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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Meta has introduced a new AI app powered by its Llama 4 model, aiming to make AI interaction more conversational and personal. According to Meta, this first version focuses on voice-led conversations and integrates with its broader platform ecosystem, including Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp and Messenger.

Meta AI app offers conversational voice features and personalization

The newly launched Meta AI app brings the company’s assistant to a dedicated platform, built with the Llama 4 model. What sets it apart is its ability to hold voice conversations that feel natural, thanks to full-duplex speech technology. This means the AI doesn’t just read responses aloud but speaks them directly, generating responses in real time. Available currently in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, the app also includes image generation and editing via voice or text prompts.

The app introduces a Discover feed where users can explore and remix prompt ideas, see what others are doing with AI, and optionally share their own experiences. Voice features come with controls for transparency, including visible microphone indicators and a toggle for the “Ready to talk” mode.

Beyond smartphones, Meta AI is expanding to desktops and Ray-Ban Meta glasses. The app replaces the Meta View companion app for glasses in certain countries, enabling a smooth transition between hardware and app-based interactions. Users can start conversations on the glasses and continue them later on the app or web.

The web version includes voice functionality, a revamped image creation tool, and a document editor that can export as PDFs or analyze uploaded files. Meta AI leverages your data from connected Facebook and Instagram accounts to offer more relevant, personalized responses—available currently in the US and Canada.

With this release, Meta is positioning itself more directly against ChatGPT and Google Gemini in the race to deliver smarter, more intuitive AI assistants.

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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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The European Union (EU) is cracking down on Meta (formerly Facebook) with a formal investigation into its handling of child safety on Facebook and Instagram. Announced on Thursday, the probe centers on concerns that Meta’s platforms may be harming children’s mental and physical well-being.

The EU Commission will carefully examine if Meta is going against the DSA

The EU Commission will specifically examine whether Meta is violating the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA). Here are the key areas of concern:

• Addiction and Algorithmic Manipulation: The EU worries that Facebook and Instagram’s design and algorithms could be fostering “behavioral addictions” in children, essentially trapping them in endless content loops.
• Inappropriate Content and Age Verification: The investigation will assess if Meta is doing enough to shield minors from harmful content and if its age verification tools are truly effective in preventing underage access.
• Privacy and Safety for Minors: The EU will also scrutinize whether Meta’s content recommendation systems and default privacy settings adequately prioritize the privacy, safety, and security of children on its platforms.

This probe follows Meta’s recent efforts to improve child safety on its platforms, like restricting access to harmful content and limiting interactions with suspicious adult accounts. However, the EU’s investigation suggests these efforts might not be sufficient.

The Commission will now gather further evidence and determine the course of action. While no deadline exists for the investigation, the EU can take temporary enforcement measures against Meta during this period. If found in violation of the DSA, Meta could face hefty fines of up to 6% of its global revenue. EU Commissioner Thierry Breton emphasized the bloc’s resolve, stating, “we are sparing no effort to protect youth.”

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Are you tired of Facebook’s endless scroll? A new lawsuit challenges Meta‘s (formerly Facebook) control over user feeds. The battleground? A browser tool called “Unfollow Everything” that lets users unfollow everyone at once. This lets them curate their feed intentionally, instead of being bombarded by an algorithm.

Facebook banned the original creator after he took control of his facebook feed

The original tool’s creator saw a dramatic decrease in Facebook use after taking control. Naturally, Facebook wasn’t a fan and banned him. Now, a researcher wants to study a new version of the tool’s impact but needs it accessible. They’ve sued Meta, arguing a section of the Communications Decency Act protects users’ right to control their online experience, including the tools they use.

The lawsuit hinges on a subsection allowing control of unwanted content. The researcher argues this extends to social media, giving users the right to “opt out of the algorithm.” Will the courts side with users? This case could set a precedent, potentially giving us the power to break free from the endless scroll and curate our own social media experience.

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Meta Platforms is stepping up its game to make Instagram and Facebook safer for teenagers. They’re introducing new features that will shield young users from unwanted messages. This is a big deal because it shows Meta is listening to concerns about the safety of teens online. At least for now.

Meta was formerly accused of knowing that teens were being exposed to harmful content

A few weeks back, Meta, which also owns WhatsApp, decided to keep certain content away from teen users. This decision came after some serious talks with regulators who are really focused on making social media safer for kids. There’s been a lot of worry about harmful stuff teens might see or experience on these apps, and Meta is responding to that.

The whole thing really picked up steam when a former Meta employee spoke to the U.S. Senate. They claimed that Meta knew about the bad stuff happening to teens on its platforms – like harassment – but wasn’t doing enough to stop it. That really got people’s attention and put the spotlight on Meta to do something about it.

So, what’s changing? For starters, on Instagram, teens will automatically be set up so they can’t get direct messages from people they don’t follow. That’s a big change. Plus, they’ll need their parents to okay any changes to specific settings in the app. This gives both teens and their parents more control over who can reach out to them.

Over on Messenger, the rules are getting tighter too. If you’re under 16 (or under 18 in some places), you’ll only get messages from people you’re actually friends with on Facebook or who are in your phone contacts. And here’s a key point: if you’re over 19, you can’t message teens who don’t follow you back. These new rules aim to make Facebook a safer place for sure, but the degree to which they will be enforced may vary. Only time will tell.

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Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has launched ad-free subscriptions for its two most popular social media platforms in Europe. The new subscription option is a response to new EU regulations that require companies to offer users a way to opt out of targeted advertising.

Facebook and Instagram are now ad-free, but at a cost

The ad-free subscriptions cost €9.99 (~$10.61) per month if you sign up on the web, and €12.99 (~$13.80) per month if you sign up through the Android or iOS apps. The price difference is due to the additional fees levied by Google and Apple on their respective mobile platforms.

Since Meta is a more cohesive platform now, a single subscription will cover all of your Facebook and Instagram accounts linked to your Accounts Center. However, starting March 1, 2024, you will need to pay an additional €6/month per month through the web and €8/month through iOS and Android for each additional account in your Accounts Center.

In addition to removing all ads from your Facebook and Instagram feeds, the ad-free subscription also prevents Meta from tracking you for ads. This is a good option for users who are concerned about their online privacy.

The subscription is currently only available in the EU, but Meta may expand it to other regions if similar laws are enacted.

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Mobile apps are ever-evolving, and with it, user preferences and desires. Android‘s themed icons, a feature that has been around since the 12th version of the operating system, have been a fan favorite. This feature personalizes the device by matching the interface with the dominant wallpaper colors, providing a sleek and unified appearance. As Android continued its journey, it expanded its color palette options, allowing users even more customization. But there was always a missing piece – Meta‘s icons.

The update is only available for the Alpha and Beta versions of the apps

For years, Android users have patiently waited for Meta to hop on the themed icons bandwagon. The wait seemed endless, especially when most popular apps had already embraced this feature. But as they say, good things come to those who wait. Recent updates reveal that the Alpha and Beta versions of Instagram and Facebook apps are now compatible with Android’s themed icons. This news has been welcomed with open arms, especially by those who have a keen eye for aesthetics.

