Social Media Updates Archives - Jet Developers Blog

Meta’s New Initiative: Identifying and Labeling AI-Generated Content on Social Media

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has unveiled a new initiative aimed at identifying and labeling AI-generated content across its platforms. This move comes in response to growing concerns about the proliferation of deepfake images and videos, particularly after recent incidents involving AI-generated content of public figures like Taylor Swift. In this blog post, we’ll explore Meta’s latest announcement, its efforts to combat AI-generated content, and the implications for online safety and transparency.

Meta’s Announcement: Tackling AI-Generated Content

Addressing Growing Concerns

In a recent post, Meta announced its commitment to identifying and labeling AI-generated content on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. This decision follows public outrage and calls for action after the circulation of pornographic deepfakes featuring Taylor Swift on social media platforms. As the 2024 US elections approach, Meta faces mounting pressure to address the spread of misleading and manipulated content.

Collaboration and Best Practices

Meta emphasized its collaboration with industry organizations like the Partnership on AI (PAI) to establish common standards for identifying AI-generated content. The company’s use of invisible markers, such as IPTC metadata and invisible watermarks, aligns with PAI’s best practices. These markers allow Meta to label images created using its AI technology, providing users with transparency about the content’s origin.

Challenges and Future Directions

The Limitations of Watermarking

Despite efforts to implement digital watermarks, experts caution that they are not foolproof against manipulation. Recent research has shown that bad actors can evade or even manipulate watermarks, raising questions about their effectiveness in combating AI-generated content. However, digital watermarks play a crucial role in enabling transparency and accountability in the digital landscape.

Ethical Considerations and Provenance

Margaret Mitchell, chief ethics scientist at Hugging Face, underscores the importance of provenance in AI-generated content. While digital watermarks may not entirely eliminate the risk of misuse, they provide valuable insights into the content’s lineage and evolution. Mitchell emphasizes the need for a nuanced approach to AI ethics, balancing innovation with safeguards to protect users’ rights and interests.

Conclusion

Meta’s initiative to identify and label AI-generated content marks a significant step towards enhancing transparency and accountability in social media. By collaborating with industry partners and adopting best practices, Meta aims to mitigate the risks associated with the proliferation of deepfake content. While challenges remain, including the limitations of watermarking technology, ongoing efforts underscore the importance of ethical AI development and responsible digital citizenship.

As we navigate the evolving landscape of online content, initiatives like Meta’s serve as a reminder of the collective responsibility to uphold integrity and trust in digital interactions. By prioritizing transparency and ethical practices, we can foster a safer and more inclusive online environment for all users.

Meta’s Threads Unveils Major Update: Introduces Tags to Enhance User Experience

Meta’s social networking platform, Threads, received a significant update on Thursday with the introduction of tags, marking a departure from the conventional hashtag approach. The platform now allows users to tag a single topic per post to discourage tag spam.

After testing the tag feature in Australia last month, Meta has initiated a global rollout of tags. In contrast to hashtags, users can employ phrases with spaces and special characters. Clicking on a tag within a post opens all related posts in the search view.

To explore posts associated with a particular tag, users can enter the tag directly into the search bar. However, some posts may not use tags, even if they include the associated phrase. Users still have the option to manually add hashtags to their posts in the composer.

Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, explained in a post that Meta aims to reduce engagement hacking through this new design. Notably, Threads currently lacks a trending section, but users can discover popular tags by tapping on the tag button.

To maintain a positive user experience, the platform allows users to report topics deemed insensitive. Reporting categories encompass spam, bullying or harassment, scam or fraud, eating disorders, and hate speech and symbols. Some users have reported receiving warnings about sensitive tags, though the criteria for triggering these warnings remains unclear.

As noted by Sarah Perez in a previous report, there is a potential issue with similar hashtags generating confusion. With the one-tag-per-post limit, posts may not reach audiences searching for alternate tags. For instance, there are multiple tags for NBA, such as NBAThread, NBA Threads, and NBA.

Last month, Threads expanded its search feature to include “all languages” across all countries where the app is available. Additionally, the platform is expected to launch in the European Union to comply with regional regulations.

According to app analytics firm Apptopia, Threads’ daily downloads rebounded after a recent decline, signaling a positive trajectory for the platform in the coming months.

