Instagram mimics TikTok with 'Vertical Stories' prototype

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It looks like Instagram is looking to copy another social network. The company confirms it is in the early stages of prototyping Vertical Stories, which will give the app a more TikTok-like look. 

Instagram isn't testing this feature right now, but the code for the change is in development, as spotted by developer Alessandro Paluzzi.

TechCrunch pointed out that if Instagram decides to pursue this idea, then we might see the social network shift away from static content (such as photos or reshared Feed posts on Stories) to make way for videos. It could prioritize videos over photos, too, to better compete with TikTok. 

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TikTok rolls out prompts to assess accuracy and misinformation

Source: TikTok

The wildly popular social sharing platform, TikTok, has announced further action to help users identify accuracy and misinformation in the content they are viewing. TikTok has partnered with fact checkers to help them assess the accuracy of content. If fact checks confirm content to be false, TikTok will remove the video from their platform. Sometimes fact checks are inconclusive or content is not able to be confirmed, and in these cases a video may become ineligible for recommendation into anyone's For You feed to limit the spread of potentially misleading information.

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TikTok tests out Q&A feature to help creators respond to fans

TikTok's newest feature wants to help out its popular creators respond to questions from its fans. Social media consultant Matt Navara first spotted the new Q&A feature available initially to public creator accounts with over 10,000 followers. If you're one of these creators, you can opt-in via the app's settings menu.

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TikTok strengthens youth privacy policies

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Today, TikTok announced changes for users under age 18 aimed at driving higher standards of user privacy and safety by default. The popular social media platform wants their younger users to be able to make informed choices about their privacy and whom they share their content with. As young people are at their early stages in their digital journey, TikTok believes it's important to provide them with age-appropriate privacy settings and controls to help manage their online presence.

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