📲 Instagram’s ‘best practices’ tell creators how they should post
#News #Insta

🔹 Instagram is more explicitly telling content creators, businesses, and other users how they should be posting to the platform via a new feature called "best practices."
The best practices hub is available for professional accounts on Instagram and is accessible through the professional dashboard. The feature is marketed as an educational tool to help creators make engaging content, and the hub includes tips for making, sharing, and monetizing their videos and photos.

🔹 Some of the tips are fairly generic social media strategies, like "track long-term follower growth" and "consistently post more." Others are more specific and could signal Instagram's corporate priorities: a tip on my account, for example, tells me that Reels that are longer than 90 seconds won't be recommended to new users, thus stifling discovery. This emphasis on truly short shortform content is consistent with what Instagram head Adam Mosseri has said in the past.

🔹 On the one hand, it's perhaps helpful for creators to hear directly from platforms about how they should engage to maximize reach - content creators have lived through more than a decade of trying to crack the code for engagement and outsmart social media algorithms. But it also feels like more access to tips or recommendations creates a carrot-and-stick situation, where creators feel increased pressure to post exactly how a platform wants them to or risk having their content not be seen by audiences.

🔹 It's also not exactly a secret that Instagram wants people posting more shortform videos as it continues to compete with TikTok. This summer, Instagram told creators that "views" are now the main metric across the platform, saying it was one of the most important signals for creators to understand how well their content is performing. Another key number that feeds into ranking: how often audiences send your content to someone else. "Don't force it," Mosseri warns creators trying to make grabby, shareable content. Just something to keep in mind.

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📲 Instagram Chief Says ‘Following’ Feed Option Won’t Work
#News #Insta

〰 Instagram and Facebook users hoping for a "following only" feed that displays posts solely from accounts they follow will likely be disappointed, as Meta's leadership has indicated that such a feature is not on the horizon. In a recent Q&A session, Instagram chief Adam Mosseri explained that although they have tested this option, the results showed a decline in user engagement and satisfaction. Users in the "following only" setting reported feeling less happy with the app over time, leading to decreased activity and interactions with friends.

〰 Mosseri noted that the data suggests users engage with Instagram less when they have access only to the content from their chosen accounts. Instead, about 50% of the content users now see comes from algorithmic recommendations, which enhance overall user experience and encourage longer app usage. While some users may find it frustrating to see posts from accounts they do not follow, the metrics indicate that this approach benefits Instagram by keeping users more engaged.

〰 The shift towards algorithm-driven feeds is influenced by platforms like TikTok, which prioritize entertaining content over user-followed accounts. TikTok’s success has prompted Meta and other social media platforms to adopt similar strategies, maximizing user time spent on their apps and promoting content based on viewing habits rather than social connections. This change reflects a fundamental shift in how content is curated and displayed, moving away from traditional social graphs.

〰 While Instagram is still exploring ways to cater to users who prefer to see content from their connections, such as introducing features like "Favorites" and allowing users to "Snooze" recommendations, Mosseri acknowledged the challenge. Given the financial incentives for social apps to keep users engaged longer—allowing for more advertising opportunities—it seems unlikely that a strict following-only feed will become a reality anytime soon. The current trajectory favors monetization over a return to more traditional social media experiences.

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📲 A revolutionary innovation is at the door for Instagram: Here are the details!
#News #Insta

🔹 Meta is trying to deliver more AI-generated images and content to Facebook and Instagram users’ social media feeds. In its statement at Meta Connect, the annual developer conference held last week, the company announced that some users will be able to see their own images created by Meta AI in their Facebook and Instagram feeds.

🔹 This step is seen as an important opportunity to test how open users are to content created by artificial intelligence. How might users’ exposure to content that is not created by themselves, but that includes their faces, affect their social media usage habits? This move by Meta gives the first clues about what role artificial intelligence may play in social media platforms in the future.

🔹 This expansion builds on the ‘Imagine Me’ feature that was released in beta in July. The feature allowed users to take AI-generated selfies in direct messages with Meta AI or in their feed, stories, and profile pictures. However, Meta states that new artificial intelligence content can only be created based on users’ interests or current trends. In some cases, these contents will be created using images uploaded by users.


🔹 Meta spokesperson, “This feature will only be available to users who sign up for the Imagine Me feature and add photos for the feature. “The content will be shown only to the users themselves and they will be able to share it with their friends if they wish.” he said. If users do not want to see these images, they can block similar posts with the ‘Hide’ option by clicking on the three dots in the upper right corner of the posts.

