Facebook’s merger plan causing concern among lawmakers and security experts
A Facebook plan to merge Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram has caused controversy this week. Now some experts and lawmakers are raising concerns about the privacy implications and antitrust issues stemming from the plan, as well as questioning the plans for end-to-end encryption in messaging.
Facebook wants to merge messaging in Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram
According to a new report, Facebook is planning on merging messaging services in Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram. The goal seems to be to allow users to message each other no matter what the platform, and the change is set for 2020. Mark Zuckerberg is reportedly leading efforts.
No yolk! A photo of an egg has become the most-liked post on Instagram
Until this weekend, the most-liked post on Instagram was of Kylie Jenner's baby daughter, which has around 18 million likes. It's now been knocked off the top spot not by a stunning sunset or cute cat, but by an egg. An egg called Eugene that was gifted to the world by a hen called Henrietta ... apparently.
Instagram now lets you post to multiple accounts in one tap
Instagram now lets you post to multiple accounts at the same time. It's not the regram feature that many users have been asking for, but it could prove useful for some users who manage more than one profile. The feature is available for iPhone users, with no word yet on a rollout for Android.
Instagram accidentally wrecks the news feed by pushing out a tap-to-navigate test
Instagram feed look different this morning? The platform accidentally launched a test to a wider user base than first anticipated, which replaces the feed scroll with a Stories-like tap. Instagram has since reverted to the usual feed, but says the feature is still in testing.
Here’s how to use Instagram’s new voice message feature
Direct Messages are a sacred and powerful place, and Instagram has recently unleashed a new way to communicate privately with friends and loved ones in the form of voice messaging. Want to know how to record an Instagram voice message and show off your beautiful voice? Look no further than this guide.
Instagram’s 2018 year in review shines a light on where our hearts are
What did Instagram users share the most in 2018? A lot of heart emojis, heart face filters, and heart GIFs. The platform recently shared the year's top trends, including hashtags like #fortnite and #metoo along with a few more surprising trends. Take a look back on Instagram's year.
Instagram could be making a special type of account for influencers
Instagram influencers fall somewhere between a business profile and a typical Instagram, so the company is working on developing a type of account just for creators. The new account type would give creators more access to analytical data, as well as adding messaging tools and filters.
#ThrowbackThursday is only the start: Instagram hashtags for every day of the week
Not getting your fill with #ThrowbackThursday? That's okay, there are plenty more Instagram hashtags to fill your week with. From the fashion-inspired to the fitness-inspired, here are some of the most popular daily Instagram hashtags, each suited for a different day of the week.
Walkie-talkie voice messaging finally comes to Instagram
Instagram has added walkie-talkie-style voice messaging to its app. Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Snapchat, and iMessage, among others, already offer the feature. To send a voice message, simply tap on the app's messaging icon and then press and hold the microphone button inside the text box -- and speak!
Hotel chain offers an Instagram ‘sitter’ who will post photos for you
If the pressure to post stunning Instagram photos is ruining your vacations, then better take your next trip in Switzerland. A hotel chain there is offering the services of a local Instagram influencer to take control of your account and post great images to it while you go off and enjoy yourself.
Photography News: Tiffen launches portable LED, COOPH designs heated photo vest
In this week's photography news, Tiffen launches their first LED in the portable, robust Lowel light line. Instagram gains more accessibility features for the visually impaired. Shutterstock launches high-end video Selects. And this odd photo vest has a built-in heater controlled via smartphone.
Instagram’s new Close Friends List lets you decide who should see your Story
Have a story to share, but don't want to send it to everyone? Instagram now has a close friends list that will allow users to share stories with only the users included on that list. Friends will see a green icon inside the story if included on that list, however. The update is rolling out today.
Instagram is about to start fiddling around with your profile page
Whether or not you like the look of your profile page, Instagram is going to begin testing new designs in the coming weeks to make it "easier and cleaner to use." It's already posted a few ideas about what to expect, with new tabs and buttons on the way, as well as reduced prominence for follower/following counts.
Time alerts put the brakes on Facebook consumption, are rolling out now
Just how much time do you spend scrolling through the Facebook feed? Facebook will now tell you. The new features also include daily alerts that tell users when they've spent too much time on the social networks and an option to temporarily snooze notifications. The tools are rolling out now after an August announcement.
Instagram purges fake followers, likes, and comments generated from other apps
Instagram looking a little more authentic? You can thank machine learning. A new tool is helping Instagram spot followers, likes and comments generated from third-party apps. Those fake interactions are now being removed, and users that shared information with those apps should reset their passwords.
Instagram tool accidentally exposes user passwords. Were you affected?
Instagram's Download Your Data tool contained a security vulnerability that accidentally exposed the passwords of a small number of users in plain text. Here is the explanation on what happened, and how to find out which Instagram accounts were compromised by the security bug.