Meta Introduces Disappearing Voice Messages on WhatsApp, Enhancing User Privacy

In a significant move within the realm of Meta’s messaging apps, today’s headline revelation is the widespread implementation of end-to-end encryption in Messenger. However, the tech giant isn’t stopping there; a noteworthy addition is on its way to WhatsApp users in the form of disappearing voice messages. This innovative feature empowers users to send a voice note that self-destructs after a single play, mirroring the “View Once” capability for photos and videos introduced in 2021.

Meta emphasizes that this feature adds an extra layer of security to conversations where retaining information in digital form is undesirable—think surprise planning or sharing sensitive, one-time-use details like credit card numbers with friends or family.

Distinctly marked with a “one-time” icon, these ephemeral voice messages signal to recipients that playback is a one-shot deal. This ensures users won’t mistakenly play the message in a noisy environment or can prepare to take notes if crucial information needs to be retained. WhatsApp asserts that these messages, like “View Once” photos and videos, benefit from default end-to-end encryption.

This update to WhatsApp aligns with Meta’s ongoing commitment to privacy-centric alterations across its social platforms. Despite recent adjustments, including the discontinuation of cross-messaging between Instagram and Facebook, Meta has fulfilled certain encryption promises, introducing encryption to WhatsApp chat backups in 2021 and now culminating in the rollout of end-to-end encryption in Messenger.

Global deployment of WhatsApp’s new “View Once” feature for voice messages is underway, set to reach users in the coming days. While not instantly visible in all apps, the option will soon become accessible to users worldwide.

WhatsApp Enhances Android User Security with Device-Based Authentication

In its ongoing commitment to bolster user privacy and security, WhatsApp has introduced a new security feature tailored for Android users. This update empowers them to unlock and access their accounts through a variety of device-based authentication methods. The move comes following an extensive testing phase in WhatsApp’s beta channel and is now being made available to a wider Android audience. This innovative feature is designed to offer enhanced flexibility and security, allowing users to opt for their preferred method of account protection.

With this latest update, Android users can now select between two distinct authentication methods: two-factor authentication (2FA) and device-based authentication. The latter option brings a range of convenience and security features, including facial recognition, fingerprint scanning, or a personal PIN. This addition caters to users who value swifter access to their accounts without compromising the robust security of their conversations and data.

It is important to note that, as of the current release, there has been no confirmation regarding the availability of this feature for iOS users. This means that iPhone users may need to wait a bit longer to experience the advantages of this enhanced security feature. Nonetheless, WhatsApp’s commitment to user privacy and security is evident in their efforts to continually refine their platform, aligning with the evolving landscape of digital privacy and data protection.

This latest development underscores WhatsApp’s dedication to meeting the growing concerns surrounding digital privacy and safeguarding against an ever-increasing tide of cyber threats. With the introduction of device-based authentication for Android users, WhatsApp provides a customizable security solution, assuring its users that their conversations and data are in safe hands. Android users now have the flexibility to select the authentication method that best suits their preferences and security needs, making WhatsApp a more secure platform for their communication needs.

X New Joining Questions Boost Community Quality

X is embracing a feature that has become increasingly prevalent in Facebook Groups: the use of mandatory questions to screen prospective members. In an announcement made today, the company, previously recognized as Twitter, revealed that administrators of private Communities on X now have the option to request that users respond to a specific question when they seek admission, in addition to agreeing to the group’s established rules. These responses will enable administrators and moderators to better assess membership requests and provide a rudimentary defense against spammers and bots who may disrupt the group with unwanted content.

This feature might also pave the way for Communities on X to attain a more exclusive status, where only selected individuals gain entry based on their responses as administrators determine their suitability. On the flip side, this feature could be used to prevent individuals who might flag or report the group’s content from gaining access to groups that push the boundaries of X’s terms and policies.

Facebook Groups already offers a similar questions feature, but it is more extensive. On Facebook, group administrators can require potential members to answer multiple questions and ensure they adhere to the group’s specific rules. Some groups even quiz potential members about the group’s rules to verify if they have been read.