It’s not just about looking pretty, though. This shift indicates a broader change in Meta’s approach to Android features. Their recent experiments, like the new Instagram layout tailored for tablets, further cement this notion. Devices such as the Google Pixel Fold with Android 14 QPR1 Beta can now experience Instagram in a fresh layout, optimized for bigger screens.

For many, this may seem like a small tweak. But for the Android community, it’s a significant move. No longer will users have to tuck away the Facebook and Instagram icons in hidden folders or relegate them to secondary screens. With Meta’s new support for themed icons, Android users can look forward to a harmonized home screen.

The big question now is: how soon will this feature be available in the stable versions? There’s hope that it might coincide with upcoming Android updates, making the year-end even more special for Android aficionados. So, here’s to Meta, for finally catching up and giving users what they’ve been longing for. Are you excited to have this update on your Android devices? Let us know in the comments below.

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Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, is reportedly considering offering ad-free versions of its social media platforms in Europe, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. This move comes in response to new EU privacy regulations that require Meta to get users’ consent before showing them targeted ads. 

Asking users for their consent could hurt the company’s bottom line since most users are unlikely to willingly share their data. This could reduce Meta’s advertising revenue, which is its primary source of income.

To tackle this, Meta is considering charging users a monthly fee to remove ads from their social media feeds. Under the proposed plan, users in Europe would need to pay a monthly fee to remove ads from their Instagram and Facebook. This would be the first time that Meta will be charging users for access to its core services.

The ad-free subscription plan is expected to cost around EUR 13 per month on mobile devices and EUR 10 per month on web browsers. Users would also need to pay an additional EUR 6 for each additional account.

It is unclear when the ad-free subscription plan would be launched in Europe, and if it would be offered in other regions in the future. However, Meta is said to be in discussions with privacy watchdogs in Belgium and Ireland about the plan. The company has reportedly named it “subscription no ads,” or SNA, and it might start rolling out in the coming months.

Meta’s current business model relies on targeted advertising, which is based on user data. However, the new privacy regulations in the EU will make it more difficult for companies to collect and use user data for advertising purposes.

The ad-free subscription plan is one way that Meta could continue to generate revenue from its social media platforms in Europe, while also complying with the new privacy regulations.

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Facebook Messenger is sunsetting its SMS support for Android users on September 28, 2023. The change was announced quietly on Meta’s support page on Monday. This means that if you currently use Messenger as your default SMS app, you will need to choose a new one before September 28. 

Facebook drops SMS support on Messenger

Meta (then Facebook) first added SMS support to its Messenger app in 2012, but it was discontinued in 2013. In 2016, the company brought back SMS support, this time with a few key changes. Most importantly, SMS messages were displayed in purple to distinguish them from online chats, which were displayed in blue.

However, the popularity of third-party SMS apps has been declining in recent years. Users are increasingly turning to web-based IM clients like Messenger and WhatsApp, which offer a wider range of features and functionality. 

Also, Messenger does not have access to modern IP-based Rich Communication Services (RCS), which Google has been focusing on in recent years. Google Messages, which is the default SMS app on most Android devices, handles both SMS and MMS messages and supports RCS. 

Google is pushing RCS as a replacement for SMS and MMS, which could further accelerate the decline of third-party SMS apps. In light of these trends, it is not surprising that Meta has decided to discontinue SMS support in Messenger for Android users. The company is likely focused on developing Messenger as a more social messaging app, rather than a general-purpose texting app. 

If you are an Android user who currently uses Messenger as your default SMS app, you should start planning to switch to a different app before September 28th. There are many great SMS apps available, such as Google Messages, Textra, and Pulse. You can read reviews of different apps to find one that best meets your needs.

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Facebook has been one of the longest-running social media platforms, and even though its audience has seen a decline over the past few years, the app still has a high user base. Videos have played a vital role in this journey since as early as 2007. Over the years, Facebook has evolved its video capabilities, and today, it stands as a powerful hub for Reels, long-form, and Live content, attracting users with a diverse range of video options. Now, the social media giant is taking it to the next level with the latest updates designed to empower creators and engage audiences like never before.

The Video tab will soon be accessible from the shortcut bar

One of the most significant updates focuses on video editing tools. Facebook is rolling out new features to enhance Reels, making video creation even more dynamic and expressive. The updates include seamless editing, bringing audio, music, and text into a single interface, making it easier for creators to layer and time their creative elements flawlessly. Additionally, more clip editing tools are now available, allowing users to experiment with speeding up, reversing, or replacing clips, unleashing their creativity further. And to top it off, enhanced audio options enable users to mix the perfect sound into their videos, adding music and audio clips, recording voiceovers, and reducing unwanted noise.

Moreover, Facebook is bringing true HDR video support to its family of apps, starting with the ability to upload HDR videos from mobile devices to Reels. This feature ensures that users can experience videos in full HDR, a treat for anyone who appreciates superior visual quality.

To simplify video exploration and engagement, Facebook is introducing the Video tab, which consolidates all video content on the platform, including Reels, long-form videos, and Live content. This tab offers a personalized feed, making it easy to scroll through and discover an array of video content. The new horizontal-scroll reels sections allow users to jump quickly into short-form videos, adding an element of discovery and excitement to the experience. The Video tab will soon be accessible from the shortcut bar, making it readily available to users on both iOS and Android devices.

Facebook has also redesigned the video Explore feature, providing users with more opportunities to dive into popular video topics. The Explore section offers a mix of reels, long-form, and live videos related to relevant topics and hashtags, thanks to a combination of human curation and machine learning. This curated content will ensure that users find videos that resonate with their interests and preferences.

Additionally, Facebook is bridging the gap between its platforms by allowing users to engage with Instagram Reels on Facebook seamlessly. Users can now watch and write comments on Instagram Reels directly from the Facebook app, eliminating the need to switch between the two platforms. By adding their Facebook and Instagram accounts to the Meta Accounts Center, users can effortlessly interact with their favorite content and creators, regardless of the app they are using.

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Meta Platforms announced its intention to block access to news content on Facebook and Instagram for all users in Canada, in response to a newly approved legislation that requires internet giants to pay news publishers. 

The company made this announcement on Thursday, shortly after the Canadian Senate upper chamber approved the legislation, known as the Online News Act, which has now received royal assent from the governor-general making it an official Act.

Once the Online News Act becomes law, Meta Platforms will implement measures to restrict the availability of news articles and related content on their popular social media platforms in Canada. The move follows a global trend of tech companies grappling with regulations aimed at ensuring fair compensation for news publishers for their content.

On Thursday, the Canadian Senate approved the Online News Act, establishing guidelines that compel platforms like Meta (formerly known as Facebook) and Google to engage in commercial negotiations and financially compensate news organizations for their content.

Meta has voiced its concerns about the legislation, criticizing it as “fundamentally flawed” and disregarding the operational realities of their platforms. In response, the company announced on Thursday its decision to terminate access to news on Facebook and Instagram for all Canadian users, preempting the bill’s official implementation. The decision to limit news access is likely to impact millions of users in Canada who rely on Facebook and Instagram as sources of news.

