Instagram Rolls Out New Features, Tests Controversial Ad Breaks
Meta's popular social media platform Instagram is undergoing significant changes, introducing new features aimed at enhancing user experience while also testing controversial monetization methods.
AI-Powered Creation and Early Access Program
Instagram is set to launch an early access program, similar to WhatsApp's, allowing users to test new features before their official release. This move will enable the platform to gather more comprehensive feedback from a wider user base.
Additionally, the app is developing an AI-powered feature called Create with AI, which will allow users to generate personalized chat themes using generative AI technology. This aligns with Meta's broader push towards integrating AI across its platforms.
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| Instagram is innovating with new AI features and an early access program to enhance user experience |
Enhanced Safety Features for Teens
In response to ongoing scrutiny regarding its impact on younger users, Instagram has updated its limit and restrict options:
- Users can now limit post interactions to close friends only, controlling visibility of comments, DMs, tags, and mentions.
- The restrict feature has been expanded to prevent restricted users from tagging or mentioning the account holder, with their comments automatically hidden from everyone.
These changes aim to provide teenagers with more control over their online interactions and combat bullying on the platform.
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| Instagram enhances safety for teens by implementing new features to limit interactions and control visibility |
Controversial Ad Breaks Being Tested
In a move that has sparked user backlash, Instagram is testing a new feature called Ad Breaks. These interruptions force users to view an ad for 3-5 seconds before continuing to browse their feed. The feature is part of Meta's exploration of new monetization strategies that don't rely on hyper-targeted advertising.
However, the response from users in the test group has been overwhelmingly negative, with some reporting that they've stopped using the platform altogether due to the intrusive nature of these ads.
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| Instagram faces backlash as it tests Ad Breaks, forcing users to watch ads before accessing their feed |
What This Means for Users
As Instagram continues to evolve, users can expect a mix of positive changes aimed at improving safety and creativity, alongside potentially disruptive monetization efforts. The success of features like Ad Breaks will likely depend on user feedback during the testing phase, highlighting the importance of the new early access program in shaping the platform's future.
For now, Instagram users should stay tuned for the rollout of new AI-powered features and enhanced safety options, while remaining aware that their browsing experience may change as Meta experiments with new advertising models.
Update: Thursday July 25 07:31
In a separate effort to enhance platform safety, Instagram has taken significant action against financial sextortion scams. The company removed approximately 63,000 Instagram accounts in Nigeria associated with cybercriminals known as Yahoo Boys. This crackdown included dismantling a coordinated network of about 2,500 accounts linked to around 20 individuals and removing 7,200 assets on Facebook. To combat these scams, Instagram has implemented new measures such as developing signals to identify potential sextortion accounts, improving automated detection systems, and implementing stricter message settings for teens. The platform is also collaborating with safety organizations like the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) to share information and take broader action against these crimes.
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| As Instagram evolves, users will experience both new features and disruptions in their browsing as monetization methods change |