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📲 No, You Can’t Stop Meta Using Your Data via IG Story
#News #Insta

🔻 This article critiques individuals who rely on social media for information without engaging in actual research or understanding how things work, despite having access to vast knowledge through their devices. It emphasizes that posting vague legal declarations on platforms like Instagram is ineffective and serves no real purpose, likening it to a humorous yet futile act. The author argues that such declarations have been repeatedly debunked and are essentially pointless exercises.

🔻 This discussion gained traction after Meta announced plans to incorporate user content into its large language models, prompting a wave of reactions, especially from celebrities like Rafael Nadal. However, the reality is that users have already consented to this usage by agreeing to the terms of service of the apps they use. Meta has clarified that it will collect publicly shared content to train its AI systems, while private messages remain protected.

🔻 For users in the European Union, there is an option to opt out of having their posts used for AI training, but this choice is not available to users in other regions. The text stresses that posting a vague message about legal objections does not constitute a valid legal action and will not prevent Meta from using publicly shared content. It warns that such actions can even make individuals more vulnerable to scams.

🔻 The author encourages readers to educate themselves on legal rights, copyright laws, and the terms of service of the apps they use, rather than relying on misleading social media posts. The article highlights the limitations of social media for complex discussions and the potential dangers of misinformation, arguing that quick, sensational content can distort political discourse and public understanding.

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📲 Instagram Launches ‘Best Practices’ Tips Element
#News #Insta

🔹 Instagram's looking to help creators maximize their content efforts in the app, with a new "Best Practices" section within its Professional Dashboard, where it will showcase a range of tips, tricks and, um, best practices, based on research.

🔹 I mean, that's probably true, but then again, a single, resonant Reel could change your IG presence more than a hundred others will. So the focus, then, should be on creative, right, and putting together content that resonates with your specific audience. In which case, quantity isn't really the thing, but then again, more uploads equals more opportunity, equals more attention, etc. Either way, the new Best Practices section will provide a range of tips like this, with explainers specifically aligned to your account, and how you're tracking towards each goal.

🔹 Look, a lot of the example tips here are fairly vague, like in the one which says: "How likely someone will be to watch, like, share or comment on your content helps determine whether it will get shown to a larger audience." Ah, right, so create engaging content. Top tip. If this is the level of "insight" this new element is offering, I'm not sure it's going to be hugely valuable, but there could be some helpful notes and pointers based on your account stats. Instagram's also added a new set of Reels as explainers, featuring various popular creators and Instagram staff.

🔹 Look, it could be something, it might also be nothing, with empty notes about "engagement" with limited specifics. IG's new Best Practices element is being rolled out to creators within the professional dashboard in the app.

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📲 Meta Previews ‘Movie Gen’ AI Video Creation Tool
#News #Insta

🔺 Meta has announced its latest video generation tool, "Movie Gen," which will soon be integrated into its apps, allowing users to create videos based on text prompts. This tool will enable users to generate high-definition videos of various scenarios, such as baby hippos or actors in amusing situations. Additionally, Movie Gen can enhance existing videos by incorporating users into fantastical contexts, which Meta believes will expand creative possibilities for its users.

🔺 Despite the innovative features of Movie Gen, there are doubts about its potential popularity. The essence of social media lies in sharing real experiences and interactions with friends and family, while the content generated by Movie Gen is artificial and not grounded in actual user experiences. This raises questions about the value of such content, as it is produced by a machine learning system rather than originating from personal creativity.

🔺 Previous attempts by Meta to integrate AI, such as chatbots in Messenger and celebrity-based AI interactions, have not resonated with users and were ultimately discontinued due to lack of engagement. The concern remains that these engineered experiences fail to provide meaningful social interactions, as they replace authentic human connections with technological simulations. Meta's push towards AI-driven content raises concerns about whether users will embrace these changes in their social media experience.

🔺 CEO Mark Zuckerberg envisions a future where AI-generated content becomes a significant part of users’ feeds, shifting the focus from personal connections to creator-driven content. While the tools offered by Movie Gen may lead to experimentation and creative possibilities, they currently appear to be novelties that may not sustain long-term interest. Although there are potential practical applications for AI in areas like product promotion and content enhancement, a significant gap remains between technological advancements and their practical utility for the average user.

