Meta has announced two major updates for its social platforms. Instagram will experiment with a new way of navigating its app in India, while Facebook is bringing features to strengthen connections between creators and their audiences. Both updates aim to enhance creativity, interaction, and community engagement.

Instagram tests Reels-first experience in India

Instagram is piloting a Reels-first layout for a select set of users in India, a market known for its diverse short-form video culture. With this test, users opening the app will be directed to the Reels feed by default. Stories remain accessible at the top, while direct messages are just a swipe away in the navigation bar.

The new format also introduces a dedicated “Following” tab, which provides three ways to view updates from accounts: all followed content, mutual followers, or chronological posts. This change is designed to make access to short videos and messaging smoother, reflecting Instagram’s growing focus on these areas. Globally, Instagram has grown to 3 billion monthly active users, with Reels being reshared over 4.5 billion times each day across Meta platforms.

Facebook strengthens fandom with new features

On Facebook, users can now take part in fan challenges, allowing them to create content inspired by their favourite creators’ prompts. These challenges appear in feeds, and the most popular entries are highlighted on leaderboards, creating more opportunities for fans to showcase creativity and interact with creators.

Additionally, Facebook is expanding its top fan badges by offering custom versions. These badges let fans display their loyalty and be recognised directly on creator pages and personal profiles. Artists such as Cardi B and Ed Sheeran are already using personalised badges to deepen fan engagement. With over 500 million people holding badges globally, this update is expected to strengthen connections across communities.

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Instagram is rolling out a handful of useful updates to its direct messaging service, including message translation, music stickers, and the ability to schedule messages.

Message translation has been available on Facebook Messenger since 2018, but it’s only now making its way to Instagram DMs. It’s a little ridiculous that it took Meta this long to roll it out— WhatsApp still doesn’t have it—but better late than never, right?

Now, you can translate messages in your Instagram chat by simply long-pressing on a sent or received message and tapping Translate. The translated text will appear right below the original.

Another addition to DM is music stickers. The feature lets you share a snippet of your selected song in messages. You’ll find the new Music option under the Stickers tab in your chat, where you can search for a song to share. Just keep in mind that the sticker will only include a 30-second preview of the song.

Instagram is also adding the ability to schedule messages, which should come in handy for things like birthday wishes at exactly midnight. You can long press the send button to schedule a message and select your preferred time from the available customization options.

Group chats are getting a small but useful tweak as well. Each group will now have a personalized QR code that you can share to invite others. However, group admins will still have control over who can join as they can refresh the QR code at any time to limit access.

And finally, Instagram is expanding last year’s feature that lets users pin up to three chat threads in their DMs. Now, you’ll also be able to pin specific messages within one-on-one or group conversations, making it easier to keep important texts front and center.

These new features have already started rolling out globally, so if you don’t see them yet, they should arrive soon.

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Instagram has launched a new video editing app called Edits, targeting content creators amid uncertainty around TikTok. Announced by Instagram head Adam Mosseri, the move comes as TikTok faces challenges, including a temporary US ban on its CapCut app, highlighting vulnerabilities that competitors like Instagram aim to capitalize on.

Edits Combines Creative Features with Instagram Integration

Launching in March 2025, Edits features a full suite of creative tools designed to enhance video creation. It comes with a dedicated tab for creative inspiration and a section for tracking ideas. It equips a high-quality camera capable of capturing FHD or 2K resolution clips at up to 60 fps and sports advanced editing tools like green screens, overlays, and AI-powered effects. Unlike many other apps, it does not impose watermarks on exported videos, making it ideal for creators sharing content across platforms.

The app seamlessly integrates with Instagram, offering real-time performance insights like engagement, skip rates, and audience preferences. This feedback helps creators refine their strategies for better visibility and impact.

Edits also includes AI-driven features, such as automated captions with customization options, voice enhancements to reduce background noise, and animated image tools. Additionally, creators can collaborate by sharing video drafts with friends or collaborators, further enhancing the app’s utility for teamwork and community engagement.