While anyone can create a Facebook Group, forming and managing Communities on X is a privilege reserved for X Premium subscribers, as only “verified” users have the ability to create a Community. Verification is a primary feature of X’s paid subscription. However, joining Communities is open to all X users, resulting in some larger groups with substantial user bases. For instance, the Apple Community boasts 52,500 members, Tech Twitter has 29,500 members, The Design Sphere has 117,000 members, and Movie Twitter has 119,600 members, to mention a few of the prominent groups. Yet, the broader adoption of this feature may be restricted by the fact that not all users can create their own Community.

It is worth noting that Communities have survived Elon Musk’s ownership of X, despite various features and services being discontinued under his leadership, such as the newsletter platform Revue, support for ad-free news articles, support for third-party clients, and the private Circle feature for sharing content with friends. The platform has also placed TweetDeck, now known as XPro, behind a paywall and increased access prices for its developer API.

Presently, Communities appear to be an underdeveloped feature that doesn’t seamlessly integrate into X’s rapid-scrolling timeline. They provide a quieter and more secluded space for individuals to post about specific topics or themes. It remains uncertain what broader vision X has for its group feature or whether they will play a more prominent role in X’s service, and if so, how that will unfold.

Facebook’s New Feature: Multiple Personal Profiles for Enhanced User Freedom

Facebook has just unveiled a significant update that aims to provide users with more flexibility and freedom in their online interactions. In a move that appears long overdue, the social media giant will now allow individuals to create multiple personal profiles within a single account. This feature has been introduced to address the evolving needs and preferences of Facebook users, making it easier for them to manage their digital personas and engage with the platform on their own terms.

The motivation behind this development becomes evident when considering the diverse ways people use Facebook. Many users have been reluctant to share certain aspects of their lives on the platform due to concerns about privacy and the desire to maintain clear boundaries between their personal and professional worlds. For instance, some individuals, including journalists, have refrained from sharing work-related content in specific groups to prevent strangers from accessing personal photos or other sensitive information. In some cases, users have even opted to obscure their identities by not using their full names to avoid being easily discoverable on Facebook.

With the introduction of multiple personal profiles, Facebook is offering a practical solution to these dilemmas. Users can now create distinct profiles tailored to various aspects of their lives, thereby affording them the freedom to share content with specific groups, be it close friends, acquaintances, or professional contacts. This newfound flexibility empowers users to curate their online experiences more precisely, ensuring that they only interact with the audience they find most relevant for each profile.

Consider the scenario where an individual wants to maintain a profile exclusively for close friends, keeping it separate from acquaintances or former colleagues. This separation allows for a more comfortable and authentic sharing experience. Similarly, a passionate bookworm may choose to create a profile dedicated solely to book-related content, connecting with fellow literature enthusiasts to discuss their latest reads or vent about disappointing books.

In the words of Facebook, this feature is intended to provide “clearer organization of friends, groups, and interests,” enabling users to engage more freely with their desired audience across various facets of their lives. Each profile comes with its unique feed of relevant content, and users can effortlessly switch between profiles without the need to log in repeatedly.

It’s important to note that certain Facebook features, such as dating, marketplace, professional mode, and payments, will not be immediately available for additional personal profiles. This limitation is a consideration for those who heavily rely on these functionalities.

Facebook’s decision to introduce this feature follows a year-long testing period, during which the company received positive feedback from users who appreciated the newfound control over their social graphs and the ability to organize their profiles based on interests.

As of the latest data available, Facebook boasted more than 3 billion monthly active users as of July, according to Meta’s quarterly report. Furthermore, the platform witnessed growth in daily active users, reaching 2.064 billion, up from 2.037 billion in the previous quarter. This growth is particularly significant because it reversed a trend of declining daily active users that Facebook experienced in the final quarter of 2021.

In summary, Facebook’s introduction of multiple personal profiles represents a strategic move to align the platform more closely with users’ diverse needs and preferences. By allowing individuals to segment their online identities, Facebook aims to foster a more comfortable and tailored user experience, ultimately empowering its vast user base to engage more freely and authentically on the platform.

Threads Unveils Seamless Account Switching Feature

Threads, the social networking app owned by Meta, has introduced a highly anticipated feature that allows users to seamlessly switch between multiple accounts without the hassle of logging out. This new functionality was unveiled recently, marking a significant development for the platform’s mobile applications.

The process of switching accounts on Threads is remarkably straightforward. Users can now initiate the account switch by performing a long-press action on the profile icon conveniently located in the bottom right corner of the app’s interface. Once engaged, this action triggers a menu to appear, offering the “Add profile” option, which allows users to effortlessly create and switch to a new profile as needed.