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📲 Meta Shares New Reels Ad Tips
#News #Insta

🔹 Meta's released a heap of ad tips ahead of the holiday push, which explore its evolving Advantage+ campaigns, Reels ads, working with creators, Al creative, and more.
Meta's published a new range of guides and tips as part of its Agency Partners Summit, which it held last week.

🔹 It's now made all of the sessions and guides available online, and there's a heap to get through, including this helpful guide on Reels ads. Meta's 19-page Reels ads guide covers off on all the key considerations, and includes practical tips for maximizing Reels ad performance. First off, the guide looks at Reels usage and engagement, underlining why it should be an ad consideration.

🔹 Half of all time spent on IG is now spent watching Reels, which suggests that if you want to maximize your promotional impact, you should probably be there too. The guide also includes some of the usual Reels tips, which are fairly generic. Like, no doubt these tips are correct, but saying "make it entertaining" is much easier said than done. But the guide does also include some more practical notes.

🔹 There are also tips for Reels ad production, and how to incorporate Reels into your creative pipeline. As well as guides on how exactly to activate Reels ads in your campaign setup. It's a handy overview, with a range of practical notes to help improve your Reels ads approach. And as noted, this is just one of several new resources Meta has made available after its Agency Summit.

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📲 Meta Announces Image Animation and Video Expansion Tools at Advertising Week
#News #Insta

🔹 At Advertising Week, Meta unveiled a series of new advertising updates, including AI-driven video animation tools and enhanced collaboration features for creators. One of the standout offerings is "Image Animation," which allows advertisers to animate static images using text prompts. This innovation enables users to generate engaging video content from single images without needing existing video assets, thus enhancing the promotional lifespan of ads. Initial feedback from advertisers has been positive, indicating that this tool can help overcome resource limitations and encourage more dynamic advertising strategies.

🔹 In addition to Image Animation, Meta is expanding its AI-based "Video Expansion" capabilities, which allow advertisers to transform their video assets into various formats through predictive technology. This feature has been in development for over a year and will soon be more accessible to brands, enabling them to utilize full video creation capabilities effectively. Furthermore, Meta is enhancing its Collections ads, allowing brands to incorporate creator content as "hero" assets, which can strengthen audience engagement by leveraging the authenticity of influencer partnerships.

🔹 Meta is also testing new options for adding creator testimonials to partnership ads and consolidating all partnership advertising tools into a single interface known as the "Partnership Ads Hub." This centralized platform will simplify the management of promotional collaborations, ensuring advertisers can easily track campaign details. Additionally, the upcoming video tab, part of Meta’s app refresh, aims to provide advertisers with more opportunities to reach users through various ad formats, similar to TikTok's model, which could enhance ad relevance and exposure.

🔹 With video content accounting for 60% of user engagement on Facebook and Instagram, Meta's focus on video at Advertising Week is strategically aligned with user behavior. The introduction of AI tools to facilitate animated content creation presents new opportunities for brands to engage with their audiences, even when traditional filming is not feasible. While the technology may not always yield perfect results, these updates position advertisers to capitalize on the growing trend of video consumption within Meta's platforms.

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📲 Instagram and Threads moderation is out of control
#News #Insta

🔹 On Threads, the trending topic of "Threads Moderation Failures" has sparked significant user discontent, with many reporting that their accounts are being deleted or restricted for sharing articles on controversial topics. Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram and Threads, has acknowledged these complaints and stated he is "looking into it." Users have expressed frustration, including one individual who had their account deleted for allegedly being underage, despite being an adult. This situation highlights the ongoing challenges of moderation on social media, with reports indicating that Meta is enforcing its rules with increasing strictness.

🔹 Moderation issues extend beyond individual accounts, as users like Jorge Caballero have noted that the automated system is erroneously applying fact checks to political content and throttling posts with accurate information about significant events, like hurricanes. Some users have even dubbed their experiences “crackergate,” where posts mentioning seemingly innocuous terms, like "saltines," have been swiftly removed. Social media consultant Matt Navarra also received a notification that his Threads account was being downranked after posting about a Meta AI hoax, and he, too, has drawn attention to these moderation inconsistencies.

🔹 The impact of these moderation practices is not limited to Threads; it extends to Instagram as well. A user reported that their Instagram account was disabled due to an alleged violation of age requirements, despite providing a state ID for verification. Meta's response indicated a strict adherence to its policies, resulting in the loss of years of posts and connections. Although Meta has instituted measures to protect underage users—requiring birthday information since 2021—the effectiveness and fairness of these age-related bans remain questionable.