With Meta’s announcement, the focus now shifts to how news publishers, users, and other stakeholders will navigate this altered landscape of social media news consumption in Canada. Already Meta Platforms Inc and Google have been conducting trials to restrict news access in Canada in anticipation of the parliament-approved legislation, which requires major platforms to compensate news publishers for content posted on their platforms. This move comes after a similar law in Australia prompted Facebook to block users from sharing or viewing news in 2021.

What is Canada’s Online News Act?

The Online News Act is a new legislation that aims to ensure fair bargaining between the largest digital platforms and Canadian news businesses for the use of news content on their services. 

The Online News Act establishes a more level playing field between news businesses and digital platforms, promoting fairness and sustainability in the news industry. It adopts a market-based approach, encouraging voluntary commercial agreements while preserving the independence of the press through crucial safeguards.

With millions of Canadians relying on online platforms for news consumption, these platforms have become the gatekeepers of the digital news marketplace and hence need to compensate the actual news agencies.  The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) will be responsible for overseeing the Act, facilitating negotiations and arbitration processes between platforms and news businesses. Additionally, the CRTC will develop a code of conduct to ensure fairness and transparency during bargaining.

US tech firms argue that the legislation in Canada is economically unfeasible. Google has suggested amendments to address concerns, while Canada’s government has resisted making changes. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Meta and Google of employing “bullying tactics.” Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez, the bill’s initiator, stated that the government will initiate regulatory and implementation procedures following the law’s enforcement.

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Meta is finally rolling out the paid verification subscription for its popular social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram, in India. The company is bringing this subscription based model after it first released the service in the US market.

Meta rolls out paid verification in India for Facebook & Instagram

The American tech giant is now offering the Meta Verified to users that are willing to pay a certain fee. This feature is being offered to help creators in growing their presence on Instagram and Facebook. Furthermore, the verification subscription also arrives with a verified badge as well as guarantee authenticity of the account by using a government issued ID to protect against any possible impersonation. This will even bring access to account support as well.

The service was first released in certain regions during the initial testing phase in Australia and New Zealand. Now, Meta is working on adding new features to the subscription while it prepares to launch this paid service in other countries as well. The company states that the subscription will help creators in particular who are looking to get better access to verification and account support. With the Verified Badge, the paying users will be able to immediately confirm their identity to every other user.

The paid subscription offers Enhanced Account Protection, which provides more robust account monitoring for better user security. This is further complimented by countermeasures against identity impersonation on the social media platform. Lastly, Meta Verified brings Account Support that offers English only support to users, with Hindi language support set to be added in the coming months.

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In a recent development, the British Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced that Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has made a significant promise regarding the use of advertising data obtained from competitors for enhancing its Facebook Marketplace. This move comes after the CMA launched an investigation in June 2021, alleging unfair competition by Meta’s popular online marketplace.

Meta plans to implement this change no later than June 2024

According to the CMA, Meta’s practice of bundling Facebook Marketplace with its main social network gives it a significant advantage over its competitors, granting it a “substantial distribution advantage.” With billions of monthly active users and millions of active advertisers globally, Facebook has an unparalleled reach that potentially ensures automatic access to Marketplace for its users.

Facebook Marketplace serves as a platform for users to explore and purchase various items. It’s important to note that creating a listing on the Marketplace differs from creating a paid advertisement to target shoppers. By leveraging Marketplace ads, businesses can effectively promote their products or services to a broader user base on the shopping platform.

Meta’s commitment to the CMA’s request will result in a crucial change in its business practices. However, it is important to mention that the fulfillment of this promise will not be immediate. Meta Company has set a timeline for the implementation of this change, aiming for it to take effect no later than June 30, 2024, or as early as December.

The CMA’s investigation and Meta’s commitment to fair competition highlight the significance of maintaining a level playing field in the digital marketplace. This step could potentially encourage healthy competition among online platforms, benefitting both businesses and consumers.

As the deadline approaches, businesses and industry observers will closely monitor Meta’s actions to ensure that they align with the promise made to the CMA. The outcome of this commitment could shape the landscape of online marketplaces and contribute to a more equitable digital environment for all players involved.

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Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has been fined €1.2 billion ($1.3 billion) by the European Union (EU) for breaching the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The fine comes as a result of Meta’s failure to adequately protect European users’ personal data from American security services’ surveillance activities.

Record-breaking GDPR fine for exporting European data to the US

The Irish Data Protection Commission, which made the decision, stated that Meta’s data transfers to the United States did not sufficiently address the risks to individuals’ fundamental rights and freedoms. The company used standard contractual clauses (SCCs) to transfer data to the US, but these measures were deemed inadequate following a ruling by the EU’s highest court.

In addition to the record-breaking fine, Meta has been given a five-month deadline to halt any future transfer of personal data to the US and a six-month deadline to stop the unlawful processing and storage of transferred personal data from the EU in the US.

This decision is part of an ongoing dispute that has created legal uncertainty for Facebook and other companies. The EU’s highest court invalidated an EU-US agreement governing data transfers in 2020 due to concerns about data protection in the US. Subsequently, the Irish authority ordered Facebook to cease transferring data to the US using alternative mechanisms like contractual clauses.

Efforts have been made to establish a new EU-US data flows agreement, and a replacement for the defunct “Privacy Shield” agreement was proposed in December 2022. The fine imposed on Meta coincides with the fifth anniversary of the GDPR, which is considered the global standard for privacy protection.

Meta intends to challenge the decision and the fine, emphasizing the potential harm to millions of people who use Facebook every day. The company warns that if it is forced to stop using contractual clauses without a suitable alternative, it may have to shut down services like Facebook and Instagram in Europe.

Under the GDPR, EU regulators have the authority to impose fines of up to 4% of a company’s annual revenue for severe violations. The Irish Data Protection Commission has become the leading privacy regulator for major tech companies with an EU presence, including Meta and Apple.

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Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has recently announced new features to enhance users’ experience with Reels, Facebook’s short-form video content. With Reels’ growing popularity on the platform, Meta aims to help users discover and personalize content that matches their interests.

Discover Relevant Reels

To improve the discovery of relevant Reels, Facebook has introduced new updates to how they are surfaced in Facebook Watch. Reels can now be accessed directly from the main navigation at the top of Facebook Watch, providing users with quick access to creators, trends, and content that align with their interests. Users can also seamlessly scroll between Reels and long-form videos while watching videos on Facebook.

Personalize Your Reels Feed

In addition to making it easier to discover relevant content, Meta has introduced features that allow users to personalize their Reels experience. Users can now tap the three-dot menu at the bottom of the video player to inform the types of Reels they would like to see more or less of. This feature will help users explore what they enjoy now while also helping them discover new interests, creators, and communities they’ll love in the future.

Furthermore, Facebook has launched a new feature on the Reels video player that provides contextual labels. These labels aim to clarify why a particular Reel is being shown to the user. For example, if a friend liked the video, the label would explain why it’s on the user’s feed. This feature will help users understand the relevance of the Reels they’re seeing and give them more insight into their personalized Reels feed.

