Get ready for some AI-generated fun thanks to Instagram’s latest feature. The new part, which was newly announced on Thread by Ahmad Al-Dahle, Metas+’s Generative AI Lead, is proud to showcase Instagram’s latest feature, which allows users to remove their backgrounds in their stories and have it replaced with anything they desire, thanks to the use of Generative AI.
The short video demonstration, shown on threads, showcases how the new feature is used. When the user is about to post a story and lands in the edit section of the process, they can see a new option just beside the text insert feature of Instagram. The button which has the image of a person and a background with a + sign, is where the magic happens.
Once pressed, the app will open into another section where it will automatically clear out the background of the said image used, and below there is a text box. Just above the text box are small recommendations or suggestions of prompts that the users can use to alleviate their story photos.
The prompt written down can be anything the user desires to be, “Be surrounded by Puppies” or “ Laying by the beach” anything the user can creatively think of to place in the background of your photo to make it pop and look more interesting. Of course, Instagram thought of everything as this feature can’t be used to trick people either as an automatic sticker and the feature will be placed on the post saying that the AI background feature was used and a sticker that allows other users to “Try it.”
Currently, this feature is only available to US Instagram users, and Instagram has not said anything when this feature will go out globally.
Meta’s competitor to X (formerly known as Twitter) – Threads – is making news in two areas: being able to work with other apps and expanding into Europe. In a surprisiong move, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, said Threads posts could be shared on Mastodon and other ActivityPub-enabled platforms as part of a test. This is a big step towards integration, which has been one of the main ideas behind the fediverse, a decentralised network of social media services, from the beginning.
What does Integration with ActivityPub mean, and why is it good? With ActivityPub, you can choose where your content is seen and how people connect with it, unlike on traditional social media sites where you are limited to your home feed. It will also help you reach more people. Allowing you to gain new followers and take part in conversations in other groups. It also helps make social media more open and democratic by lowering the need for centralised sites like Meta.
This movement indicates that Meta remains committed to making all their services work together. This fits what Instagram’s CEO, Adam Mosseri, who thinks decentralisation is the key to getting the next wave of creators to join, has said.
In addition, Threads is finally getting ready to land in Europe simultaneously. The platform will finally go live on December 14th after being delayed because of regulatory issues.
Threads is also adding “Tags” that work like Instagram Hashtags, but is less confusing or complicated. Tags can only be used once per post. This is meant to get people to talk about more specific topics and keep material at a managable level. Users can add tags by typing “#” or clicking a post UI button. Furthermore, Tags, unlike Instagram, don’t need to be added directly below the post with multiple hashtags, which can be confusing. Instead, it’s directly added to the post or words similar to a hyperlink. The chosen words will turn blue in the post, meaning it has been tagged with the specific topic or genre, or you can make a new one. This gives users more freedom and simplifies how they can add specific topics and genres to their posts to reach out to others looking for posts in their interest.
Meta’s latest social network and the bane of Elon Musk’s X is gearing up to become the company’s next billion user app. In the recent earnings call, Mark Zuckerberg revealed that Threads now has “just under” 100 million monthly active users. This number is very significant considering the app has yet to be released in the European Union.
In the same call, Zuckerberg made Meta’s ambition for Threads very clear and that is to transform Threads into a “billion-person public conversations app” with a positive atmosphere.
New Features in the Wake of Ambition
To achieve those lofty ambitions, the team over at Instagram and Threads have been working to fold in even more features into the app. Let’s be honest, they’ve been on a roll! The team is now bringing even more engaging features such as a native GIF picker and polls.
You will now be able to host polls on Threads natively. Creating polls is straightforward. Users can add up to four poll choices for a 24-hour duration. Unfortunately, there’s no option to adjust the poll duration just yet. While polls are accessible on Threads for Android and iOS, the web version is yet to support this feature.
Threads is also introducing an in-app GIF picker, powered by GIPHY. It’s available for both new posts and replies. Users can easily access a library of searchable GIFs by tapping the “GIF” button. This feature is available in the latest app updates for Android and iOS.