🔹 Overall, the moderation practices employed by Meta are causing frustration and limiting the utility of its platforms. Users like Wario64 have experienced their posts flagged as spam, prompting them to reconsider their engagement with Threads. The growing trend of account restrictions and deletions may discourage users from sharing content, ultimately diminishing the social media experience and raising concerns about how these platforms manage community interaction and information sharing.

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📲 Instagram Reels Can Now Be Shared on Threads
#News #Insta

🔹 A new feature related to Instagram has arrived to Threads, which failed to maintain its user base in the early days. Meta is testing a new feature that allows Instagram Reels to be shared directly in Threads. Although Threads appeared to be a serious competitor to X when it was first launched, it lost a large portion of its user base. Now, Meta, the company behind it, is trying to benefit from the large user base of its other social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram.

🔹 Meta, which aimed to deliver Threads posts to larger audiences by experimenting with cross-sharing in the past, is now which allows users to publish their Instagram Reels directly to Threads. Working on a new feature. Alessandro Paluzzi, who first noticed this new feature, said that there is a section to select Instagram Reels content on the post creation screen of Threads.

🔹 According to Paluzzi’s statement, when users tap the Instagram icon in the Threads application, they encounter a grid containing their posts and Reels on Instagram. From here, the desired content can be selected and shared on Threads. Many users were already aiming to gain more interaction and followers by sharing their Instagram content on Threads. This new feature makes this process even easier and aims to improve user experience.

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📲 Adam Mosseri acknowledges ‘mistakes’ in Threads’ broken moderation
#News #Insta

🔹 Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri is acknowledging recent mistakes in Meta's moderation processes on Threads and Instagram. For example, Meta unexpectedly deleted my account this week because it thought I was underage, the company locked my colleague's account because she joked about dying in a heatwave, and others have seen their posts disappear with no clear reason why. "Threads Moderation Failures" has been trending this week - putting more pressure on Meta's moderation processes.

🔹 Now Mosseri admits that Meta is having problems with those processes and has publicly posted that acknowledgment on Threads. He explains there's a "tool" that broke, which apparently did not show human reviewers "sufficient context" before they made posts and accounts disappear. You might think Meta is using Al to make decisions on what to delete and who to ban, but Mosseri's suggesting that's still done by humans and that the algorithm is just flagging posts for possible enforcement actions.

🔹 Meta is already fixing some of the mistakes it found, according to Mosseri, helping reviewers make better calls in the future. "We need to do better," Mosseri wrote. Things already seem better for me, personally: Meta quietly reinstated my account yesterday. But Meta didn't answer the questions about why users' posts and accounts were being deleted. The whole appeal process was grueling and mentally exhausting.

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📲 Instagram Accounts Started to Be Closed Suddenly
#News #Insta

➡️ A problem in the Instagram algorithm causes accounts to be closed out of the blue. Even Instagram boss Adam Mosseri is impressed.Instagram, one of the world’s most popular online photo and video sharings, with a striking problem facing. According to the information shared, some users’ Instagram and Threads accounts were closed for no apparent reason. Moreover, Instagram boss Even Adam Mosseri was affected by this situation.

➡️ The problem caused by the Instagram algorithm is that users for various reasons It seems to lead to their accounts being closed. Because some users say that Instagram started to see them as children, that they could not accept their identity verification, and that their accounts were closed as a result, which is also the case with Adam Mosseri. suffering from this condition. Some users have been banned from their accounts due to the links they shared.

➡️ Instagram is trying to find a solution. According to the statement made by Adam Mosseri himself, Instagram developers fixed the problem. detected they are in situations. Work has begun to solve the problem. However, this annoying process about when it will end No information was shared.

➡️ If your Instagram account has been closed for no reason, you have to wait. Once the company resolves the issue, your account will be reactivated.

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📲 Instagram Does Not Hold Artificial Intelligence Responsible for the Problems Encountered
#News #Insta

🔹 Authorities claim that the cause of a series of problems that emerged on Instagram the other day is not artificial intelligence’s fault.
In his new statement, Instagram President Adam Mosseri said that users may lose access to their accounts, lose their posts and Other moderation problems are caused by human errors, not artificial intelligence he stated.

