Musk’s Ongoing War with Civil Rights Groups

Dealing With the Bot Crisis on Social Media Platforms

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According to a Threads post by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerburg, the search feature is growing in most English and Spanish-speaking countries a week after they began testing it in Australia and New Zealand.

The expansion will bump into countries where people post in English and Spanish, including Argentina, India, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The launch of a full-text search will allow users to seek out keywords and topics being discussed on the platform. Earlier the search was strictly restricted to searching for other users.

Fading Victory for Threads

Zuckerberg’s Timing With the Latest Update on the Digital Markets Act

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TikTok’s Banning History

Security Concerns

Future of the Platform

The post New York, New in the List to Ban TikTok on Government-Issued Devices appeared first on Tech Research Online.

You will now be able to see who liked your post as Meta’s threads app is rolling out a new feature. As per the news, the company was testing the new feature on Android a week ago, and over the weekend made it available for all the users.

Meta launched Threads on July 6. It is Instagram’s answer to X (formerly Twitter’s). Threads was quick to get 100 million users, in just 5 days. Since then, there have been many incidents of Threads losing their users to X.

Process of Enabling the New Feature

What Does Threads’ Future Hold?

The post Threads is Rolling Out a Feature to See the Profiles That Liked Your Posts appeared first on Tech Research Online.

Twitter since the Musk takeover has been controversial. First, Twitter itself sued Elon Musk when he backed out of a $44bn Twitter takeover deal. Fast forward now, when Twitter is owned by Elon, he threatens to sue Threads over app infringement.

It’s important to know what the newly launched app Threads has in common with Twitter. To do that, let’s see what Threads by Instagram all is about.

Threads by Instagram – An Overview

Threads, in a nutshell, is a microblogging network comparable to Twitter. And, the tweet-counterparts are referred to as threads, and re-tweets are referred to as reposts. The similarities and unsurprising given the primary purpose of Threads was to compete with Twitter.

You can transfer all of your information and credentials using your existing Instagram accounts. And, you can follow everyone you know on Instagram with a single tap. You can also post threads, images, and videos, as well as engage with all of your followers. It will coexist with Instagram as a text-centric platform.

Threads will also be compatible with open social networks based on Activity Pub, such as Mastodon. Meta aims to integrate it into the metaverse, and this is a great move to complement that.

Thread is a strong attempt to compete with Twitter. Meta has used its experience in producing social media products, as well as its existing distribution of over a billion people, to create a decent app. We’re still working on the app’s first public release, and there’s a lot to improve and look forward to.

Instagram Threads vs Twitter – Comparing Key Features

1. User Interface

The Threads app’s interface is straightforward, with a dark background and text in white and grey in the foreground. A lot is happening on a single thread and there is no light mode either. This is where Twitter has an advantage, thanks to years of improving the microblogging platform.

If we talk about the user interface Twitter has an edge over newly launched Threads. It would be crucial to see how Threads copes up.

2. App Layout and Features

The Threads app features five tabs: the home tab, the search tab, the post tab, the activity tab (which contains all of your replies, mentions, and other notifications), and the profile tab.

The home tab displays all threads, including accounts you don’t follow – and it can quickly load up with unwelcome posts. The search tab displays profiles that you can follow.

Twitter has an advantage here because it offers a separate page for ‘For You’ and ‘Following’. Twitter also includes extra features such as Spaces, Community, and Direct Messaging that Trends does not have. And, Threads does not support hashtags.

Another issue with Threads is that there is no separate button on your Profile to verify who you follow. You have a button for checking your followers, which leads to a button for checking your following. We’re also not sure what the design process was. However, there is a separate link beneath your profile to display your Threads and Replies, which we appreciate.

3. Differences in Content Features, Rules, and Character Limit

Threads hit Twitter where it hurts the most – Twitter’s free edition has a 280-character limit, while a Twitter Blue subscription gives you up to 25,000 characters. Post content in Threads is limited to 500 characters. Threads, of course, have no rate limit, and you can browse as much content as you like.

However, there does not appear to be a limit on the number of videos that can be uploaded to Twitter. We recently saw Apple provide a free series premiere via a single Tweet. Threads, on the other hand, has a five-minute video limit.

Threads, like Twitter, allow you to mute and hide words from your feed. On Threads, you may also conceal and block accounts. You can also hide the like count on your Threads and Instagram posts. This is a feature that Twitter lacks.

Tweets can be edited with the Twitter Blue membership. This feature is absent from Threads. There is no paid version that allows you to do this either. Twitter Blue can also assist you with the text format, which Threads cannot. Individual Threads can be deleted, but not your Threads account. You’ll have to also erase your Instagram account to do so.