One of the primary advantages of this feature is its ability to streamline the transition between various profiles, whether they be for work-related purposes or personal use. This enhanced functionality brings greater convenience to users who frequently navigate between different aspects of their lives within the Threads app.

While the announcement of this feature is undoubtedly exciting, Instagram head Adam Mosseri did not specify whether there is a limit to the number of accounts users can add to the profile-switching feature. This leaves room for speculation about the extent to which users can take advantage of this newfound flexibility.

Notably, Threads introduced this profile-switching feature on the same day that Facebook introduced a similar capability for its Blue app, allowing users to manage multiple personal profiles. This synchronicity underscores the growing trend toward providing users with greater control and flexibility over their social media experiences.

Threads continues to evolve and expand its feature set, even more than three months after its initial launch. Recent updates have included testing a full-text search feature in New Zealand and Australia, followed by a global rollout of this functionality. Additionally, Threads introduced features such as the ability to enable notifications for specific posts for a 24-hour period and the option to quote posts when using the web version of the app.

In conclusion, Threads’ new profile-switching feature represents a significant step forward in enhancing the user experience on the platform. This functionality not only simplifies the process of managing multiple accounts but also reflects the app’s commitment to continuous improvement and innovation in response to user needs and preferences.

X Introduces Government ID-Based Verification to Enhance Account Security

X, previously known as Twitter, has introduced a new government ID-based account verification system tailored for its premium users. This innovative feature aims to combat impersonation while offering various advantages, including “prioritized support.”

In collaboration with Israeli identity verification firm Au10tix, the social networking giant has implemented a pop-up for ID verification, with the possibility of Au10tix storing this data for a maximum of 30 days.

While X’s support page mentions that ID verification is accessible in many countries, it is important to note that it is not available in the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), and the United Kingdom. This restriction is likely due to the stringent data protection regulations governing these regions.

Currently, the ID-based verification system appears to provide limited immediate benefits. X has mentioned the potential use of this system to restrict access to certain content based on the user’s age, as determined from the ID.

X stated, “Our current emphasis is on account authentication to prevent impersonation, but we may explore additional measures, including age-appropriate content access and protection against spam and malicious accounts, to uphold the platform’s integrity and foster healthy conversations.”

Users who complete the verification process will receive a verification badge on their profiles, indicating that their government ID has been verified. However, this information can only be viewed by clicking on the blue checkmark symbol on the profile page. Additionally, X has stated that users with ID verification will receive “prioritized support from X Services,” although the specifics of this benefit remain somewhat unclear.

Interestingly, X recently introduced a feature allowing paid users to hide their verification checkmarks from their profiles. Furthermore, the company has plans to expedite the review process for checkmarks in the future for users who have verified their IDs. These users will also gain the flexibility to make frequent changes to their names, usernames, or profile photos without forfeiting their verification status.

It’s worth noting that, at present, ID-based verification is exclusively available to paid users. This decision raises questions, as X has emphasized its commitment to reducing impersonation and spam, yet verification tools are not accessible to all users.

In April, Twitter terminated its legacy verification program and removed verification checkmarks from many accounts. However, due to the ensuing confusion, the company eventually reinstated checkmarks for select accounts.

In a recent privacy policy update, X disclosed its ability to collect users’ biometric data, education, and job history, citing this as a means to link accounts to real individuals by processing their government-issued IDs. X believes that this additional information will help thwart impersonation attempts and enhance the overall security of the platform.

Meta Denies Plans for WhatsApp Ads, Focusing on Alternative Revenue Streams

Meta has refuted recent reports suggesting that it is considering introducing advertisements to the popular messaging platform WhatsApp, dispelling the notion that ads might soon invade the user experience.

An article in the Financial Times had claimed that some teams within Meta were contemplating the idea of displaying ads within lists of conversations on WhatsApp’s home screen. However, in a formal statement, WhatsApp made it clear that they were neither testing this concept nor actively working on it, and it was not part of their foreseeable plans.

The notion of integrating ads into WhatsApp has been a topic of speculation among industry analysts for some time. As Meta explores various avenues to monetize WhatsApp, a platform used daily by over 2 billion individuals worldwide, the question of whether advertising will eventually make its way to the app remains unanswered. In contrast, Instagram, another Meta-owned platform, has made significant strides in terms of monetization.