🔹 The company did not blame the AI systems, as many expected, but instead claimed it was the fault of those who control the content, namely human moderators.

🔹 Mosseri stated that the company has taken steps to fix these errors and has made improvements to its systems so that moderators can make better searches and reduce errors. Mosseri also responded to a user comment by saying that some of the issues were due to the tools the company provided to its moderation team.

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📲 Instagram and TikTok Remain the Most Popular Social Apps Among Teens
#News #Insta

🔹 Instagram remains the most used social app among teens, though TikTok is more popular as an entertainment source. That's according to the latest research conducted by Piper Sandler, which looks at teen trends of note, and how they're shifting over time. Based on an annual survey of more than 13,000 U.S. teens, Piper Sandler found that Netflix ranks slightly higher than YouTube in daily video consumption, while TikTok beat out IG as the most liked social app.

🔹 Yet, in terms of usage, Instagram is still number one, gaining some 7 percentage points since the last survey. TikTok came in second (+5%) followed by Snapchat (-3%). Which is no surprise. Younger audiences have always gravitated towards these apps, though as you can see, Snapchat has lost some ground in the latest Piper Sandler survey. In terms of other social platforms, Pinterest is generating more interest than in the past (+6%), while Facebook has also seen a slight resurgence (+2%).

🔹 The platform formerly known as Twitter, meanwhile, declined in usage by the same amount among teens (-2%). The fact that Instagram remains popular could relate to user social graphs, and established networks in the app, while Meta's shift towards Al-recommended content, which not everyone is a fan of, has also increased time spent in the app. Indeed, just last week, Meta reported that there are now 40 million young adults using Facebook across the US and Canada every day, the highest level in more than three years.

🔹 In terms of strategic planning, these insights probably don't change your targeting, as these were likely the platforms you were looking at already if you were trying to reach younger users. But maybe Pinterest is worth a look, while Facebook's improving AI ads could also provide a stronger pathway to younger audiences than you may expect. But still, it’s IG and TikTok that lead the way, while Snap maintains its relevance and influence over this cohort.

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📲 Instagram’s new profile cards make it more fun to share your account
#News #Insta

🔹 Instagram will now let you share your account using a digital profile card. The two-sided “card” displays a QR code with your Instagram handle, along with other information visible on your profile, including your picture and bio.

🔹 You can add some extra flavor to your profile card by adding your own links and a song of your choice. As shown in the image below, you can also change the background image of your profile card (which sort of makes it look like a digital business card for your Instagram account).

🔹 Aside from offering an easier way to share your account, the new profile card seems like a handy way to give someone an all-in-one look at your interests. Creators can also use profile cards to provide businesses or other collaborators with relevant links to their contact information.

🔹 You can view your profile card by heading to your Instagram profile and selecting “Share Profile.” From there, select the pencil icon in the top-right corner of the screen to edit the elements of your profile card. You can then use the options at the bottom of the screen to share your profile with friends or download it to post on other platforms. There’s also an “Add to Story” option that will create a rotating two-sided card you can customize.

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📲 Instagram’s ‘social library’ could keep track of that funny video someone sent you
#News #Insta

⚪️ Instagram appears to be working on a new “Social Library” section in the app where you can easily access things shared in chat threads, your collections, and posts you’ve liked, according to an image shared by developer and leaker Alessandro Paluzzi.

⚪️ Judging from the looks of the screenshot from Paluzzi, the section will contain posts, Reels, and other media you’ve shared or received in chat threads as well as content you’ve liked or saved. A magnifying glass in the corner of the screenshot suggests this content will be searchable, too, which could make it a lot easier to quickly find a Reel or post you’re looking for.

⚪️ It’s not clear when Meta might launch this feature to the public. The company didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment. Paluzzi also recently spotted that Instagram might let you share your Instagram comments as posts on Threads.

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📲 Instagram adds new guardrails to protect teens against sextortion
#News #Insta

🔹 Instagram is launching several new features designed to protect teens from sextortion scams, which occur when scammers threaten to share intimate images of victims unless they receive a payment or more photos. One guardrail that’s rolling out soon will prevent people from screenshotting or screen recording disappearing images or videos sent in a private message. If the sender enables replays of the image or video, Instagram will block people from opening them on the web.