One drawback to note is that Threads, like Meta’s Messenger app and Instagram, still restricts Android keyboards, like Gboard, from inserting GIFs. When users attempt to insert a GIF using Gboard, they receive a message stating that Threads doesn’t support this functionality. While the app adds exciting features, this limitation might be frustrating for some.
X, formerly known as Twitter, has introduced a series of changes in the past few months. The social network has introduced a paid tier that includes a verified badge and even changes policies when it comes to disinformation. However, in a move that’s been stirring up quite a buzz, X (formerly Twitter) has introduced fresh subscription tiers, catering to diverse user preferences and needs. Let’s dive into the details.
New Premium+ Tier at USD$16/month & Basic Tier at USD$3/month
It looks like Elon Musk’s X is taking monetization very seriously. The social media is introducing two new paid tiers for users. The first is a Premium+ tier. This USD$16 (RM76.20) monthly subscription not only removes ads from your timeline but also grants you a blue checkmark, offering that coveted mark of authenticity.
we’re also launching a new Basic tier for $3/month (when signing up via Web) that gives you access to the most essential Premium features
Premium+ subscribers will also get an algorithmic boost, ensuring your tweets get more attention and replies. It’s essentially a premium experience, perfect for those who want a clutter-free and personalized journey through X.
On the other end of the spectrum, there’s the Basic tier, priced at just $3 (RM14.29) per month. This tier may not include the coveted blue checkmark, but it offers a plethora of other benefits.
Source: X (Fromerly Twitter)Source: X (Fromerly Twitter)Source: X (Fromerly Twitter)
Basic subscribers can rejoice in features like tweet editing, longer posts, and the ability to download videos. Additionally, you’ll receive a “small reply boost,” helping you engage more effectively with your audience. Plus, you’ll have encrypted direct messaging for added security.
Both Premium+ and Basic tiers are accessible via the web, avoiding fees associated with app stores. This ensures a seamless experience for users looking to enhance their X journey.
On The Road to a Paid Social Media Platform & Super App
Elon Musk has grand ambitions for the platform. He wants to turn X into an “everything app,” directly challenging platforms like YouTube and LinkedIn. While the specifics of this transformation remain shrouded in mystery, X has been teasing new features like video streaming and job postings, hinting at the platform’s evolving nature.
Musk’s ambitions, however misguided they are, look to leverage Twitter’s social media user base to create an app for everything. There are plans to offer comprehensive communications and financial services, potentially replacing traditional bank accounts.
Monetization or Bot Prevention?
In a recent live-streamed conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Elon Musk disclosed a plan to charge a small fee to every X user. The main objective is to combat the proliferation of bots on the platform.
Musk emphasized that the cost of operating bots would become prohibitively high, making it challenging for individuals or organizations to sustain them. By requiring users to pay a fee with a unique payment method, X aims to eliminate fake accounts effectively.
While Musk didn’t specify the fee’s exact amount, he highlighted the necessity of this change to thwart the vast armies of bots. This strategic move ensures a cleaner and more authentic X experience for users.
As X transitions into a paid platform, the landscape of social media may undergo significant changes. While the exact implementation date remains uncertain, it’s evident that users may need to adjust to this new paradigm. X, with its 550 million users and 100 to 200 million daily posts, is poised for a transformation that may encourage users to explore alternatives.
YouTube has revealed a bevvy of features and a new app that is being introduced to simplify the process for creators. However, the new features and apps are not just focused on simplifying but also assisting creators when it comes to ideation and even getting the most from their analytics.
Dream Screen for Shorts
YouTube Shorts has become a stronghold for viewership and engagement since its introduction in 2020. The spontaneous ideas and artistic takes on content have grown to over 70 billion daily views with more than 2 billion monthly active users. To elevate this creative ecosystem, YouTube is introducing some game-changing tools.
One such tool is the experimental “Dream Screen,” set to debut later this year. Dream Screen leverages AI to allow creators to conjure video or image backgrounds simply by typing a concept into a prompt. Fancy filming in outer space, wandering through an enchanted forest, or envisioning your pug driving you to school? Dream Screen can bring these imaginative settings to life, limited only by the creator’s imagination.