Facebook’s new tools for Reels are part of Meta’s efforts to improve the user experience on its platforms. With the introduction of these features, Facebook aims to provide a more personalized and enjoyable Reels experience for users. By allowing users to discover and personalize the content they see, Facebook hopes to keep users engaged and continue to grow the popularity of Reels on the platform.

Facebook is also trying out some cool features such as Messenger now allows users to play multiplayer games during video calls. Following Twitter’s footsteps, Meta is also rolling out paid verification for Instagram and Facebook users.

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Facebook Gaming is a gaming platform developed by Facebook that allows users to discover, watch, and play games across different devices. The platform offers a wide range of games from popular genres like action, adventure, sports, and puzzle, as well as live streams of gameplay by popular gamers and influencers. Users can connect with other gamers, create communities, and join groups based on their gaming interests. Facebook Gaming also offers features like in-app purchases, live chat, and gifting to enhance the gaming experience. The platform is available on desktop, iOS, and Android devices, and provides a great way for gamers to engage and connect with others who share their interests. Users can now experience Facebook Gaming in a whole different way, since a recent announcement stated that Facebook Messenger will let users play multiplayer games, even while on a video call.

Now users can engage in their favorite games while on video calls with their loved ones using Messenger. This latest feature in Messenger promises to be a fun-filled experience, especially for those people who love multitasking or are bored of conversations easily. Plus, playing games together can be a fun bonding activity, or it can be simply reminiscent of older multiplayer gaming experiences. The best part? Users don’t have to install anything! With 14 free-to-play games available on iOS, Android, and web, they can enjoy a mix of brand new and fan-favorite titles. So far, the games include Card Wars by Bombay Play, Exploding Kittens by Coatsink, Mini Golf FRVR by FRVR, and Words With Friends by Zynga. Most games support two players, but the number of players varies for each game.

Starting a game is quite easy, as a matter of fact. While you’re in a video call with your friends, simply tap the “Group Mode” button in the center, and then tap the “Play” button to get started. This comes as a welcome move from the company, since in 2017, it announced that it would no longer support its desktop gaming platform, which included popular games like Farmville and Mafia Wars. The reason for this was that Facebook was shifting its focus to mobile gaming, where it saw more growth potential. Facebook still supports mobile games and has even expanded its gaming platform to include cloud gaming.

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Meta, formerly known as Facebook, is a social media company founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg. With over 2.8 billion monthly active users across its various platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, Meta is one of the world’s largest social media companies. Mark Zuckerberg announced today on his Instagram channel that the company’s paid verification program is now available in the United States.

Those who sign up for Meta Verified will receive a blue verification badge on both Facebook and Instagram, “proactive impersonation protection,” and direct access to customer support. The program is priced at $12 per month via the web and $15 per month for iOS or Android users to account for platform fees. Subscribers will also receive stars each month that can be used to tip Facebook creators, as well as extra stickers for Stories and Reels.

In contrast to Australia and New Zealand, Verified subscribers in the US won’t immediately gain increased visibility in some parts of the apps. According to a Meta spokesperson, the company is taking the time to further explore this feature’s value and learn from user feedback before considering expansion outside of Australia and New Zealand. While continuing to test the program, Meta intends to explore other features that could be added to Verified.

Meta’s verification program differs from Twitter Blue, as it requires Instagram and Facebook users to provide government-issued ID that matches their account name and photo. Additional eligibility requirements include being 18 or older and having two-factor authentication enabled.

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Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has decided to wind down support for NFTs on its platforms, Facebook and Instagram. The move comes less than a year after the company started pushing for the adoption of digital collectibles on its platforms. Meta’s Head of Commerce and Financial Technologies, Stephane Kasriel, announced the decision on Twitter and stated that the company had learned a lot from the initiative that could be applied to products that support creators, people, and businesses on its apps, both now and in the metaverse. Kasriel did not provide a reason for the decision but said the company would focus on monetization opportunities for Reels and messaging payments across Meta.

NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, are unique digital assets that use blockchain technology to verify ownership and authenticity. They can represent a wide range of digital content, such as art, music, videos, and tweets. NFTs have gained popularity as a way for creators to monetize their digital works and for collectors to own unique and rare digital items.

Mark Zuckerberg had previously announced Instagram’s work on NFT support at SXSW in March 2021, and the feature was launched in May of the same year. The company announced its expansion in November 2021, allowing creators to mint and sell collectibles directly on Instagram. Zuckerberg had suggested that NFTs could play a role in Meta’s metaverse plans, stating that he hoped users could mint their avatar’s clothing as NFTs and take it between different places in the metaverse.

Meta has been in a period of restructuring, and many initiatives have been shut down. The company has laid off thousands of workers and shut down numerous projects in what Zuckerberg has described as the company’s “year of efficiency.” Meta’s crypto wallet, Novi, was sacked last year, and rumours that it would have NFT support on its roadmap have not materialized. The company has also cut back on projects with its metaverse division, Reality Labs, and its program that paid bonuses to Reels creators.

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Facebook just announced earlier today (9th March 2023) that it will be utilizing artificial intelligence to enhance user experience and create more opportunities for its creators. But apart from this, a major new change is that it is finally bringing back Messenger back into its original application.

The social media giant had recently announced that it had hit the 2 billion daily active user milestone and that it was planning on releasing new ‘Creative Expression’ tools for Facebook users to create 90 second reels. While all of this gives more options to the creators, the news that I personally look forward to is the reintegration of the Messenger app into Facebook. For those unaware, the tech giant had spun off its messaging inbox section into a dedicated app on the side years ago.

This decision had a fair share of criticism. But now, Facebook is planning on making the experience more intuitive by letting users access their Messenger inbox within the app. Based on official notes, more than 140 billion messages are sent across the Facebook’s apps every day. The number of people sharing Reels has also cross the 1 billion mark on Instagram DMs and are also growing rapidly on Facebook.

Thus, the company is testing the ability for people to access their Messenger inbox within the app and plans to expand this testing phase. In other words, the social media platform is planning on offering more ways to integrate the messaging features in the platform to make it easier for users to connect and share with one another.

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3 months into 2023, it is clear that the theme for tech products and services released this year is artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). The competition from OpenAI’s ChatGPT has sparked tech giants such as Microsoft to release their new AI-powered Bing and Google to release Bard, the company’s newest AI model to the public. And Californian tech giant Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced that the tech conglomerate is looking to add AI into its current services such as Whatsapp, Instagram and Messenger this year.

Mack Zuckerberg, chairman of Meta Platforms and founder of Facebook, announced on social media that the company is creating a new top-level product group at Meta focused on generative AI to turbocharge their work in this industry. In the statement, Meta says that over the longer term, the company looks to focus on developing “AI personas” that can help people in a variety of ways.

The statement also expresses that AI could be integrated into the company’s current product portfolio such as Whatsapp, Messenger and Instagram. As quoted in the statement, Mark says, “We’re exploring experiences with text (like chat in WhatsApp and Messenger), with images (like creative Instagram filters and ad formats), and with video and multi-modal experiences.”

