Apple removes Like Patrol’s Instagram ‘stalking app’ from the App Store
The Like Patrol app that alerts you when your Instagram followers like or comment on a photo has been removed from Apple’s App Store for violating its guidelines. Like Patrol has received criticism as a stalking app since it lets its subscribers see every move that the people they follow make.
Clone wars: Instagram is ripping off TikTok because no one likes Facebook
Instagram is capitalizing by the popularity of lip-syncing apps like TikTok and launching its own tool for music videos to Stories. Instagram Reels is a tool that allows users to record 15-second videos to music. The tool is first launching in Brazil today.
Instagram’s IGTV contracts won’t allow creators to make political videos
Instagram's answer to YouTube is IGTV, a platform for longer videos. It's not nearly as popular but is trying to attract talent by paying for some production costs of creators. Yet the contracts stipulate that the videos can't be political --- that includes social issues like health, education, and immigration.
Instagram will begin hiding like counts as part of a U.S. test next week
Instagram continues to tweak its user experience, recently making changes such as removing the following tab and promoting the new version of the explore tab in its place. Now, the company has begun testing out one of its most controversial changes in the United States: Hiding like counts.
Facebook rebrands to make its ‘monopoly’ more obvious across apps
Facebook has a new look -- no, not that Facebook, Facebook the company. The change is designed to differentiate the company from the network, as well as make Facebook's ownership of other apps more obvious. The new logo uses simple text, but comes in many different colors.
Instagram expands ban on content related to self-harm and suicide
Earlier this year Instagram banned photos related to self-harm and suicide. Acting on calls for greater action, this week it expanded the ban to cover fictional depictions of such subject matter, including memes and drawings. Instagram’s boss said it was determined to do what it can to keep vulnerable people safe.
Instagram is looking for a way to help you improve your feed
If your Instagram feed could do with some attention, a new feature currently undergoing testing offers a quick way to filter the accounts you follow into various categories, making them easier to manage. There’s no word yet on whether Instagram will roll it out, but it could be a handy way to better curate your feed.
Instagram now lets you better manage third-party app access
If you've forgotten about all of the apps and websites you've allowed to access your Instagram account, a new feature lets you quickly review and change your permissions. It is also introducing a new authorization screen so that you'll know precisely what kind of data third parties are requesting from you.
Do Threads’ sparse downloads mean Facebook’s best days are in the past?
Instagram Threads only saw a small percentage of downloads in the first week -- so is the new app destined for failure? Data shows a small number of downloads as Threads joins Lasso in the list of Facebook's attempts to captivate Gen Z, both with slower growth than competing apps.
How to download Instagram Stories on iOS, Android, and desktop
Curious about how to save someone's Instagram Story to your phone? Luckily for you, it can be done -- but it does take a few extra steps. Here's what you need to know to save Instagram Stories on both iOS and Android. Each requires a different app, but the steps are straightforward from there.
Instagram enhances midnight scrolls with dark mode — here’s how to turn it on
Instagram has a new dark mode, thanks to similar updates on iOS 13 and Android 10. The new Instagram dark mode is rolling out along with updates to prevent phishing and remove the Following tab. Learn how to turn on Instagram's dark mode on iPhone and Android.
Instagram ditches Following tab, disappointing online stalkers everywhere
Instagram's notification center will no longer be split in two. The Following tab that details what your friends interact with on Instagram is being phased out of the app beginning today. The feature raised privacy questions, while the goal of the section has already been replaced by Explore.
Threads, a more private Instagram, automatically updates your status for you
Still wondering what Facebook's definition of a private social network is? Behold Instagram Threads, a network designed only for your closet friends, but that will auto update your status based on your phone's location. Facebook says the data isn't stored long term or used for ads.
Instagram restricts influencer posts for diet and cosmetic surgery products
Instagram is now placing age restrictions on posts linked to particular diet products and cosmetic surgery procedures, and in some cases will remove them entirely. The new rules, which also affect Instagram's parent company, Facebook, come amid concerns that such posts can affect the mental health of its younger users.
Private Instagram posts turn out not to be as private as you thought
Instagram accounts set to private aren't as private as you might think. Researchers have found that web links to images and videos in private posts can be located by followers who delve into the page’s source code. The links could then be shared — or the content downloaded — without the account owner’s knowledge.
Does Facebook have a monopoly over your data? Network faces antitrust scrutiny
Facebook's family of apps have more than 2.7 billion monthly active users -- but did the network's efforts to gain those users violate antitrust laws? An investigation from the attorneys general of eight states and the District of Colombia aims to find out if Facebook has a monopoly on data and ads.
