’s security researchers found this time is pretty big. Meta got rid of 7,704 Facebook accounts, 954 Pages, 15 Groups, and 15 Instagram accounts, making it one of the largest networks of fake accounts ever discovered by the company.

    Meta found several groups of fake accounts from various parts of China. The way the groups acted, made it seem like they might have been working together from a shared place, maybe an office. Each group had a specific schedule, being most active in the morning and afternoon. They took breaks for lunch and dinner and then had another burst of activity in the evening, so basically, they had a full-time job.

    Ben Nimmo, who’s in charge of global threat intelligence at Meta, calls this move “the most prolific covert influence operation that we know of in the world today.” He also points out that the people running these accounts were also busy on X, Reddit, YouTube, TikTok, and Pinterest.

    As per Meta, the fake accounts aimed to share pro-China messages, including positive commentary about China, criticisms of the US, and Western foreign policies. The company did verify that it discovered proof connecting these fake accounts to an earlier pro-China operation cleverly called Spamouflage that showed up in 2019.

    In addition, the company also shared that it stopped numerous malicious domains and efforts to create fake accounts and Pages linked to the Russian Doppelganger operation, which aims to mimic official news and government websites to spread false articles undermining support for Ukraine. This operation has broadened its scope from France, Germany, and Ukraine to the US and Israel.

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  • Meta faces new legal hurdles in Europe

    Meta faces new legal hurdles in Europe

    Social media platforms have often faced issues with European laws, particularly regarding data privacy and tracking. Recently, TikTok had to change its privacy rules to match the new Digital Service Act (DSA). Some time ago, Meta got hit with a $423 million fine from Ireland’s Data Protection Commission, which made the tech company allow EU users to turn off ad tracking.

    Now, Meta is facing legal troubles again in Europe, this time in Norway. Starting from August 14, Meta will be fined $97,700 per day for privacy breaches. The fine comes from the Norwegian data regulator, Datatilsynet, and will be in effect until November 3.

    With the timeframe and amount of money at stake, the fine might be challenging, even for a tech giant like Meta. As a result, Meta is reaching out to a court in Norway, seeking to put a stop to the fine. A petition for a temporary injunction against the order will be put forth on August 22 during a two-day hearing. Whether the court leans in favor of Meta or not is still up in the air.

    Datatilsynet says that Meta can’t gather users’ data in Norway, like their physical locations, and then use it to aim ads at them, known as behavioral advertising. Behavioral advertising is a strategy that tailors online ads to users based on their web activity and interests. It uses data analysis to create personalized ads for better engagement but also raises privacy concerns about user data usage.

    The regulator also dangles the possibility of turning the fine into a long-term fixture by passing its judgment to the European Data Protection Board, which has the authority to take such action if it aligns with the Norwegian regulator’s stance. If the board backs this move, it could imply that the decision starts to have an impact across Europe.

    In May of this year, the EU slapped Meta with a whopping $1.3 billion fine for breaching privacy rules. It appears that European lawmakers aren’t exactly aiming to be gentle with the big tech giant.

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  • Instagram might label AI-generated content

    Instagram might label AI-generated content

    Recently, Meta, in collaboration with Microsoft, introduced the new Llama 2 – a next-generation large language AI model. This new technology enables companies to customize AI for their needs, like creating chatbots and image generators. It seems that consumer-facing generative AI tools based on this model are already on the horizon.

    It looks like Meta is developing several new generative AI features for Instagram. These features include labels that will help users to identify images “generated by Meta AI.”

    If you wonder what reverse engineers do, they are sort of detectives for technology. They take apart things like software or devices to figure out how they work, even if they were not the ones who originally made them. It’s like solving a puzzle to understand the hidden secrets behind the technology.

    The screenshot shared by Paluzzi shows an in-app message explaining that posts created using Meta’s generative AI tools may soon be labeled within Instagram. This suggests that the company could be interested in helping users identify AI-generated content.

    There have been concerns about the safety and impact of free consumer-facing AI tools on our online presence. Some worry that they could aid the spread of misinformation or mislead people. To address these concerns, some AI companies, including Meta, have pledged to adopt AI safety measures, like using watermarks for AI-generated content. The introduction of labels for AI-generated content on Instagram might be part of these measures.

    Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI stand at the forefront of the artificial intelligence sector in the US. Last month, following a call to action from the White House, they made commitments to incorporate safeguards into their AI technology. Additionally, these industry leaders have joined hands to establish the Frontier Model Forum, an association focused on advancing AI, of which Meta is also a part. The forum’s primary goal is to ensure frontier AI models’ secure and ethical advancement.