Besides that, a Bloomberg report notes that the AI team at Meta will be led by Ahmad Al-Dahle, who is a machine learning and artificial intelligence executive. He reports directly to Meta Chief Product Officer Chris Cox, which the report notes that it is a significant sign that the company intends to further integrate AI into its wide range of online products and services.

However, Meta reinstates that the company is still in its growth stage of AI, as it expresses that the company has a lot of foundational work to do before getting to the really futuristic experiences. As a closing note of the announcement, Mark Zuckerberg remarks that he is excited about all of the new things Meta will build along the way.

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Twitter unveiled its subscription service, Twitter Blue, in December 2020. It received mixed reactions from the masses. In a similar move, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has launched a new subscription service called Meta Verified. It offers users a blue checkmark on their Instagram and Facebook accounts for up to $15 per month. The service is priced at $11.99 per month on the web or $14.99 on Apple’s iOS and will allow users to verify their identity using their government-issued ID cards. Meta further stated that the subscription service would also offer “increased visibility and reach,” enhance protection against impersonation attacks and provide subscribers with direct access to customer support. 

CEO Mark Zuckerberg explained that the subscription service is “about increasing authenticity and security across our services.” The new service will roll out in New Zealand and Australia this week and will be extended to more countries soon.

Meta has traditionally opted not to charge its customers for most of its services in over 15 years since its founding. However, the company’s revenues have taken a hit in recent years following Apple’s decision to introduce stringent privacy changes on iOS. The move diminishes the social firm’s ability to track users’ internet activities, and Meta has predicted that it cost the company more than $10 billion in lost ads revenue in 2022. With the launch of Meta Verified, the company wants to implement its plan towards building a subscription offering that is valuable to its entire user base.

The blue checkmark was previously reserved for public figures such as celebrities, sports athletes, and journalists. However, Meta’s subscription service aims to expand access to verification, so users can actually trust authentic accounts. The announcement follows the launch of Snap‘s own subscription service in 2022, which has reportedly already converted over a million users into paid customers. As mentioned previously, Elon Musk has also revamped Twitter’s subscription service to offer a range of additional features, including the blue checkmark.

In light of Meta’s ambitions, the company has faced a harsh market response to its metaverse vision. It has pledged to cut down on its spending on metaverse projects and is reportedly planning another layoff round soon. Despite these challenges, Meta’s shares have rebounded in recent weeks, showing that the company remains resilient.

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Despite its already huge userbase, Facebook still appears to be growing. The platform is one of the most popular and successful social media platforms in the world and the number of users has now crossed a whopping 2 billion.

According to a new report, the near 20 year old social media giant is still continuing to grow. On Meta’s fourth and final quarter earnings report, it was revealed that the platform added 16 million users in the last quarter alone. This enabled it to cross the major milestone of 2 billion daily users mark. While this is an impressive figure, it isn’t the only company under Meta to reach such a high figure. The WhatsApp messenger service also recently reached the daily active user count of 2 billion.

However, Facebook is the tech giant’s largest source of revenue from advertisements, which is quite impressive considering that Meta has made major cuts in its business over the last couple of months. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg had hinted at the restructuring, which eventually lead to the cutting of more than 11,000 jobs. He further added that the company’s “management theme for 2023 is the ‘Year of Efficiency.’”

Zuckerberg also suggested that Meta will continue to prioritize efficiency, adding that “We’re going to be more proactive about cutting projects that aren’t performing or may no longer be as crucial”. He stated that “Generative AI is an extremely exciting new area with so many different applications. And one of my goals for Meta is to build on our research to become a leader in generative AI.”

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Smartphones are an indispensable part of our lives. We now rely on them to complete most of our daily tasks. One of the biggest problems we face is running out of battery. Our phones, which used to last almost a day and a half when we first bought them, are no longer able to maintain this battery life. This decline is mainly due to the apps we have installed and use. But did you know that one app, commonly used by almost everyone, can quickly drain your battery without you realizing it? Here are the details…

Former Facebook Employee Accuses Company of Illegally Draining Phone Batteries”

George Hayward, a former Facebook employee, recently made a scandalous claim. He alleges that Facebook and Messenger have the ability to purposely drain the batteries of their users’ smartphones. This process, referred to as “Negative Testing,” enables technology companies to secretly run down the batteries of a user’s phone in order to test features within an app.

The former Meta employee, who said he refused to do these tests, describes the dialogue with his boss as follows: “I said to the manager, ‘This can harm somebody,’ and she said by harming a few we can help the greater masses. Any data scientist worth his or her salt will know, Don’t hurt people,”

Hayward, who was soon terminated, filed a lawsuit against the company in the Manhattan Federal Court. The primary basis of the lawsuit is that Facebook users may not have access to their phones when they need it the most. Dan Kaiser emphasized that draining users’ smartphone batteries poses a danger to them. The lawyer added, “It’s illegal and it’s outrageous that anyone can manipulate the battery of my phone.”

At one point during his employment at Meta, the company provided Hayward with an internal training document titled “How to run thoughtful negative tests,” which included examples of how to conduct such tests. This suggests that the social media giant has carried out similar tests in the past. However, Meta has not yet released a statement on the matter, but one is expected to be issued in the near future.

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TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew was warned by the EU commissioner Thierry Breton over a video call recently. The commissioner clearly stated that the EU will use all possible means to safeguard the privacy of its citizen and, if needed, will ban the app from the European Union.  EU wants TikTok to step up its act and comply with all the rules and regulations outlined in the Digital Services Act (DSA). 

DSA which came into force in November 2022, is considered a Gold Standard for content and internet platform governance. It provides for multiple deterring sanctions, including a ban in the EU for repeated breaches of the Act that can be a threat to the life and safety of EU citizens. Non-compliance with the DSA may lead to hefty fines of up to 6% of the annual global turnover of companies. 

Many provisions of the DSA only apply to platforms that have more than 45 million users in the EU. However, this threshold brings famous platforms like YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok under the purview of the Act.

TikTok was already discussing the policies on data safety, misinformation, and DSA compliance with the EU. Multiple meetings with the top brass of the company included topics like Child safety, Russian disinformation, transparency of paid political content, and GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation).

In the latest video call, commissioner Breton told CEO Chew “We will not hesitate to adopt the full scope of sanctions to protect our citizens if audits do not show full compliance,”. He further said that “With younger audiences comes greater responsibility. It is not acceptable that behind seemingly fun and harmless features, it takes users seconds to access harmful and sometimes even life-threatening content”

With more than 3 billion downloads, TikTok is the number one app in the world and the most famous among youngsters. But its Chinese origin brings a lot of concerns, especially in privacy and data safety. TikTok which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance has been accused of data harvesting and reporting it back to Chinese authorities through its parent company. Other issues include addiction concerns, misinformation, content censorship, spying, cyberbullying, etc. 

The App is already banned in Asian countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Azerbaijan. In the US, more than 20 states, the military, and congress have banned TikTok from government-issued devices.  A potential ban in the EU could be catastrophic for the app. 