Instagram’s Threads app would allow your friends to monitor your every move
Facebook is reportedly working on a new Instagram messaging app called Threads that will give your friends automatic status updates, including information about your movement, location, speed, and even phone battery life. Users will need to opt into automatic status updates.
Instagram has more ads than ever and it’s all Facebook’s fault
If you’ve noticed more ads while scrolling Instagram, you're not alone. Last year, Facebook gave Instagram instructions to “roughly double” their ads. The Facebook-owned app displays its ads in the Stories feature, right in your feed, and in the Explore feature.
Celebrities are falling for a years-old Instagram scam. It’s all a big hoax
Celebrities, politicians, and regular old Instagram users have fallen for yet another hoax claiming Instagram has changed its rules to make “everything you’ve ever posted” public. Rick Perry, Tom Holland, Usher and Taraji P. Henson have all fallen for the scam.
How to post a GIF on Instagram
Instagram doesn't have a direct means for sharing GIFs on your profile. With Giphy and Stories, it's finally possible to post GIFs to Instagram. Here's how
Can social media predict mass shootings before they happen?
In the wake of two mass shootings over the weekend that left more than 30 people dead, President Donald Trump called on social media companies like Twitter and Facebook to “detect mass shooters before they strike.” Can social media actually predict if someone is going to carry out a mass shooting?
Instagram will give users chance to fix accounts in danger of being banned
Instagram will start issuing warnings for accounts that are in danger of being banned, to give users the chance to change how they post on the platform. People will also be able to appeal for the restoration of deleted content through the notifications, so they will not have to go to the Help Center.
Instagram is crashing repeatedly for some users. Here’s the latest on the outage
Thousands of Instagram users said Tuesday that the social media app was repeatedly crashing or not opening at all, the third time in just over a month that the social network has experienced issues.
Instagram will now guilt you with a warning when you try to post a nasty comment
Instagram is trying to stop bullying and trolling on its platform by warning people before they post offensive comments. The new A.I.-powered feature will detect potentially nasty content and ask the offending user if they still want to post it.
The best social media management tools for small businesses in 2019
Social media is a great way to spread the word about your business, connect with customers and network within your niche. There are some online tools that can help you schedule posts, keep track of engagement and much more. Here's the best social media management tools for small businesses.
Brace yourselves. Instagram is getting ready to show you even more ads
Hate Instagram ads? You're not going to like what's coming -- Instagram ads will soon be part of the Explore section too. Instagram says it's a way for users to find new brands to connect with, while advertisers can reach additional users. The update will roll out over the next few months.
Instagram CEO says the app doesn’t listen to your conversations
Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri told CBS News' Gail King in a recent interview that Instagram does not listen to its users, even though you may see ads related to products you were talking about with a friend, but never actually searched for.
Instagram is back up after being offline. Here’s the latest on the outage
Instagram finally came back online Thursday afternoon after an outage that lasted just over an hour. The Instagram outage was one of several that hit at the same time, including a several-hour failure at the PlayStation Network.
How to link Instagram to Facebook
Instagram and Facebook are built to work with one another, though, learning how to properly integrate the two can be confusing. Thankfully, with just the press of a few buttons, you'll soon be posting and sharing photos across the web with greater ease. Here's how to get started.
Will this deepfake of a power-hungry Zuckerberg make Facebook rethink fake news?
Just how committed is Facebook to earlier statements on leaving deepfake videos intact but demoted? A fake video of Mark Zuckerberg proclaiming power over your data has lasted for four days on the platform, testing the company's earlier stance on removing deepfake videos.
Getting weird ads? Here’s how to find out what Instagram thinks you like
Instagram thinks it knows a few things about you, but how does it actually find that information? As the social network prepares to deliver ads from influencers that you don't follow, learn how to see what Instagram gets right and wrong about your interests, and what you can do to change that.
Sponsored posts will soon infiltrate your Instagram, even if you’re not a fan
Sponsored posts are a common part of Instagram, but they are about to get even more widespread. The new branded content ads allow businesses to promote influencers' sponsored posts beyond their own followers feeds. That means you could start seeing sponsored posts from influencers that you don't follow.
Snap reportedly wants more music in Snapchat to compete against TikTok
Snap is in discussions with major record labels for broader licensing deals, according to the Wall Street Journal. The plan is to add more musical features to Snapchat, in order to better compete against the offerings of rival apps such as TikTok and Instagram that allow song clips to be added to posts.
Vertical video haters win the war — Instagram’s IGTV has a horizontal view
Not yet sold on the idea of vertical video? The traditional horizontal aspect ratio is headed to Instagram's IGTV, thanks to today's update. The change allows horizontal images to fill the screen with the device rotated -- a small change, but one that could play a big role in growing the young platform.