AI-Powered Insights and Beyond
Video creation involves much more than just editing and production. However, the data-heavy side of content creation needs far more time than creators can allocate to it. So, they are harnessing AI to offer creators more efficient tools for generating ideas and reaching broader audiences.
AI-Powered Insights: YouTube Studio will soon leverage generative AI to spark video ideas and draft outlines, helping creators brainstorm content that resonates with their audience.
Assistive Search in Creator Music: Finding the perfect soundtrack for your video will become effortless with assistive search in Creator Music. Simply describe your content, and AI will suggest suitable music options.
Automatic Dubbing with Aloud: To expand their audience reach globally, creators often need to dub their content into multiple languages. YouTube introduces “Aloud,” an AI-powered dubbing tool designed to help creators bridge language barriers and connect with diverse audiences.
In addition to these AI-powered features, YouTube is launching the YouTube Create app. The app is currently in beta for Android users in select markets. This app offers a range of video editing tools and access to a library of royalty-free music. It aims to simplify video production, enabling creators to focus on their creative vision.
Google has introduced a potentially game-changing tool for budding creators – the YouTube Create app. This week, Google unveiled the beta version of YouTube Create, an Android app aimed at simplifying and enhancing the video editing and production process. While it’s still in its beta phase, this app is generating significant interest and is currently available for Android users in select markets.
YouTube Create boasts a range of features designed to make video editing more accessible and efficient. Of note are features like automatic captioning, which can help creators make more accessible content by taking over the time-consuming task of manually adding captions to videos. Another feature of the app – voiceover – allows creators to add professional-grade narration to their videos easily. The app also provides access to a vast library of royalty-free music, addressing copyright concerns that content creators often encounter. Additionally, it offers a variety of effects and video transitions to help enhance the visual appeal of videos.
YouTube Create is part of a broader AI-driven initiative by YouTube. Beyond the editing app, YouTube is working on several AI-powered features set to impact content creation. One of these features is the Dream Screen, which allows users to generate AI-driven video or image backgrounds for their Shorts. This feature, expected to roll out later this year, could significantly impact content creation.
YouTube is also planning to introduce AI-generated insights and outline drafting next year. The new AI-generated insights aim to streamline the content creation process and provide creators with valuable insights and assistance. Furthermore, an AI-powered dubbing tool is in development, although details about its release are still unknown.
The app is available on the Play Store for those eager to explore YouTube Create. However, it’s important to note that it’s currently only available in specific regions.
Mark Zuckerberg has announced that Threads is finally bringing the keyword search functionality to “most English and Spanish-speaking countries.”
The recent expansion follows a week-long testing phase in Australia and New Zealand. Prior to this update, Threads had only allowed users to find friends with the search feature. This new development hints at Threads’ aspirations of becoming a more comprehensive social network platform, further contesting Twitter (who is now your X) in the social media rat race.
The announcement also suggests that more countries will soon gain access. But it’s also worth noting that “most English and Spanish-speaking countries” remain vague in terms of who will see the feature first. We will just have to keep our eyes peeled for further updates from Meta and Threads.
Clubhouse, once the talk of Silicon Valley and the darling of pandemic-era social media, is undergoing a transformation. Earlier this year, the company announced layoffs of half its staff as it embarked on creating “Clubhouse 2.0.” Now, the results of this shift are in, and it’s all about making Clubhouse more like a messaging app.
Source: Clubhouse
The shift means moving away from its iconic “drop-in” audio conversations to focus on voice chats centred around friends. Instead of large, open rooms for live-streamed discussions, the new Clubhouse encourages users to form groups with people they already know. These groups, somewhat perplexingly named “chats,” enable friends and friends-of-friends to exchange voice messages.
From Forum to Personable Chats
The key feature of this update is “Chats.” Think of Chats as voice-only group chats with your closest friends. They’re asynchronous, so you can drop in and participate at your convenience. It’s like a blend of group texts and Instagram Stories, except with voices.
Chats come with convenient features like push-to-talk, 2x listening speed, skip and swipe between chats, and the option to engage in private voice conversations. What sets them apart from group texting is speed and personalization. Chats are faster, allowing groups to share more, including nuances and off-the-record content, with automatic transcription and translation into your language.