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WhatsApp has begun rolling out 3D Avatar feature for its users worldwide. These avatars can be used as profile photos or custom stickers, and were first introduced on Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger several months ago. The news follows months of beta testing, which was reported by WhatsApp beta tracker WABetaInfo in June. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the rollout on his Facebook page.

You can now make a 3D Avatar in WhatsApp and customize it

In a blog post, WhatsApp said that users can use personalized avatars as their profile photo or choose from one of 36 custom stickers that reflect different emotions and actions. 3D Avatar stickers on WhatsApp look similar to Snap’s Bitmoji or Apple’s Memoji stickers. “Your avatar is a digital version of you that can be created from billions of combinations of diverse hair styles, facial features, and outfits,” the company speaker said.

The feature will be accessible through the Settings menu, and users will also be able to customize their avatar with different lighting, shading, and hair styles. WhatsApp is following in the footsteps of Facebook and Instagram, both of which introduced avatar features in 2019 and 2020, respectively. If you want to use the new 3D Avatar feature:

• Check for any pending WhatsApp updates and install them
• Open WhatsApp on your phone
• Head on over to Settings
• Tap on Avatar
• Select “Create your Avatar”
• Let your creativity loose!

In addition to being a fun way to change up their profile picture, the use of avatars can also improve privacy. Since most people can easily recognize someone from a photo, using a 3D Avatar model of the person instead makes it much less likely that they will be identified. This can be especially useful for those who want to maintain a certain level of anonymity on the platform.

WhatsApp has confirmed that its new avatar feature will only be accessible within the app itself. This means that users cannot use avatars created on Instagram or Facebook on WhatsApp, nor can they use avatars created on WhatsApp on Instagram or Facebook. In order to use avatars on WhatsApp, users will need to create them within the app.

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According to a secret EU privacy authority ruling, Meta will only be permitted to conduct advertising based on personal data with users’ approval, a person with knowledge of the situation said on Tuesday, dealing a blow to the US social network. Meta will not be allowed to use the user’s data for any purpose without their consent. Meta has already been accused many times of leaking tons of users of data on the internet.

The European Data Protection Board’s (EDPB) binding decision has been given a month to be considered by the Irish data protection body, which regulates Meta because its European headquarters are in Dublin. The insider, who requested anonymity due to the delicate nature of the matter, stated that the EDPB will probably require the Irish organisation to levy sanctions.

“Personalized ads are no longer subject to a yes/no choice; the consent requirement has simply been moved to the terms and conditions. Not only is this unfair, but it is also obviously illegal. No other business that we are aware of has attempted to disregard the GDPR in such a haughty manner, “in a statement, Schrems.

According to him, the EDPB’s decision requires Meta to give users access to a version of all apps that does not utilise personal data for advertisements, albeit the firm would still be free to use non-personal data to tailor advertisements or only request users’ consent. The General Data Protection Regulation, a historic set of privacy regulations for the 27-nation EU, became effective in 2018.

According to the GDPR, there is no hierarchy among this legal basis, and none should be seen as superior to any other. “GDPR allows for a range of legal bases under which data can be processed, beyond permission or the fulfilment of a contract,” the Meta representative stated. Its draught decisions for WhatsApp and Instagram are focused on the legality and transparency of processing for behavioural advertising, while its decisions for Meta’s parent company Facebook and Instagram are focused on processing for service development. Helena Brown, head of data & privacy at the London-based legal firm Addleshaw Goddard, suggested that Meta may need to modify its business strategy.

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At Meta’s Connect Conference aimed at VR and AR developers, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, today officially announced the company’s latest and flagship virtual reality or VR headset, dubbed the Meta Quest Pro.

The newly announced VR headset Meta Quest Pro has been priced at a whopping $1,500, and the company will start shipping the device on 25th October.

This is by far the most expensive VR headset from Meta as it is priced $1,100 more than its previous offering, the Meta Quest 2. The company is justifying the higher pricing through the technologies used in the product. It’s clear that the company is ditching its customer-friendly pricing and looking to make Quest Pro a business-ready product.

The Meta Quest Pro is powered by an advanced mobile Snapdragon chip, which is developed with Qualcomm and aims to offer better production of more advanced graphics. It also comes with improved touch controllers with embedded sensors for better hand tracking, as well as new lenses for a better reading experience.

There are also some mixed reality features, blending the real world with the virtual world, which the company’s CEO Mark Zuckerburg is claiming to be an important feature as it takes a step towards the creation of the metaverse.

Meta is also partnering with other companies for applications optimized for the VR headset, and one of them is Microsoft with its work-collaboration apps for the Quest VR devices. Some of the Microsoft apps that will be available for the VR devices include Teams, Microsoft 365 suite, and the Xbox Cloud Gaming service.

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If you are a citizen of the 21st century, you have probably heard of FAANG, the world’s 5 biggest companies that are running our modern-day tech industry, or as folks call it – Big Tech. FAANG is an abbreviation for Facebook (now rebranded as Meta), Apple, Amazon, Netflix, and Google.

However, a recent report this week seems to indicate that FAANG is no longer relevant in today’s market and that today, Big Tech is now spearheaded by 6 new leading tech giants that make up MATANA, and they are Microsoft, Amazon, Tesla, Apple, Nvidia, and Alphabet (the parent company of Google).

In a recent video interview with Yahoo Finance Live, Constellation Research Principal Analyst & Founder Ray Wang states that the FAANG abbreviation should be reassessed as it no longer reflects the current market trends. 

In the interview, Wang debates that MATANA is an upgrade from FAANG as the new abbreviation added Microsoft, Tesla, and Nvidia into the Big Tech lineup whilst dropping Facebook and Netflix from the list altogether. 

The main reason behind the current market trend is because of both Facebook and Netflix are facing fierce competition from their industry rivals, whilst facing backlash from their audiences as well as regulations from governing bodies worldwide.

On the topic of Meta, Yahoo Finance quotes Wang, “Facebook has got to do something besides ads.” “Once again, they’re taking a beating for it. So, is it going to be the glasses? Is it going to be the metaverse? We’re not there yet and that’s really kind of what the challenge is.”

As for Netflix, Wang comments, “The reason they’re out is because, how many more subscribers? How many more subscriptions are you going to handle?” “Product placement should be where they are, plus the ability to do IP licensing. Look at how Disney makes its money.”

Thus, it seems as if the days of Meta and Netflix as market leaders in the industry are numbered, and unless both companies provide new and innovative products in the markets fast, they may end up the likes of Nokia, Blackberry, and other once globally dominant technology brands.

Coming to Microsoft and Nvidia, the analyst had several insights to share about them. To quote Wang via Yahoo Finance:

“Microsoft has more than just business-to-business and consumer – they’ve been able to manage both,” he said. “They’re positioned well for the metaverse. They’re positioned well for the cloud and, of course, they’ve got their gaming business.”

“Nvidia is a lot more than just the chips that we look at and more than the data center or gaming,” Wang said. “They’re sitting at the edge between AI, the metaverse, the future of computing, and the way they do their partnerships, they’re set up in a way that’s going to be dominant for quite some time.”