4. Sharing Features on Threads and Twitter

Threads links can be easily shared and cross-posted on Instagram. But unlike Twitter, Threads does not have a direct message capability. Threads also do not allow you to share hashtags.

The repost feature is similar to retweets on Twitter. Both fundamentally serve the same purpose; which is to share content from other accounts on your feed. On both Twitter and Threads, you can quickly post links to information on other social media platforms.

5. Profile Verification

The prized blue tick recently became a paid feature that anyone with Twitter Blue could access, removing its exclusivity. Meta did the same thing and began a paid subscription program for verification. This will grant you Threads verification, as well as a special tab to view notifications from verified accounts.

6. Privacy

Privacy has always been Meta’s weak link, so it’s no surprise that Zuckerberg faced criticism during the Threads launch. It is not available in the EU since it facilitates data and credential transfer from another app (Instagram), which is against EU law. Furthermore, a simple check of App Store data shows that Threads accesses more items on your phone than Twitter.

Furthermore, Twitter has greater privacy features, particularly in terms of content blocking and limits.

You may safely log in to Threads if you have two-factor authentication enabled on Instagram. Twitter supports two-factor authentication as well, but SMS-based 2FA is available exclusively with Twitter Blue.

Also, there is currently no advertising on Threads. We’re sure they’ll start appearing in the next few days, and it’s unlikely we’ll be able to block or minimize them. Twitter Blue allows you to cut advertisements by up to 50%.

7. Compatibility

Twitter has both Android and iPhone apps, as well as web compatibility. As a result, you can use Twitter on any device. Threads, on the other hand, currently only has iOS and Android apps. Threads cannot be accessed directly on a web browser. We believe, however, that the online app will be accessible soon.

Should You Move to Threads on Instagram

We believe it is too soon to switch from Twitter to Threads. Instead, we recommend that you use both of these platforms. This is because a huge portion of the Instagram audience is now available on Threads, and you don’t want to miss out on your Twitter following as well.

Threads still have a long way to go before it can compete with Twitter as a microblogging platform. Would Meta have a chance if Elon Musk’s acquisition was not heavily criticized, and if all of the restricted features including Twitter Blue were not present?

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Instagram Threads Broke ChatGPT’s Record 

Threads has surpassed OpenAI’s ChatGPT bot, which was previously ranked as one of the fastest-growing consumer products. ChatGPT surpassed 10 million daily users in 40 days and 100 million monthly users in just over two months. Surprisingly, Threads has already achieved the 100 million monthly active user threshold in its first month. The true problem, however, is retaining these people and keeping them engaged with the site.

Threads Lacking Features 

While many users are anxious to test out Meta’s new text-focused social platform, some key features are now lacking. Support for Activity Pub, the protocol used for posts on decentralized networks, is one such feature. Although Meta has noted this issue and is trying to integrate it into Threads. The app will not be fully integrated into the Fediverse until this integration is complete.

Furthermore, Threads presently lacks a read-only web interface, post-search functionality, direct message capabilities, hashtags, and a “Following” feed. Nudity is not permitted on Instagram due to the platform’s tight standards, unlike its Twitter counterpart, Bluesky, which has more permissive content policies.

Major Uses and the Reason Behind its Popularity 

Threads has reached 100 million users in a short period, demonstrating its rapid growth and focus on text-based interactions. The app offers an alternative platform for sharing thoughts and experiences, addressing the growing demand for text-based communication services. Threads cater to the growing demand for meaningful dialogues and text-based posts, allowing users to connect and engage in discussions on various themes. 

The simplicity and convenience of use of the app contribute to its popularity. Threads’ simple and easy interface allows users to easily produce and share text-based messages, allowing them to express themselves and connect with others.  

The rapid emergence of Threads also demonstrates the power of Meta’s large user base. Meta was able to swiftly draw millions of users to its new app by using Instagram’s large community. Threads’ integration with the existing Instagram ecosystem gives users a smooth transition, allowing them to leverage their existing connections and interact with familiar faces on the new platform. 

Will Instagram Threads Retain the Hype? 

Threads have the potential to become a serious rival in the social media environment as they continue to expand and address the missing features. The app’s rapid growth shows its capacity to captivate users’ attention and generate widespread interest. 

Threads is well-positioned to establish its presence and carve out a unique niche in the ever-changing world of social media, thanks to Meta’s commitment to improving the user experience and expanding the app’s features.

Finally, Threads’ success in achieving 100 million sign-ups in just five days demonstrates the app’s great popularity and potential. While the app lacks significant functionality and decentralized network interaction, its rapid growth implies it is here to stay. Users may expect an even more robust and interesting text-based social platform in the future as Meta refines and improves Threads. 

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TikTok claims that introducing content filtering to Family Pairing will let parents lessen the possibility of their children viewing content they may uniquely find jarring. The feature has been under development since March. 

