Instagram tries out options for what you're seeing on your main feed

Instagram has been experimenting with how its main feed will look to its users. App research Alessandro Paluzzi posted on Twitter screenshots showing a secret test the company has been testing since late October, where you can select what shows up on your main feed. The company has added more tweaks suggesting it's expected to make a public release.

Right now, Instagram's main feed shows you new posts from accounts you follow, plus suggested posts from hashtags and other accounts. This new feature lets you decide what you can see, whether that's only from people you follow or those you marked as favourites.

Click to read more ...

Instagram adds text-to-speech, voice effects for Reels

Instagram wants you to use its TikTok-rival Reels more. The Instagram short-form video format gets a couple of audio tools that are popular on TikTok. One is text-to-speech, which puts robotic voiceovers on your videos. This accessibility feature lets you type the text for your videos, which will then be read aloud in this robotic voice. It's accessible through the Text bubble on the lower-left corner of the screen. You have two voice options to choose from.

Aside from text-to-speech, there are now voice effects, too. So, you can change your voice depending on what vibe you're going for. You can change your voice to sound like you've inhaled helium, or like a giant, or more. Both tools have been rolled out already, so you can try it out now.

Source: Engadget

Instagram might soon offer subscriptions for users to support creators on the platform

Gabrielle Henderson/Unsplash

Instagram might be the latest social platform to offer a new subscription option to support creators. Analytics firms Sensor Tower and Apptopia spotted a recent change on the Instagram app listing on iOS. There's a new in-app purchases option named "Instagram Subscriptions," with prices ranging from US$0.99 to $4.99.

Instagram hasn't mentioned what this feature will be, but the Meta-owned company has been working on ways to monetize its platform while offering its creators a way to earn on the app. Earlier this year, the company mentioned that it was working on "Exclusive Stories," which will be a paid feature, so that might be part of this subscription option. If it's shown up on Instagram's app, we might be hearing more about this sooner rather than later.

Source: 9to5Mac

Twitter can now show Instagram link previews

Instagram

It looks like Twitter and Instagram have buried the hatchet. It's been nine years since Instagram pulled its Twitter photo integration. But now it's back. Twitter has begun rolling out preview cards for Instagram links on mobile and the web. So, if someone shares an Instagram post on the platform, you'll see a thumbnail of what the post is about.

It isn't clear what changed, but it should be helpful for users who want to take out some of the guesswork of what someone's Instagram link might be like.

Source: Instagram | Via: Engadget