As for Tesla, people had already heard the story of Elon Musk many times, and that he is now the world’s wealthiest man on Earth. And despite the current negative press on Tesla cars, the company sales are still growing and projected to grow further as the world switches away from petrol and gas vehicles to the more environmentally friendly electrical vehicle alternative.

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California-based virtual reality technology giant, Meta recently revealed that its next VR headset will be announced in October, at the company’s annual Meta Connect press event conference.

The news was revealed by present Meta CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, in a special interview on Joe Rogan’s podcast (via The Verge). Mark states that for the next virtual reality device that is coming out in October, there are a few big features that will be included on the headset.

In the podcast, Mark Zuckerberg did not reveal the name of Meta’s upcoming VR headset, but reports and rumours point to the aforementioned device, being Meta’s currently in development Project Cambria, and that its official release name will be called the Meta Quest Pro (part of the Meta Quest/Oculus Quest series of VR headsets).

Mark Zuckerberg shares with listeners that Meta’s next device will introduce eye and facial to consumer VR headsets. He shares some examples of what the Meta Quest Pro can enable users to do, like making flexible and direct eye contact in virtual reality in conversations, make avatar facial expressions to emulate your real-life face expressions and the most shocking of them all, Mark explains that if you smile or if you frown or if you pout, or whatever your expression is, the upcoming headset can have that translate in real-time to your avatar.

As for other details regarding the upcoming Meta Quest Pro, we will have to wait until early October for Meta’s official launch announcement.

The Meta Quest Pro is rumoured to launch at a starting price of US$ 799 or higher, making it the most expensive virtual reality headset in Meta’s catalogue.

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There was apparently a time when Apple and Facebook were planning on joining hands despite their building friction over the years. The two companies were supposedly planning on launching a new subscription under a new partnership.

According to a new report from Wall Street Journal, the two tech giants had plans for a revenue sharing subscription plan. Back in WWDC 2020, Apple had announced that it would require apps to ask users to opt in to cross app advertising tracking. In response to this, Facebook was openly against this decision and spent months speaking out against this plan. However, it appears that prior to this announcement, the two firms were planning on a partnership and revenue sharing agreement.

The two company were considering a new subscription service that would offer an ad free version of the popular social media platform. Out of the subscription fee, the Cupertino based giant would receive a cut of the revenue. This would include subscriptions and in app purchases, which would have been a great agreement for the iPhone maker. Apparently, the deal might have even included Apple receiving a cut for promoted posts as well, which is basically the amount paid to Facebook for boosting the page to a larger audience.

These boosted posts are a large past of Facebook’s advertising portfolio. However, Apple claimed that this transaction should be treated to the 30 percent revenue cut it receives, since its an in app purchase. On the other hand, Facebook argued that its advertising products will not be subject to the revenue cut. These talks reportedly took place sometime between 2016 and 2018, so its likely that the deal is definitely off by now.

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Meta-owned Facebook and Instagram have received some updates to Reels focused on content creators. These new updates include new editing tools, the ability to create and schedule Reels on desktop, and much more. So without further ado, let’s check out all the new features which will soon be rolling out globally.

Starting with Instagram Reels, the update brings a total of four new features. The first is that Instagram now allows users to import their own audio clips and apply them on Reels. As long as the audio clip is longer than 5 seconds, it can be applied over a Reel.

The next feature is the addition of poll, quiz, and emoji slider stickers, which were previously only available for Instagram stories. The third new feature called Templates is quite similar to TikTok‘s templates and lets users create Reels using another Reel as a template. Instagram presents timestamps that go along with a song or another trend on the app, and users can plug in their own photos or videos to match. The last feature to come to Instagram is the increased maximum length of a Reel which now allows videos of up to 90 seconds.

Facebook Reels have also received some new features including the ability to create, edit, schedule, and publish Facebook Reels from their web browser through the Creator Studio. There is also a clipping tool feature to create small clips from a longer video. This new feature will also help Facebook streamers who can now create a short clip from their stream and post it as a Reel.

Last but not the least, Facebook has introduced a feature called Sound Sync for reels, which just like TikTok, can automatically sync video clips to the beat of a song or music.

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Meta, the newly formed parent company of social media giant Facebook, has been trying to break into the hardware market but hasn’t found any major success so far apart from the Oculus VR headsets.

Now, the company is reportedly developing new AR glasses under the name of Project Nazare. As per the report, Meta aims to launch the product by 2024 and the more advanced models will be available in 2026 and 2028.

The report coming from The Verge also reveals that the company has invested billions of dollars in the development of these new AR glasses, which is a part of Mark Zuckerberg’s vision for the metaverse.

The device is also expected to be priced higher than the Oculus Quest 2 VR headset which is currently available at $299. This is likely because of the increased pricing of the materials used in making the AR glasses.

For delivering a true AR experience, it will come with eye-tracking cameras, custom waveguides, and microLED projectors, which apparently cost thousands of dollars. With such costing involved, it appears that the first generation would be a niche product.

As per the report, the device weighs around 100 grams, which is about four times the normal glasses, and has thick black frames. It will apparently have a battery life of just 4 hours and be powered by an included wireless puck that can fit in the pocket.

The report adds that Meta doesn’t have a working wearable prototype of the glasses. This means that even though the company is expected to launch this device by 2024, there could be some changes in the launch timeline.

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Facebook is launching Reels, its short video features, across more than 150 nations. The announcement was made by its parent company, Meta, who also said that the feature was its fastest content format.

According to a Reuters report, the popular social media platform is pushing Reels as the next big thing, owing to its rapid growth in recent times. The news arrives as the popular social media platform lost a third of its market value, as per a recent earnings report. For those unaware, Meta had initially launched Reels on Instagram back in 2020 and later released it on Facebook in the following year. The new content format was made to rival another popular short video sharing platform, TikTok, which is owned by China based ByteDance.

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, stated in a Facebook post that “Reels is already our fastest growing content format by far, and today we’re making it available to everyone on Facebook globally.” Interestingly, the company also announced new ways for content creators to make money through the Reels feature. It is further growing its program that helps pay creators bonuses in more countries and is even testing out overlay ads through banners and stickers for creators to earn ad revenue.

This feature is also set to soon show full screen ads in between Reels as well. Notably, Meta also added that it will roll out updates for users to make and see Facebook Reels in new places. This includes places like Stories, on the Watch tab, and even at the top of the news feeds as well. Some regions will also see suggested Reels in their feed as well.

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A patent filed by Meta showing a smartwatch with a detachable display came to light last month, and based on that, an artist has now created some 3D renders showing the watch in its full glory.

While not officially mentioned, it wouldn’t be unsafe to assume that the gadget will be carrying a Meta Band moniker when it goes official. The renders created by Sarang Sheth and posted on Yanko Design show the watch with a very unconventional design, with strings instead of a strap. These should allow it to be worn comfortably for longer periods. The display is imagined to be a fairly large one, with a waterdrop notch atop that houses a selfie camera.