However, Meta has thus far resisted the idea of incorporating ads into the WhatsApp experience. Instead, they have relied on generating revenue through WhatsApp Business, a specialized offering designed for merchants who pay for specific services. WhatsApp Business has already garnered more than 200 million monthly active users.

Meta announced changes to the pricing structure and messaging categories of WhatsApp Business in February, aimed at boosting revenue. These new categories encompass utility, authentication (for sending one-time passcodes), marketing, and user-initiated service conversations.

During Meta’s Q3 earnings call last year, Mark Zuckerberg highlighted the success of “click-to-WhatsApp” ads, which had achieved an annual revenue run rate of $1.5 billion, with an impressive 80% year-on-year growth. The company has plans to introduce personalized messaging models for merchants in the near future.

Furthermore, Meta is actively facilitating peer-to-peer and customer-to-merchant payments in countries like India, Brazil, and Singapore. They have also announced their intention to integrate payments into the recently launched global feature, Channels, demonstrating their ongoing commitment to enhancing the WhatsApp experience.

In light of these developments, industry analysts at AllianceBernstein noted, “With WhatsApp Business users reaching 200 million monthly active users and the introduction of GenAI customer service tools, Meta seems to be taking steps towards monetizing its vast user base of over 2 billion active users. ‘Click to Message’ ads are already performing strongly, providing a substantial revenue stream and fostering interaction between users and businesses within the WhatsApp platform.”

WhatsApp Global Rollout of Channels: Private Broadcast Messages for All

WhatsApp has just made a major announcement that’s set to revolutionize the way you receive updates from your favorite people and organizations. The company is expanding its Channels feature, which is designed for broadcasted messages, and it’s rolling out to users in more than 150 countries over the coming weeks.

Mark Zuckerberg himself revealed this exciting development on his brand-new WhatsApp channel. He expressed his enthusiasm for WhatsApp Channels, describing it as a “new private way for you to get updates from people and organizations you follow.” He also mentioned that he would be using his channel to share Meta news and updates.

The journey to global availability for Channels began back in June when Meta initially introduced this feature to users in Colombia and Singapore. In July, they expanded its reach to seven more countries. Now, with this global launch, WhatsApp users around the world can enjoy the benefits of Channels.

Channels are neatly organized within a separate tab in the app, ensuring your privacy as others won’t be able to see which channels you follow. Moreover, your personal information, such as your phone number, remains hidden from both channel admins and followers.

While the primary purpose of a channel remains one-to-many communication through broadcast messages, WhatsApp is introducing new ways to interact. Users will soon have the ability to react to messages with emojis, and the total count of reactions will be visible under each message.

The global launch comes with an improved directory that allows users to discover channels based on their country. You can sort this list by criteria such as new, most active, and most popular. When you forward an update from a channel to a group or an individual, it will include a convenient link back to the original channel.

For channel admins, WhatsApp is introducing the ability to edit a message for up to 30 days. This feature will also extend to individual and group messages, although with a 15-minute editing window.

It’s worth noting that Meta is initially limiting the ability to create a channel to select individuals and organizations. However, the company has plans to eventually open up channel creation to everyone.

With this global launch, WhatsApp is also welcoming a host of notable additions to its Channels feature. These include famous names like Olivia Rodrigo, David Guetta, Billboard, MLB, and, of course, Mark Zuckerberg himself. Although WhatsApp hasn’t disclosed the exact number of channels available on the platform, they did reveal that there are now “thousands” of them. WhatsApp even has its own channel for sharing updates about the app’s features.

This expansion of Channels isn’t the only move Meta has made in the realm of one-to-many communication. Back in June, they introduced the Channels feature on Instagram, aiming to connect creators with their fans through a similar communication channel.

Over the past year, WhatsApp has been experimenting with various features tailored to different group sizes. Last November, they launched Communities, facilitating multigroup communication for places like schools, residential complexes, or clubs. Last month, they introduced a feature that allows you to create groups without naming them, with a cap of six people.

WhatsApp’s global rollout of Channels is set to transform how users connect with their favorite creators, organizations, and individuals, making it easier than ever to stay informed and engaged in the digital world.