🔹 This won’t stop scammers from capturing the image or video by recording it with another device, however. Starting today, Instagram will begin using certain indicators, like how new an account is, to detect scammy behavior as well. The platform will then prevent these accounts from sending follow requests to teens by blocking their request or moving it to the teen’s spam folder. It’s also testing a safety notice in Instagram and Messenger that will alert teens if the person they’re talking to is located in a different country, as sextortion scammers often lie about their location.

🔹 In addition, Instagram will now start blocking suspicious accounts from viewing the following or followers lists of their victims, which sextortion scammers can use for blackmail. Instagram will similarly prevent suspect accounts from seeing the lists of accounts that have liked a target’s posts, the photos they’re tagged in, and other users tagged in their photos. To protect kids from viewing obscene photos, Instagram is launching a feature that will automatically detect and blur nude images for users under 18. Instagram started testing this filter in April, and it will be enabled for teens globally by default. Other safety measures coming to the platform include an option to chat with the Crisis Text Line in the US if users report sextortion or child safety issues.

🔹 It will also show an educational video to teens in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia to spread awareness about sextortion scams, which are on the rise. The FBl reported at least a 20 percent increase in sextortion scams from October 2022 to March 2023. As part of its efforts to crack down on the practice, Meta removed
800 Facebook groups and 820 accounts associated with the Yahoo Boys - a Nigerian cybercriminal group that carries out these schemes. It also took down 63,000 Nigeria-based Instagram accounts in July.

🔹 Other platforms, like Snapchat, have taken steps to combat the scam by warning teens if they receive a message from an account that other users have blocked or reported. This suite of features comes as part of Meta's broader efforts to make its platforms safer for kids. Last month, Instagram announced that it would start putting all teens into more private accounts with certain safety settings enabled by default, like restricted DMs and Sleep Mode to silence notifications at nighttime.

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📲 IG Chief Recommends Posting Carousels to Improve Reach
#News #Insta

🔹 As per Mosseri:

“Why [do] carousels often get more reach than photos? Two main reasons. One, multiple pieces of media are going to mean more interactions with your carousel posts, and more interactions is going to mean more reach on average. And two, if someone sees your carousel post but they don’t swipe, we’ll often give that carousel a second chance and automatically move to that second piece of media for the viewer.”

🔹 So carousels, with multiple frames, provide more opportunity for engagement, and more engagement will equate to more reach. Pretty logical, and again, with carousels now able to include more frames, there's even more opportunity to use carousel posts to engage your audience. And as Mosseri further notes, carousels with music are now also eligible to appear in the Reels tab, providing another expanded reach opportunity.

🔹 This is a good tip, which no doubt many Instagram marketers are already using to advantage. But if you are looking for another way to boost your IG presence, it may well be worth incorporating carousels into the mix, and seeing whether that helps to improve your results.
As Mosseri also notes, there's no point in forcing it, but if you have the assets available, and you can come up with a plan for your carousels, it may well be worth considering.

🔹 Instagram also recently added text overlays within carousel posts, as well as multi-format display, so you can include different image formats (e.g. portrait and square images) within a single carousel set.

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📲 Meta Announces a New Round of Job Cuts
#News #Insta

▶️ Despite the company's strong financial performance, Meta's undertaking another round of job cuts, impacting various roles and teams within the group. The changes appear to be spread across various teams, rather than targeting one specific aspect, with Meta trimming down its labor outlay across the board. Around 100 roles, in total, are being made redundant. Among those impacted is reverse engineering legend Jane Manchun Wong, who's been a key source of info for SMT over the years.

▶️ Wong has only worked at Meta for a relatively short time, primarily focused on Threads. Meta has provided a brief statement on the latest staff cuts, explaining that: "Today, a few teams at Meta are making changes to ensure resources are aligned with their long-term strategic goals and location strategy. This includes moving some teams to different locations, and moving some employees to different roles. In situations like this when a role is eliminated, we work hard to find other opportunities for impacted employees." So, ideally, the impacted staff will be reallocated, but the latest cuts show that Meta is focused on
maximizing efficiency, and reducing cumulative bloat that has been an issue in the past.

▶️ Last year, Meta culled around 20,000 roles, as part of its "Year of Efficiency" push, with the justification being that Meta has become too bloated, particularly in the wake of the COVID downturn, and therefore needed to refocus and realign itself with modern market requirements. The change also came after Elon Musk's massive staff cuts at Twitter (now X), which many had speculated would lead to broader staff reductions in the tech sector. Yet, at the same time, Meta's financial performance has remained strong throughout. Meta generated $134 billion in revenue in 2023, a 16% increase year-over-year, and it's on track to see similar increases again in 2024.

