Instagram debuts practice mode, scheduling for live streams

Instagram

Instagram wants to help turn your Live videos into a more professional-looking event with this new practice mode. To avoid Live video startup snafus, Instagram adds a new "Practice Mode" that lets you and your guests join the live sessions before these are broadcasted to your followers. It'll give you the time to check sound, light, and connection stability. This feature will be rolling out soon.

The social media site also plans to introduce a scheduling feature that lets creators notify their followers in advance. You can schedule a Live event 90 days before it starts, and then you can let your viewers know about this upcoming session. This feature is already rolling out to all creators. 

Source: The Next Web

Instagram plans to introduce a 'take a break' feature for teens

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Instagram's reputation had taken another dive recently when whistleblower Frances Haugen shared during a hearing at the US Congress that Facebook was aware its algorithms are destructive, leading children to harmful content and only taking out a fraction of the hate speech. In response to these issues, Facebook Global Affairs VP Nick Clegg promised Instagram would get a "take a break" feature to encourage teens to stop using the social network for a while. Clegg didn't say when the option would be ready, though. 

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Instagram rebrands IGTV to Instagram TV

Instagram

Instagram is throwing in the towel on IGTV. At least, it is when it comes to that branding. The company is now calling that effort Instagram TV. And it is getting rid of the exclusive IGTV video format. Videos posted to the main Instagram feed can now run up to 60 minutes. That time length was previously reserved for IGTV videos. And IGTV app is now called the Instagram TV app, and a company spokesperson said it would continue to be a "destination for people to visit with the intent of watching video."

Feed videos and IGTV videos will now be consolidated into Instagram TV. They will get a single tab on profile pages. Reels, or Instagram's take on TikTok, looks to be a separate thing still.

Source: The Verge

Facebook pauses work on Instagram Kids app

Facebook has announced it is "pausing" work on its Instagram Kids app amid intense scrutiny and criticism of the project. The company vowed it wanted to "work with parents, experts, and policymakers to demonstrate the value and need for this product." According to Instagram's team, they wanted to build an app that solves the issue of kids using Instagram without parental permission.

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