A combination of cameras and Facebook/Meta would raise red flags for many given the company’s track record, but hey, at least the rear camera gets hidden when the display is put back into its frame. The front camera, on the other hand, should make a handy tool for seamless video chatting and vlogging when paired with the display.

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But of course, it’s quite difficult to fit a decent camera sensor into something as tiny as a hole punch on a smartwatch display, so it would make sense for Meta to add another better-quality unit at the back. And that’s exactly what the renders show.

Meta will also likely be going big on Facebook and Instagram integrations, allowing users to quickly convert shots clicked through the Meta Band into social media posts. This will also serve as a great way to swing the user preference from their smartphone cameras to the watch cameras.

Last but not least, the Meta Band could act as another gateway to the ambitious Metaverse, just like the AR display that is currently under development.

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Meta, the Facebook parent company, has filed a Joint lawsuit with digital banking company Chime against two Nigeria-based individuals, in a series of lawsuits filed to protect its users from phishing attacks which have been on the rise since 2020.

In the lawsuit, Meta said that the two defendants in this case were engaging in phishing attacks to deceive people and gain access to their online financial accounts.

The two Nigeria-based individuals were using Facebook and Instagram accounts to impersonate Chime and lure people to fake branded phishing websites with the aim of obtaining their Chime account login information and withdrawing funds.

Meta, which has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, said the defendants used a network of computers to control more than 800 impersonating Instagram accounts and five Facebook accounts, in order to conceal their activity and evade technical enforcement measures.

For those unaware, Phishing attacks are the practice of sending fraudulent communications that appear to come from a trustworthy source. It is usually done through email. The goal is to steal sensitive data like credit card and login information or install malware on the victim’s machine.

Meta’s director of platform enforcement and litigation Jessica Romero stated in a blog post that “Impersonation scams are a serious challenge, and this action represents a major step forward in cross-industry collaboration against this abuse.”

This is the first joint complaint between Meta and a financial services company. The Fintech Company Chime was launched by former Visa Inc (V.N) executive Chris Britt and Comcast Corp alumnus Ryan King in 2012.

Meta also stated that it has taken several previous actions against the defendants since June 2020 for violating its terms including blocking impersonating domains on its platforms, sending cease and desist letters, and disabling their accounts.

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(Source)

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Meta is considering leaving Europe, along with Instagram and Facebook, if it can no longer exchange data from European users with the United States due to the Schrems II decision, the tech giant stated in an SEC filing.

Facebook currently shares data about European users with its US operations, applications, and data centers and says that stopping such transatlantic data transfers will have a devastating impact on its targeted online advertisements capabilities (via ITWire).

Schrems II is a verdict issued by the Court of Justice of the European Union (EU) back in July 2020 that invalidated the EU-US Data Protection Shield due to concerns around surveillance by US state and law enforcement agencies. Many companies that relied on the shield have been finding it difficult to manage the new verdict.

Facebook isn’t the sole affected by Schrems II as it is joined by every company that relied on basic data transfers to non-European countries. Some of the big names include Google, Microsoft, and Amazon whose cloud services form the backbone of most of the Western World’s Internet. The road to Schrems II will thus be long and slow as courts and industry navigate their way through the implications of the judgment.

Earlier, Google Analytics and Google Fonts had been taken to court where it was alleged that Google Fonts was sending personal data such as IP addresses to another service without permission and a valid reason to do so.

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Last year, Facebook(Meta) was reported to be working on its first smartwatch. The smartwatch was touted to go official in the Summer of 2022, however, there wasn’t any explicit info about the smartwatch apart from the late 2021’s leaked image shared by Bloomberg. Now, LetsGoDigital has spilled some beans on the upcoming Facebook Meta smartwatch revealing its models and key features.

The report reveals that the Facebook smartwatch a.k.a Meta watch will arrive in two models – a circular and a squarish model. The display on both watches will be detachable. The circular watch will have two or a max of three cameras. These sensors are touted to be a telephoto lens, an optical zoom or an ultra-wide sensor, and a macro lens.

Interestingly, it will have a rotatable display. Rotating the screen will let users select any one camera out of the three/two. As per the report, while rotating, the camera that is set at 12’o clock will be in use while the rest of the lenses will be turned off.

It will let users take pictures and post them directly to Meta’s own social apps like Instagram and Facebook. The camera can also be used for video calls. Furthermore, it is revealed that Meta could be employing these camera sensors to implement AR/VR and mixed reality.

Apart from the rumored smartwatch, Meta is also expected to launch AR headset and AR glasses soon. The detachable display smartwatch will be a part of Meta’s upcoming ecosystem of devices which the company plans to launch later this year.

As of now, the information about its other devices is unknown. However, we do know that the upcoming AR glasses are codenamed ‘Project Nazare’ and the AR headset is codenamed, ‘Project Cambria’.

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Lately, phishing attacks have been on the rise and have vastly affected Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp users. In an attempt to stop ongoing phishing attacks, Meta, formerly known as Facebook, filed a federal lawsuit in California court.

Meta has stated that the attackers were trying to steal the login credentials of various users of its multiple platforms by creating fake login pages that looked like Meta’s social media platforms to obtain Meta’s users’ login credentials. The goal was to deceive the users into entering their credentials, like usernames and passwords.

For those unaware, Phishing attacks are the practice of sending fraudulent communications that appear to come from a trustworthy source. It is usually done through email. The goal is to steal sensitive data like credit card and login information or install malware on the victim’s machine.

Jessica Romero, Meta’s director of platform and litigation, said that “Reports of phishing attacks have been on the rise across the industry, and we are taking this action to uncover the identities of the people behind the attack and stop their harmful conduct.”

Meta made a blog post stating that the phishing scam included more than 39,000 fake websites and masked their identity by using a relay service that redirected the internet traffic to their phishing pages while simultaneously concealing their actual location and identities. The relay service also masked the online hosting providers of the perpetrators.

According to the social media giant, phishing attacks have increased since March 2021, and Meta has suspended thousands of URLs to such phishing sites. Although the culprits are yet to be identified, the lawsuit is another step in its actions to protect people’s safety and privacy. The filed lawsuit by Meta shows the company’s position against those trying to abuse its platforms.

In the blog post, meta reassured that they would continue to fight the phishing attacks that try to deceive its users and share the phishing sites with other platforms so that they can block the attackers as well.

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The latest update of the Ray-Ban Stories released in partnership with Facebook now Meta has added several features to the smart glasses. After the installation of the software update, users can use the built-in assistant to send texts, make voice calls and read messages via Messenger. The new software update also makes it possible for the user to use his voice to control media playback, like pausing or resuming playback, skipping a track, adjusting the volume, or even requesting the battery life update of the device.

Meta is the transformational name of Facebook, and the company says it is rolling out the update to the accompanying Facebook View app sequentially in phases. Meta also insists that the software should be available to everyone within the shortest period. Owners of the Ray-Ban Stories glasses must first download and install the latest firmware on the glasses before they can download the new update.

The new features that have been added to the Meta Ray-Ban Stories will not be the last. Meta says several other features are also lined up for incorporation into the Ray-Ban Stories and these could come as early as 2022.

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