Instagram

Similar to what other platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Telegram have been doing, Meta now allows users to pay to get verified and unlock some extra features on Facebook and Instagram. To convince more people to pay for the Meta Verified service, the company has reportedly been working on a new option that will let users choose to only see content from verified accounts.

A new bill being put forward in New York state would require kids to get parental permission to use apps with algorithmic feeds. This would include TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and more.

The bill is known as the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act, and has the backing of the state’s governor and state attorney general …

As you probably know, Instagram still doesn’t have an iPad app. The platform was born as an iPhone app, and although it’s now on Android and the web, Meta has never bothered to optimize Instagram for the iPad. Unfortunately, those expecting to see an iPadOS version of the app will have to wait longer, as Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri has again said that this is not a priority for him.

TikTok may be going ad-free for five bucks a month, but you’ll have to pay a bit more for a similar experience on Meta’s platforms. A new report details Meta’s proposal to offer a version of Facebook and Instagram with no ads that would cost nearly $17/month.

Threads is working on a new feature that will let you delete your account without nuking your Instagram account, but it won’t be ready anytime soon. Meanwhile, new data forecasts where Meta’s competitor to X (formerly Twitter) will be by year’s end.

Meta has announced that European users can now opt out of algorithmic feeds on Instagram and Facebook, in order to comply with the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA).

However, the company is not extending the same choice to app users in the US or anywhere else outside Europe …

Instagram lets users take photos and videos right from the app for better convenience. However, this feature is currently broken for some users. Based on multiple reports (and also confirmed by 9to5Mac), an Instagram bug has been causing exaggerated zooming while users are recording stories. But luckily, there’s a workaround for that.

What’s one so-called “tech hot takes” held by Instagram’s top boss, Adam Mosseri? “Android’s now better than iOS.” Mosseri’s comment was made on Threads this weekend in response to a question posed by MKBHD, and it naturally has us wondering about how his personal preferences influence Instagram and Threads product roadmaps.

Apple yesterday released an iOS 16.5.1 update to fix a security vulnerability which is being actively exploited by attackers – but then withdrew it again.

The problem, it appears, is that a tiny change in Safari caused a number of websites to break …

Many iOS apps have been adding Live Activities since the release of iOS 16 last year. With this feature, apps can show real-time useful information right from the Lock Screen or Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Pro. Now Instagram is taking advantage of this feature to show upload progress in the background to users when they close the app.

One of the more… interesting discoveries yesterday is that there’s no way to delete your Threads account without also deleting your Instagram one.

After widespread objections to this, the company now says that it is “looking into a way to delete your Threads account separately” …

Twitter’s implosion has helped Threads get off to a great start, gaining 10M users in the first 10 hours. But the app’s rush to market has meant some surprising failings, the biggest being that you can’t have a Threads feed comprising only people you follow.

Instagram head Adam Mosseri has responded to a request by tech videographer MKBHD, stating that this is “on the list” of improvements to come to the app …

Meta’s attempt to replace Twitter officially kicks off tomorrow, with the Threads iPhone app launch scheduled for Thursday – but Mark Zuckerberg has opened a welcome thread, which you can already view on the web.

Initially billed as a text-based offshoot of Instagram, the world might not have paid too much attention had it not been for a sudden and urgent need for a viable Twitter replacement …

Instagram continues to have fun with its status feature called Notes. A new update to Notes is adding the ability to set your status to a song – just like instant messenger away messages in the 2000s.

Meta has been developing its own version of Twitter that will reportedly be released under the Instagram brand. Now, The Verge has seen and shared new screenshots of the unreleased app.