Instagram’s strategic timing for the launch cannot be overlooked. With TikTok facing regulatory scrutiny and CapCut’s temporary suspension, the introduction of Edits positions Instagram to capture creators seeking alternative tools for content production.

The app also complements Instagram’s existing Reels feature, which recently expanded its video length limit to three minutes, offering creators more flexibility in storytelling.

Edits is currently available for pre-order on the iOS App Store, with its Android release expected soon. As the competition in the short-form video space intensifies, Instagram’s new app could solidify its position as a go-to platform for creators worldwide.

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Meta AI is now rolling out in India. The AI assistant, already popular across more than a dozen countries, is available for free and integrates seamlessly into various platforms including WhatsApp, Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and meta.ai.

Meta AI in India: Key highlights

According to Meta, the Meta AI is designed to assist users in a variety of tasks, from managing daily activities to sparking creativity. With its rollout in India, users can now leverage its capabilities to get things done, learn new topics, create content, and connect with what matters most, all without leaving their favorite apps.

Meta AI’s integration into WhatsApp, Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram makes it incredibly versatile. For instance, planning a night out with friends can be simplified by asking Meta AI in a WhatsApp group chat to recommend restaurants with great views and vegan options. If you are organizing a weekend getaway, Meta AI can suggest interesting places to stop along your road trip.

For students, Meta AI can help in preparing for a test. Users can ask it to create a multiple-choice test to aid your study sessions. Additionally, if you are moving into a new apartment, Meta AI can help you visualize your ideal aesthetic by generating AI-crafted mood boards for your furniture shopping.

Meta AI also enhances the way users interact with content on Facebook. While scrolling through your feed, you can ask Meta AI for more information on posts that catch your eye.

One of the standout features of Meta AI is its “imagine” capability, which facilitates text-to-image generation. By using the word “imagine” in your interactions, you can create and share unique images. If you find an image particularly appealing, you can even ask Meta AI to animate it or modify it based on new prompts.

The intelligence and efficiency of Meta AI are driven by Meta Llama 3, the latest and most powerful large language model developed by Meta. This technology makes Meta AI smarter, faster, and more engaging than previous iterations. As Meta AI continues to roll out in India, it promises to enrich the digital experience for users by assisting with daily tasks, fostering learning, and unleashing creativity.

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Instagram’s companion app, Threads, has introduced rate limits in response to increasing spam attacks, drawing comparisons to Twitter’s similar measures. Elon Musk amusingly called it a copycat move. Initially implemented temporarily on Twitter, the rate limits were later eased for Twitter Blue subscribers and verified accounts. Threads has not specified the duration of its rate limits yet.

Spam Attacks: A Growing Concern on Threads

CEO Adam Mosseri stated that while the move was prompted by a surge in spam attacks, Threads is ready to assist users facing limitations. However, comment spam has notably risen on Threads, with users reporting bot responses on almost half of their posts. This persistent issue threatens the app’s momentum, having achieved an impressive milestone of 100 million users within five days of its launch.

Threads’ challenges mirror those faced by Twitter, which imposed viewing limits following a severe outage caused by data scraping and system manipulation. Initially setting different limits for verified and unverified users, Twitter later increased these limits, particularly for verified users. Critics argued that Twitter’s bot problem wouldn’t exist if the platform hadn’t significantly reduced its engineering staff.

For Threads, the main challenge lies in effectively addressing bot and spam issues, especially since the app is currently unavailable in Europe due to strict data privacy regulations. This situation has significant implications for influencers who rely on social media platforms for visibility and monetization. Platforms must provide a spam-free environment for influencers to thrive.

As Threads implements rate limits, finding a balance is crucial. While combating spam is important, the measures should not overly hinder legitimate content creators from effectively engaging with their audience. This saga serves as a reminder to social media platforms about the ongoing battle against spam and the significance of maintaining user-friendly environments.

One of our recent quick-take articles explores the question of whether Threads can compete with Twitter in the long run. Additionally, Instagram’s Threads is expected to soon introduce direct messaging (DMs), expanding its features and providing users with enhanced communication options.

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Instagram’s Threads was just recently launched and has already become a very successful social media platform. Now, it appears that Meta is planning to further enhance the experience by including DMs (Direct Messages) as well.

