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.
GIF almost anywhere with Giphy’s new keyboard and sticker maker
We all love GIFs, but not every app supports them. Fortunately, the new Giphy keyboard brings GIFs to any iOS app that supports multimedia by just using the keyboard. The update also comes with a new tool for iPhone X and later for creating animated stickers with the device's camera, transparent background and all.
‘YouTube Rewind 2018’ is about to become its most disliked video ever
YouTube is about to achieve a record it really doesn't want — that of "most-disliked video." Yes, its annual recap of featuring popular YouTubers has gone down really badly this year. The record currently belongs to Justin Bieber, whose 2010 hit, "Baby," has so far received 9.7 million dislikes.
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!
Google+ continues to sink with a second massive data breach. Abandon ship now
Google+ was scheduled to shut its doors in August 2019, but the second security breach in only a few months has caused the company to move its plan forward a few months to April. In that case, it might be a good idea to delete your account sooner rather than later.
Snapchat facial recognition could soon power a new portrait mode, code suggests
Digging into Snapchat's code suggests a handful of upcoming camera features, including a portrait mode. The feature appears to use facial recognition A.I. to blur the background. The code also suggests a camera interface with a burst mode and compositional grid, if the features see a public launch.
Amazon scouted airport locations for its cashier-free Amazon Go stores
Representatives of Amazon Go checkout-free retail stores connected with officials at Los Angeles and San Jose airports in June to discuss the possibility of cashier-free grab-and-go locations in busy terminals. Since the initial meetings, Amazon has not continued discussions, but that doesn't mean the project is DOA.
It took Tom Cruise to raise awareness of this troublesome TV setting
Tom Cruise, in an unexpected PSA tweet, asks you to turn off motion interpolation in your TV, but stops short of how to do it. Here's more on the topic, along with links to a helpful guide on how to rid your TV of the dreaded "soap opera effect".
What do yodeling and Kylie Jenner have in common? YouTube’s top 2018 videos
In a true nod to the variety found on YouTube, the platform's top 10 list of videos from 2018 range from celebrities to sports, from perfectly tossing a picture frame on the wall to a kid yodeling in aisle 12 at Walmart. Here are YouTube's most trending videos from 2018, along with trends in live video.
This band owns Twitter, according to list of top accounts and tweets for 2018
What was the biggest buzz on Twitter in 2018? Twitter's 2018 Year in Review highlights the biggest tweets, accounts, and hashtags on the network, topped by pop group BTS. The most-tweeted celebrities, movies, TV shows, athletes, politicians, and more in Twitter's 2018 trends.
This event topped Facebook’s biggest moments of the year — again
As the year comes to a close, Facebook is looking back on what users discussed most over the last year in the Facebook 2018 Year In Review. For two years in a row, International Women's Day topped the list. The March for Our Lives as well as elections in the U.S. and Brazil topped the list of issues.
Broadway actor tells Kanye West to get off his phone during opening night
During the opening night of the new Broadway production The Cher Show on Monday, one of the lead actors spotted Kanye West using his smartphone mid-performance. Jarrod Spector, who plays Sonny Bono in the musical, called him out via a tweet during the show, prompting West to offer an apology.
You can now share saved Facebook posts with a Pinterest-like collection tool
Facebook collections can now be shared with friends -- if you also want to allow them to contribute to the list, anyways. Facebook is rolling out an update that allows users to add a contributor to their collections, or lists of saved Facebook posts. The contributor can see the existing posts and add their own.
Members can share the same Story with Facebook’s new Group Stories
Facebook Group members can now view and share Group Stories. Unlike the Stories for an individual user, the new tool lets members contribute to the same Group Story. The tool launches globally today with new options for emoji reactions to the Story and tools for administrators to manage Group Stories.
Tumblr bans nudity to create ‘a safe place for creative expression’
Tumblr will soon no longer allow images with adult content. Beginning on December 17, Tumblr will ban images containing nudity, with a few exceptions. The firm says the change is one that's designed to help more creators feel comfortable sharing on the platform, but says the change won't happen overnight.
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.
Survey of teens says social media lets them connect with friends and get support
A survey of teenagers points out the ways that social media sites can be beneficial to them. The biggest positives of social media use the teens identified were feeling more connected to their friends,the ability to interact with different people, and as a venue to get support when they are struggling.
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.
Like them or not, YouTube Stories just expanded to more channels
YouTube Stories are exiting testing. Beginning today, November 29, the feature will be available to channels with more than 10,000 subscribers. The launch comes with a comment tool and updates based on feedback. YouTube Stories can be recorded from the YouTube app and will stick around for seven days.
Restaurant chain offers families free meals if they hand over their phones
British restaurant chain Frankie and Benny's is offering families free meals if they surrender their smartphones upon arrival. The idea came about after a survey conducted by the restaurant suggested many kids were fed up with their parents being on their phones the whole time.
Facebook’s local news tool just went live in 400 cities, alerts could be next
Facebook now has a section dedicated to local news in more than 400 cities. Called Today In, the feature aggregates news as well as events, school announcements, and group discussions. Facebook is also launching tests for a new Local Alert feature designed for government Pages and first responders.
Code suggests Facebook is working on a comment keyword mute tool
Reverse engineering the Facebook app has uncovered a potential feature that would allow users to mute specific keywords on comments. The feature hasn't yet been confirmed but could be an option Facebook is testing for personal profiles, according to what one reverse engineer found.
Google Maps makes reviews more useful with hashtag support
In its latest grab from the world of social media, Google Maps now supports hashtags in reviews for businesses. Initially for Android only, the hashtags can be added to reviews both new and old. Google Maps also recently made it possible for users to follow their favorite businesses, and message them, too.
Luxury resort bans smartphones from poolside so guests can ‘truly relax’
A luxury resort on the Indonesian island of Bali has banned guests from taking gadgets to the poolside in a bid to help them "truly relax" and enjoy the moment. The resort says the aim of the initiative is to “preserve who we are by valuing human connection and me-time.”
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.
LinkedIn finally gets around to launching its own version of Stories
Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter have all launched their own versions of Snapchat Stories, so it was only a matter of time before professional social networking site LinkedIn followed suit. Its own version is called Student Voices and it's aimed at college students and recent graduates.
Facebook removes one-click comment test after users call the tool ‘dystopian’
A faster way to comment on posts sounds innocent enough, but when a Facebook test of the feature appeared on a story about a shooting, users weren't happy. The tool attempted to suggest one-click comments. Facebook has now disabled the test for a comment tool after the algorithms suggested auto comments on sensitive topics.
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.
Dual cameras for Spectacles 3? Report suggests Snap-designed glasses with AR
Despite underselling the first generation, Snap Inc. isn't done with camera glasses yet. According to a recent report, the company is rumored to be working on another Snap Spectacles with dual cameras for AR features. The rumored smart glasses will supposedly list for $350.
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.
Why an American named John Lewis gets lots of Twitter hassle from Brits
Spare a thought for Twitter user John Lewis. When he signed up as @johnlewis soon after the app launched in 2006, little did he know that one day he would become the de facto customer service contact for the British department store of the same name. Mr. Lewis says he now receives as many as 50,000 tweets a year.
Facebook Portal+ review
Facebook has jumped into the smart home game with the Portal+, a video-calling device featuring a built-in Amazon Alexa speaker and a screen. While the Portal+ has lots of cool calling features, we’re still a little weary of the social media giant taking up counter space in our home. Read our review to find out more.
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.