Getting the TikTok Family Pairing Tool Right

The platform sought advice from specialists, including the Family Online Safety Institute. This was done to ensure the best practices to modify this tool for family pairing and select the best experience for their needs. And, they had to consider respecting children’s rights to participate in the online world. As a result, kids have access by default to the keywords that their carer approves of. 

The keywords that parents enter will add a personalized layer to TikTok’s Content Levels system. It helps to prevent content with more mature or complicated subjects from reaching audiences aged 13-17. 

In addition, the business today said that it will establish a global Youth Council later this year. The purpose of the council is to listen to the experiences of those who directly use the platform. They also plan to be better equipped to implement adjustments to give a safe experience for the users. 

TikTok’s Efforts to Reduce Negative Usage – Conclusion

In March, TikTok enhanced Family Pairing with more parental restrictions. They added new default settings for teen users by upgrading the screen time controls with more custom options. The software set every teen’s daily screen usage to 60 minutes by default as a result of these modifications. Teenagers who scroll past this point are required to input a passcode to continue. 

In a congressional hearing, before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew was questioned about the tool’s inefficiency shortly after announcing this adjustment. The executive was compelled to acknowledge that the business lacked information on how many teenagers were watching past the predetermined time limitations. Today, TikTok showed that approximately three-quarters of teenagers opt to maintain the cap. 

More than 850,000 teenagers and their families, according to TikTok, use Family Pairing to set parental controls and preferences depending on their particular needs. This feature will definitely help Parents in monitoring their usage and the content that their child is viewing. 

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Participating in a similar race, Snapchat Premium has come up with Snapchat+, its new subscription. Let us find out what the newly launched subscription offers. 

Snapchat Premium : Snap+ for Most Passionate Members

On 29 June 2022, Snapchat officially rolled out Snapchat Plus or Snapchat+. It is a paid subscription service offering a collection of exclusive, experimental, and pre-release features. These features are unavailable to free members. Snapchat+ will cost $3.99/month.     

The Plus plan includes pre-release, experimental, and exclusive features. These are pinning your close friend as BFF and customizing the app’s icon. These features are mainly intended for the “most passionate members” of Snapchat users, as cited by the company. Subscribers will also be able to see who has re-watched Stories. In addition to that, it’ll also include the photos and videos that are posted to a user’s feed. Additionally, Snapchat+ users can customize the app’s icon on their home screen by selecting from a variety of designs available.     

The Snapchat Premium subscription plan is launched in 9 countries, including the US. All in all, the remaining countries are Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.     

During the rollout of Snapchat+, the team said in the news release, “Over 332 million people worldwide use Snapchat every day to express themselves, live in the moment, learn about the world, and have fun together. We’ve always enjoyed creating new features for our community, and historically we’ve tested new features in different ways, rolling them out to various Snapchatters and geographies. This subscription will allow us to deliver new Snapchat features to some of the most passionate members of our community and allow us to provide prioritized support.”  

Diversifying Revenue Sources  

Snapchat+ comes after the social media company reported a disappointing sales outlook for the current quarter when it reported first-quarter results in April 2022. According to Snapchat CEO Derek Andersen, macroeconomic conditions like supply chain disruptions, labour shortages, and inflation are impacting advertising Snap’s main source of revenue.     

Moreover, it could reportedly help Snapchat diversify its revenue sources if it starts to gain traction as well as popularity. However, Snapchat’s senior vice president of products Jacob Andreou told The Verge that the company doesn’t expect the plan to become a “material new revenue source.” During the official rollout of Snap+, the company’s shares were down about 1%, as reported by CNBC.   

Finally, Andreou cites that ‘single-playerish’ features like the BFF pin will probably remain exclusive to Plus subscribers. Meanwhile, other features relying on interactions with others may eventually release for the general user base. It is, however, noteworthy that Snapchat+ will continue including advertisements, just like the free Snapchat service. In fact, according to Andreou, “ads are going to be at the core of our business model for the long term.”  

What are All The Features of Snapchat Premium?

Following are some of the features of Premium Snapchat:

• • • Pin your friend as a #1 BFF
    • Get an easy access to all the exclusive Snapchat icons
    • Always display a nice badge in your profile
    • See your orbit with BFF
    • See your Friend’s whereabouts in the last 24 hours
    • See how many friends have re-watched your snapchat story.

How much is a Snapchat premium account?

All the features available in Snapchat app for,

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Anwesha Mishra

Anwesha has been a creative writer for a while. Currently, on her pursuit of tech writing, she is diving into the realms of technology to produce better content on the forever-changing world of technology. In her free time, you’ll find her humming tunes of her favourite shows or reading a book.

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