Instagram Threads could soon feature DM functionality

In just under a week, Threads managed to gain nearly 100 million users, shattering industry records. It was seen by many as an alternative to Twitter, which has been going through troubles of its own. But despite being a Twitter-like microblogging platform, Threads has yet to offer certain basic features like DMs. But it appears that the messaging functionality isn’t too far away.

Previously, Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri had announced earlier that the company has no plans to roll out DMs anytime soon. However, a leaked document that was found by Business Insider hints at Direct Messaging being one of the features that will be arriving soon. As per the new report, the company is also working on a new ‘Trends & Topics’ section along with ‘Improved search’, and ‘Messaging’. The update that brings these features basically offers various improvements for the platform, based on feedback from creators.

So it is clear that DMs would’ve likely been one of the most requested features. Since it is also under Meta’s umbrella, Threads may also support cross-platform messaging like Instagram, which allows you to message your friends on Messenger. Although, this is still unconfirmed so take this news with a pinch of salt for now.

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Instagram has been working on a Twitter competitor named Threads, which was leaked a few weeks back. Now, it appears the company is all set to launch it in the coming days or weeks officially.

The official Instagram Threads application from Meta is now available for pre-order on Apple’s App Store, indicating that the launch is imminent.

While the company has not yet revealed the launch date, the listing on the App Store reveals that the application could get launched on 6th July, in just a couple of days. It is being said that Instagram Threads will integrate with the decentralized social media protocol used by Mastodon, called ActivityPub.

The official description of the application on the App Store listing reads: “Threads is where communities come together to discuss everything from the topics you care about today to what’ll be trending tomorrow. Whatever it is you’re interested in, you can follow and connect directly with your favorite creators and others who love the same things — or build a loyal following of your own to share your ideas, opinions and creativity with the world.”

It remains to be seen if the company will adopt a slower rollout for users, which is more likely to happen. So, while the app may be available for download from the 6th of July, not everyone will be able to post on the platform from that date.

Twitter has been facing a lot of issues with the platform, especially after its acquisition by Elon Musk. While there were issues with the content moderation policies, the platform has had a lot of technical problems over the past few weeks. Given Twitter’s condition these days, it looks like a perfect time to launch a competing product.

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Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, has announced the rollout of new parental control tools for its platforms. These tools aim to enhance the safety and privacy of young users and encourage healthy digital habits. The updates include a parental supervision hub in Messenger, proactive blocking of unwanted direct messages (DMs) on Messenger and Instagram, and reminders for teens to take breaks from using the apps.

Messenger Supervision Controls: Keep Track of Teens’ Privacy and Safety Settings

The Messenger supervision controls will initially be available in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada through Meta’s Family Center. Parents or guardians will have access to their teen’s privacy and safety settings, be notified of any changes in their Messenger contact list, and monitor the amount of time spent in the app. They will also receive notifications if their teen reports someone; however, explicit permission from the teen is required for this feature.

Parents will be able to manage settings such as who can message their teens (friends only, friends of friends, or no one) and who can view their stories. Any changes made to these settings will trigger notifications for the guardians.

Instagram has been taking steps to limit interactions between teens and unknown adults, and the latest update involves users sending text-only invitations to seek permission before interacting with someone they are not connected to. This feature is designed to enhance safety and prevent unwanted contact.

To promote healthy digital habits, both Instagram and Facebook will introduce controls to reduce excessive usage. Instagram’s existing “Quiet mode,” which allows users to pause notifications and set auto-replies while taking a break, will now be available globally. Facebook will notify users after 20 minutes of continuous usage to encourage them to take a break, and it will also remind teens to close the app while watching Reels at night.

Meta is also introducing a new notice on Instagram, urging teens to allow their guardians to supervise their accounts for added protection. Parents will have the ability to view mutual followers and accounts followed by their teens.

Earlier this year, Meta implemented controls over ad targeting for teenagers and introduced tools to prevent the sharing of intimate images by minors. However, the company has faced scrutiny for privacy violations related to children’s data and was previously fined over $400 million for breaching GDPR rules.

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