Addicted to Instagram? Its new ‘activity dashboard’ is here to help
Ever get that nagging feeling you're spending too much time on Instagram? A new "activity dashboard" comes with features designed to help you better control how you use the addictive photo-sharing app. They include daily reminders when you hit a self-imposed time limit, and a quick way to shut off notifications.
Build a wish list and shop videos with Instagram’s latest shopping update
Eyeing a product on Instagram? Now there are more ways to shop from the social network. Instagram just rolled out options to save products in a collection. Users can also now shop from videos and can soon visit a redesigned brand Shop page containing all the shared products from the company.
Shazam hooks up with Instagram Stories for another way to share songs
The latest update for Shazam lets iPhone users share songs to Instagram Stories in a few quick taps. To enable it, make sure you have the latest version of Shazam on your handset. The new feature just landed and comes shortly after Apple completed its acquisition of the popular song-recognition app.
Snapchat’s PR firm is suing an influencer for failing to influence
Snapchat's PR company is suing a social media influencer for his alleged failure to promote the latest version of Spectacles on Instagram. Actor Luka Sabbat was paid $45,000 upfront to post a certain number of posts, but the lawsuit claims he fell well short of the terms of the deal.
This Red Sox fan had his $650 World Series ticket stolen via Instagram
If you bag a ticket for a big event, then be careful about posting a photo of it on Instagram or another social media site. Boston Red Sox fan Robbie Johnson found out why the hard way after a scammer copied his ticket and used it to gain entry to a World Series game, invalidating the original ticket in the process.
Superstar influencer Quinn Slocum talks building brands and living well
Social media influencer Quinn Slocum has found a great deal of success building popular Instagram pages, and now he's got advice for the next generation of Instagram stars. The hosts of DT Daily talked to Slocum about how he got his start, his advice for entrepreneurs, and how his mom describes his job.
How to get more followers on Instagram
Do you want to be Instagram famous? Want people other than your family to see your posts? Here, we outline a few tips and tricks for gaining a sizable following on Instagram, whether you intend to do so using an assortment of hashtags, cross promotion, or something else entirely.
Instagram is testing a new way for you to look through your feed
Instagram is always tweaking its app to give users the best experience possible, so how do you like the idea of tapping — instead of swiping — to look through your feed? The feature, which could make it easier to view content and reduce finger strain, is being tested by a select group of users.
Instagram says its A.I. can track down bullying in photos
Instagram is turning to A.I. to root out bullying on its platform. Following similar efforts to target bullying in comments, the company now has systems in place that can detect bullying in photos, too. It's the first initiative under the leadership of Adam Mosseri, who recently replaced former CEO Kevin Systrom.
Snap a photo to follow a new friend on Instagram with its Nametags tool
Skip the typing and search bar -- Instagram now lets you add friends using the in-app camera. Nametags are scannable graphics that lead straight to your Instagram profile. The network is also testing a new tool designed to help college students connect with other students and alumni with new profile options.
Instagram names new boss: Facebook veteran Adam Mosseri
Instagram's new boss is Adam Mosseri, a 10-year veteran of Facebook — the company that owns Instagram. More recently, Mosseri ran Facebook's news feed before moving to Instagram's product division in May. In an online post, he said he was excited to take on the role and promised to maintain Instagram's core values.
Instagram’s co-founders have resigned from the Facebook-owned company
In a move no one was expecting, Instagram co-founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger are stepping down from their roles as CEO and chief technology officer, respectively. Systrom said in a statement that they were both "planning on taking some time off to explore our curiosity and creativity again."
Instagram feature that lets you reshare others’ posts may be on its way
Despite constant calls from many of its billion-plus users, Instagram has always refused to offer an option that lets Instagrammers reshare others' posts that appear on their feed. New reports suggest that this state of affairs could be about to change.
Is Amazon tweaking its search algorithms with a new A.I.-driven shopping site?
Amazon has quietly rolled out a new shopping experiment in a test site called Scout, which uses a visual platform to display products. It allows users to like and dislike products to tweak their recommended products in seven shopping categories including women's shoes, home furniture, and kitchen and dining products.
Restaurants may soon have chefs who know all about you before you walk in the door
Chef Eric Rivera started serving multi-course meals to two people at a time inside his home. He recently expanded with Addo, a combination of restaurant and incubator for unestablished chefs and bakers. Using Instagram, a ticketing system, and questionnaires, Rivera thinks he has some ideas on how young chefs can attract new customers.
Instagram’s shopping stickers for businesses see wide rollout
As the Stories format continues to grow, Instagram is allowing users to shop the items inside a Stories photo or video. Instagram recently expanded stickers that let people shop inside a Story by tapping on the sticker. The update expands Instagram shopping from tags in the news feed to Stories.
Instagram said to be prepping a stand-alone shopping app
Enjoy shopping on Instagram? If a report this week is to be believed, the Facebook-owned company is in the middle of building an app dedicated to ecommerce, which could provide a new home for the 25 million businesses that already use the main app. Instagram introduced shopping to its app in 2016.