▶️ So in terms of business strength, Meta remains steady, though constant re-assessment and rationalization of costs is also a part of this. The latest cuts don't seem indicative of broader concerns with the company, and again, are not focused on any specific area. But they do show that Meta is becoming more focused on its bottom line performance, and ensuring that its costs don't get out of hand.

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📲 Why are Instagram searches for ‘Adam Driver Megalopolis’ blocked for CSAM?
#News #Insta

🔹 When people search for "Adam driver Megalopolis" on Instagram or Facebook right now, instead of seeing posts about Francis Ford Coppola's latest film, they're shown a warning, titled, "Child sexual abuse is illegal." That bizarre fact was pointed out in a post on X yesterday, and as of today, I'm still seeing it when I search for the phrase.

🔹 But why? Well, it doesn't seem to have anything to do with recent Threads moderation failures. Nor are there bombshell revelations about Megalopolis or its main star that I'm aware of.

🔹 Instead, Facebook and Instagram seem to be blocking searches containing "mega" and "drive" — I saw it when I searched with those two words together, but not when I searched for "Megalopolis," "Adam Driver," or either term mixed with any others. The issue isn't new, either, as this nine-month-old Reddit post about searching for "Sega mega drive" on Facebook illustrates. (That search seems to work as expected, now.)

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📲 Meta Experiments With Facial Recognition for Security Purposes
#News #Insta

🔹 Meta's testing a couple of new security processes that utilize facial recognition, which is an element that Meta's run into various troubles with in the past. First off, Meta's testing a new facial matching process to help identify "celeb-bait", which is where scammers use images of public figures in order to bait people into engaging with ads that then lead to scam websites. In this new process, Meta's matching the faces used in ads to high profile users, and where there's a match, confirming with the users' official profile as to whether it's a legitimate, endorsed promotion. As explained by Meta:

"If our systems suspect that an ad may be a scam that contains the image of a public figure at risk for celeb-bait, we will try to use facial recognition technology to compare faces in the ad to the public figure's Facebook and Instagram profile pictures. If we confirm a match and determine the ad is a scam, we'll block it. We immediately delete any facial data generated from ads for this one-time comparison, regardless of whether our system finds a match, and we don't use it for any other purpose."

Note the definitive explainer in the last line.

🔹 As noted, Meta has faced various challenges in utilizing facial recognition in the past, with privacy advocates raising concerns that such data could be used for malicious purpose, if it were to fall into the wrong hands. Back in 2021, Meta shut down its face recognition processes on Facebook entirely, amid a broader shift in policy designed to distance the platform from the controversies of its past. Facial recognition tools are already being used for questionable purpose, including identifying people entering sports stadiums, and matching people's criminal or credit history in real time. In China, for example, facial recognition technology is being used to catch people jaywalking, and send them fines in the mail, or further penalize people who've not paid parking fines.

🔹 Or worse, to identify Uyghur Muslims and single them out for tracking. That's one of the more chilling use cases for facial recognition technology, in picking out certain groups, and targeting them based on such information. Which is a key concern for Western regulators in administering policy around its use, and why Meta has sought to step away from the technology, for the most part. But now, it's wading in again, with selected use cases for face ID. In a second experiment, Meta's also testing video selfies as a means for people to verify their identity in order to regain access to compromised accounts. "The user will upload a video selfie, and we'll use facial recognition technology to compare the selfie to the profile pictures on the account they're trying to access. This is similar to identity verification tools you might already use to unlock your phone or access other apps." So again, this is a limited use case, and Meta's keen to note, again, that it will not keep any of these selfies on file. "As soon as someone uploads a video selfie, it will be encrypted and stored securely.

🔹 It will never be visible on their profile, to friends or to other people on Facebook or Instagram. We immediately delete any facial data generated after this comparison regardless of whether there's a match or not." But it is another step into facial recognition, which will no doubt raise concerns among privacy and security experts. So should Meta be looking to implement more use of facial ID? Well, it's a strong vector for cross-checking, and there's clearly a value in the process for security means. But it is risky, and it will bring more scrutiny on Meta once again, particularly in regards to how it stores and uses selfies and video face ID. But maybe, in a more limited, secure system, Meta will be able to implement these as more widespread security measures.

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