Instagram imposes stricter measures on diet and cosmetic surgery posts

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Instagram wants to protect teens from some of the damaging effects of the social internet and the impact of promoting diet products to younger people. The company is clamping down on "get thin quick" weight loss and cosmetic surgery posts. Some of the posts will be hidden from those under 18, while others promoting "miraculous" weight loss products will be taken out. This change will also be coming to Instagram's parent company, Facebook.

According to Emma Collins, Instagram's public policy manager, "We want Instagram to be a positive place for everyone that uses it and this policy is part of our ongoing work to reduce the pressure that people can sometimes feel as a result of social media." She said they sought advice from experts in the field of social media policy.

Source: BBC

Facebook is reportedly working on a device to take on the Apple TV

We reported earlier last month that Facebook has been in talks with streaming services for a streaming device it's creating. And we now have more details on said product. Variety adds on the report that this Portal device could run a modified version of Android's mobile operating system instead of the purpose-built Android TV OS. It'll also come with a camera for video calls, far-field microphones to detect audio, and built-in speakers. The device will stream content from the likes of Disney and Netflix. And it's going to take on the likes of the Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV. Facebook is reportedly even working on some Apple Animoji-like features, allowing you to put a virtual mask over your face right from your television. 

Facebook has been keeping this project secret, going to lengths of using a shell company to submit all the necessary regulatory filings to the FCC. We still ask whether people will be keen to use a Facebook device with a camera in their living room considering Facebook's rep in the privacy space. But for those interested in this product, it looks like it might be coming sooner than we think.

Facebook considers hiding likes in its app

Similar to an experiment it's doing on Instagram, Facebook is considering removing the number of likes a post gets to break the fixation its users have with garnering likes on their posts. App researcher Jane Manchun Wong discovered that Facebook is testing this change in its Android app. Facebook confirmed that it's considering testing the removal of likes on posts. Whether this becomes an actual feature available to all users isn't known yet. Even Instagram hasn't fully rolled out the feature to all users.

If implemented though, Facebook posts will no longer show the number of likes or reactions to a post. The user who posted will still see a list of people and their reactions, but the number won't be displayed. Wong also noted that the likes and reactions on comments are still viewable even with the feature turned on.

Source: CNET

You can share 15-second Spotify song clips on Facebook Stories

Spotify wants to help you share your music taste on Facebook with this new feature. You can now share 15-second clips of music from Spotify on your Facebook Stories. The streaming music service is gearing this towards musicians, claiming it's a "more powerful way to connect with fans." But anyone who has a Spotify and Facebook account can use it. If your followers tap on the preview, they will be transferred to Spotify where you can listen to the rest of the track. There's a similar feature available for Instagram.

To share the song on Facebook you just need to hit "Share" when listening to the track on Spotify. When the menu shows up, select Facebook and customize it the way you want before you post. It only works for single tracks right now. The preview for albums and playlists will not have the 15-second clip.

Source: Engadget