Source: Clubhouse
Voice adds a personal touch that text can’t match. You can hear your friends’ emotions, and laughter, and even sense when they’re tired or excited. It’s about getting to know people on a deeper level.
Chats can be set to “friends only” or “friends-of-friends,” creating a cosy social atmosphere with shared context and accountability. No randoms, spammers, or follower seekers here.
Changing from Followers to Friends
Live audio isn’t going away; it remains a core part of Clubhouse. However, Chats offer a versatile tool for community builders, enabling new conversations without the need for extensive preparation or moderation. It’s all about depth over reach.
Clubhouse is also shifting from a “follow” model to a “friend” model. This change emphasizes the importance of real friendships over accumulating followers. Existing followers won’t lose their connections; they can create a House for their followers right from their profiles.
The motivation behind this pivot is clear. Clubhouse witnessed a significant drop in engagement as pandemic restrictions eased. Whether this new direction can bring back the buzz it enjoyed in 2021, when it attracted millions of users and a multi-billion-dollar valuation, remains uncertain. Clubhouse, seemingly aware of the challenges, concluded its announcement with a touch of caution, stating, “It’s a big bet, and we hope we’re right…”
Meta – Facebook and Instagram‘s parent company – is considering the possibility of offering paid versions of the social media platforms in Europe. This comes after the company’s tumultuous few months as the company continues to navigate the European Union’s stringent data privacy and online platform regulations.
The New York Times reports that Meta is considering subscription-based versions of both Facebook and Instagram. These versions would be free from advertisements. That said, the free, ad-supported versions of these platforms will still be available in the European Union.
So far, there is no word on the exact pricing and rollout timeline for these ad-free versions. Meta‘s motivation behind this potential offering is primarily to align with EU regulations rather than a clear revenue opportunity.
Meta’s Ongoing Struggle with EU Regulations
Meta has been grappling with the European Union over data privacy and advertising-related issues. The company faced a significant fine of $1.3 billion from Ireland’s Data Protection Commission for transferring European user data to the United States, violating GDPR regulations. In response, the United States and the EU established a data transfer agreement in July, easing some restrictions on social media platforms.
To address EU concerns, Meta began allowing users in the region to opt out of targeted advertising. There were even discussions about shifting this feature to an opt-in model for all users in the EU.
Additionally, Meta postponed the release of its new social platform, Threads, in Europe due to regulatory concerns. The company appears to be apprehensive about the upcoming Digital Markets Act, which restricts the reuse of personal user data.
A Potential Pivot in Business Model
If Meta proceeds with ad-free paid versions of Facebook and Instagram in Europe, it would mark a notable departure from its traditional ad-supported model. While it remains uncertain how many users would embrace this paid option, industry insiders suggest that it could help appease European regulators and serve Meta’s interests in the region.
This move signifies a significant distinction between consumer technology in the European Union and the United States. Meta and other social media platforms are adapting to comply with GDPR and other regulations, demonstrating their accountability to governments rather than the reverse. As Meta navigates this evolving landscape, it could set an important precedent when it comes to the future of ad-free social media experiences.
Meta‘s Threads app is continuing its evolution, this time with the introduction of a new keyword search feature. While initially released with basic features, Meta has been working to enhance Threads. This latest feature is set to improve the user experience significantly.
Until now, the search function on Threads was limited solely to finding other user accounts on the platform. However, this is about to change, with the introduction of keyword search functionality. The new feature is currently available only to Threads users in Australia and New Zealand.
Instagram CEO, Adam Mosseri, shared the news, stating, “This week we’re starting to launch search on Threads; starting with New Zealand and Australia” The plan is to fast follow the availability of the feature to other English-speaking countries, with efforts underway to introduce support for additional languages as soon as possible.
This enhancement marks another step forward in Threads’ ongoing development. Recently, the platform became accessible via web browsers worldwide, offering greater convenience to users. Previously, the top priority was the introduction of a chronological timeline. Now, users can look forward to the added convenience of keyword search.
Threads users will receive notifications to try out the new keyword search feature when it becomes available. The Threads app is readily accessible for iPhone users through the App Store and Android users via the Google Play Store, making these improvements easily accessible to a broad user base.