    As AI continues to advance at a rapid pace, social media platforms should pay more attention to AI-generated content and clearly label it, even if the content is generated from third-party apps or software. Instagram already has many AI-generated human-like models posing as influencers, which can lead to confusion and misperception of reality.
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  • Facebook announces important video-related improvements

    Facebook announces important video-related improvements

    With Facebook Watch discontinued, Meta is trying to improve the video capabilities of its social app. The same editing tools from Reels will be made available for all Facebook videos, while the Video tab is getting a long-overdue redesigned that makes it the central hub of everything related to videos on Facebook.

    Starting today, the Reels editing tools are coming to Feed to make it easier for users to create dynamic videos on Facebook. Previously available on Reels, audio, music and text layers are now available on Meta Business Suite for reels and for video on Feed.

    Also, Facebook users will be able to speed up, reverse or replace their clips. With the new editing tools, it will also be possible to create the right sound for your video by adding music and audio clips, recording voiceovers and reducing unwanted noise.

    Last but not least, Facebook users are getting the ability to upload HDR videos from their phones to Reels and for that video to playback in full HDR.

    Previously known as Facebook Watch, the Video tab has just received a new look and many new functionalities. For starters, the Video tab now features new horizontal-scroll reels sections that highlight recommended reels.

    If you’re using an iPhone or iPad, the redesigned Video tab is available as a shortcut bar at the bottom of the app. Android users will find the same Video tab as a shortcut at the top. Keep in mind that the tabs in the shortcut bar change based on the part of the app that’s used more frequently.

    On the same Video tab, there’s a redesigned Explore section where you can find popular video topics. The Explore section can be accessed by tapping the search icon in the Video tab. According to Meta, the company is using a mix of human curation and machine learning to select topics and videos that are popular.

    Another useful change introduced today is the ability to view and write comments on Instagram Reels without needing to switch between apps. And this appears to be just the beginning, Meta claims.

  • Facebook updates enhance reels creation, audience growth, and content monetizing

    Facebook updates enhance reels creation, audience growth, and content monetizing

    Meta is rolling out new updates to Facebook to attract more creators and generate more video content for the platform. While nearly 3 billion people worldwide currently use Facebook, Meta still has to compete with social media giants like TikTok, especially considering its continuous growth among younger generations.

    The latest Facebook updates are designed to simplify the process of creating reels on the platform, provide new features in ProMode to assist creators in expanding their following, offer valuable insights for content creation, and broaden monetization options across the platform.

    Facebook has introduced an Inspiration Hub within the Professional Dashboard to make creating reels easier. This hub brings together popular reels, hashtags, topics, and music to inspire creators in their content production. Additionally, a mobile app update combines audio, music, and text into a unified editing screen, streamlining reel editing process.

    Another aspect Facebook has improved is audience growth. Any Facebook user can switch to Professional Mode and become a creator. ProMode creators can appear in the ‘Creators to Follow’ unit on the feed, increasing their chances of being discovered by more people. Moreover, when ProMode creators comment on public posts, a follow button may appear alongside their name, allowing them to attract new followers through conversations.

    And, of course, if you want to be a creator, you are probably interested in how to monetize your content. The new update lowered some of the monetization eligibility requirements, and creators now need to have garnered 500 followers over the past 30 days to qualify for monetization, compared to the previous requirement of 1,000 followers in 60 days. This trend of expanding income opportunities aligns with YouTube’s recent adjustments.

    Facebook’s objective is clear: to entice more creators to the platform by simplifying content production, enabling monetization, and fostering the growth of followers. Most new updates are available only for users in ProMode, but the company is saying that they hope to bring them more broadly over time.
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  • Meta is pulling the Facebook Messenger app from the Apple Watch

    Meta is pulling the Facebook Messenger app from the Apple Watch

    After this month is over, Meta is pulling the Facebook Messenger app from the Apple Watch. Starting on June 1st, Apple Watch users can no longer send or receive messages using the app. The news got out after some users of the wearable spotted a notification on the Apple Watch Messenger app titled “Changes to Messenger on Apple Watch.” The notification said, “After May 31st, Messenger won’t be available as an Apple Watch app, but you can still get Messenger notifications on your watch.”
    A Facebook spokesperson confirmed the news and pointed out that those who want to send and receive messages using Facebook Messenger can still do so via the iPhone app, through their desktop, or by using the website. For some reason, Meta hasn’t shared this decision with many and it has yet to release a public statement. Apple is expected to release watchOS 10 in September, focusing on widgets instead of third-party apps.
    I also remember back in the day when Facebook had special integration so that you could make posts and upload photos directly without having to open the app. Obviously this meant people didn’t need to open the app as much, and that meant less ads, so they removed it.”
    If you use the Facebook Messenger app on your Apple Watch, you have less than three weeks to enjoy using it unless Meta changes your heart. Since its decision to eliminate the Apple Watch app might have to do with money, please don’t hold your breath hoping for Meta to reverse its decision.
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