There is always something new and interesting in the tech world, and this week was no exception as Instagram is tinkering around with a bunch of new features to create a better Stories and posting experience for everyone. Twitter is also experimenting with a new image format and gives users hope of being able to edit tweets after publishing them. However, Twitter has decided to kill its stories-like 'Fleets' option after less than a year of release! It was there for a horrible fleeting moment and it never caught on. I’m not surprised, are you?
On another front, it looks like TikTok's rising popularity is never-ending as the Chinese video-sharing social networking service owned by ByteDance has held onto the top spot as the most downloaded non-gaming app for the past 18 months, according to Sensor Tower's latest data.
We have LOTS of news to cover, so I’ll keep my introduction short
Instagram Tests 'Re-Share' Sticker for Stories
Facebook’s Instagram is testing a new story reshare feature that aims at encouraging more thoughtful feed post sharing.
People tell us that they prefer original Stories content over reshared posts, so we're testing a new way to reshare w/ stickers. Our hope is that people will be more intentional when they share, which will create a better Stories experience for everyone. https://t.co/ZKWllvvJ5L
— Vishal Shah (@vishalshahis) July 13, 2021
This new stick will change the way users share stories as it has a new dedicated sharing format for a collection of posts or reels that users have seen or saved lately under a new reshare sticker. Instagram VP of Product Vishal Shah commented:
"People tell us that they prefer original Stories content over reshared posts, so we're testing a new way to reshare w/ stickers. Our hope is that people will be more intentional when they share, which will create a better Stories experience for everyone."
Also, Instagram is soon rolling out auto-captions for feed posts to facilitate expanded usage.
Instagram we need auto captions for feed posts now. Thank you. @mosseri @vishalshahis
— The BKH ?? (@thebkh) July 13, 2021
Furthermore, the photo-focused app announced a feature that everyone was waiting for which is the option to save Instagram Stories as drafts within the app.
Instagram story draft feature is rolling out to some users! ? #Instagram pic.twitter.com/zduF1JSaOT
— ㆅ (@WFBrother) July 16, 2021
More in Instagram news, the photo-focused app has now added a new option to control sensitive content to protect users from unwelcome exposure. In a blog post the app explains:
"We’ve always had rules about what kind of content can be on Instagram, which we call Community Guidelines, and the point of these guidelines is to keep people safe. We don’t allow hate speech, bullying, and other content that might present a risk of harm to people."
Twitter Kills Fleets
Twitter has made the decision to retire the not-so-like story feature dubbed as fleet.
we're removing Fleets on August 3, working on some new stuff
— Twitter (@Twitter) July 14, 2021
we're sorry or you're welcome
The social media giant is letting go of this Instagram-like feature to focus more on its audio Spaces tool instead, explained Kayvon Beykpour, product lead in Twitter:
We’re winding down Fleets on August 3. We weren’t seeing the impact we’d like to see from a big bet, so we’re going to pivot our focus elsewhere ? https://t.co/5aAXh7Y9a3
— Kayvon Beykpour (@kayvz) July 14, 2021
Also, Beykpour posted a question to twitter users asking them if they would like an option for tweet editing:
if @TwitterBlue let you edit tweets within a few minutes of posting them, would you want to subscribe? let me know why yes/no in the replies!
— Kayvon Beykpour (@kayvz) July 16, 2021
In more interesting news, Twitter is working on a new image format, which would take up the whole horizontal space in-stream, eliminating the current, rounded borders on your photos.
Twitter is working on a new timeline layout where tweet content takes up the horizontal space more efficiently,
— Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) July 15, 2021
no more margin around the photos! ? pic.twitter.com/6ANE2uCIaB
Clubhouse Opens to All Users
After releasing the Android version, Clubhouse, the audio-chat social networking app, has decided to let go of the invitation-only and open the app to everyone who wants to join in.
Clubhouse explains:
"We have removed our waitlist system so that anyone can join. If you have a club, you can post your link far and wide. If you are a creator with an audience, you can bring them all on. If you’re hosting a public event, anyone can attend. You can bring close friends, classmates, family members, coworkers, and anyone else you like — on iOS or Android."
Upcoming Video Games, Updates
- PUBG Mobile back to India under the brand name Battlegrounds Mobile India.
- 'Gotham Knights' Batman game Delayed to 2022
- Marvel’s Avengers [PS5] available until Monday, July 5, 2021
- Borderlands 3 [PS5] available until Wednesday, September 29, 2021
- Resident Evil's Jill, Leon and Nemesis are coming to 'Dead by Daylight'
Upcoming Events
Gamescom - The heart of gaming 25–27 Aug 2021
