#instagram auto liker free

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Instagram and WhatsApp get a ‘from Facebook’ stamp to remind you who’s boss

To be honest, I’m kind of impressed Facebook held out this long.

After buying WhatsApp and Instagram several years ago, Facebook has decided it’s time to let everyone know who’s in charge. A report from The Information details Facebook plans to change the names of the apps to ‘Instagram from Facebook‘ and ‘WhatsApp from Facebook.’ The social network later confirmed the report.

I’m sure people with love that.

This isn’t just something you’ll see on marketing materials, as Facebook  intends to change the name you see in the Google Play and the App Store as well. Mercifully, the ‘from Facebook’ text – which appears to be rolling out slowly – so far only shows up in print within the apps themselves, and the names won’t change on your home screen. They’d be needlessly long; what’s next, ‘Boomerang from Instagram from Facebook?’

Facebook, for its part, released a simple explanation in response to the report: “We want to be clearer about the products and services that are part of Facebook.”

On one hand, its reasoning makes some sense. Facebook seems to be hit with the negative press every other week, while WhatsApp and Instagram have remained relatively clean within their mostly-autonomous operation. By adding a  ‘from Facebook’ to WhatsApp and Instagram, the company to say “hey, we make less controversial apps too!”

Until recently, Facebook has mostly let the companies do their own thing, as reflected by the fact that employees were blindsided by the change in name, according to The Information. This move and others – such as plans to integrate messaging services across Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram – show signs Facebook is holding tighter reins over its properties. Both WhatsApp’s and Instagram’s founders have left their companies in dissatisfaction with Facebook’s new grip.

It’s also worth noting that Facebook has seen increasing pressure to break up, facing antitrust lawsuits and calls from presidential candidates to separate its businesses. By adding the ‘from Facebook’ tag, the company could be trying to build up some goodwill to defend its owning three of the biggest social media platforms in the world. It seems to be asserting its role in getting Instagram and WhatsApp where they are today.

But Instagram and WhatsApp users don’t need to be reminded these apps are owned by Facebook. That separation is part of what helps some people feel comfortable using Instagram even if they deleted their Facebook account years ago. In fact, according to a 2018 survey, 57 percent of Americans don’t even know Instagram is owned by Facebook, and another one showed 50 percent don’t know the company owns WhatsApp. Ignorance is bliss, as they say.

https://growinsta.xyz/instagram-and-whatsapp-get-a-from-facebook-stamp-to-remind-you-whos-boss/

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My Tools Town

"My Tools Town" is an innovative online platform offering a variety of free tools for social media enthusiasts and digital marketers. With user-friendly features, My Tools Town provides utilities like Instagram growth tools, auto likers, and auto followers. These tools help users boost their social presence efficiently, making My Tools Town a go-to destination for enhancing online engagement.

[masteryourtiktok]

Explore Autoliker TikTok- The TikTok Growth Hack You Need to Know

TikTok has taken the world by storm, with millions of users creating and sharing content on the platform daily. With millions of users on TikTok, it can be tough to stand out and attract the attention you need to grow your following. That's where Autoliker TikTok comes in. 

It is a powerful technique that can help you boost your visibility and attract new followers like never before. By automating the process of liking videos based on your preferences, you can get noticed by other users and potentially attract a whole new audience to your account. Keep reading to discover the TikTok growth hack you need to know.

In this article, we'll explore how auto likes TikTok works, why it's the growth hack you need to know, and how it can help take your TikTok account to the next level.

What are TikTok Auto Likes?

TikTok auto likes is a modern approach that automatically likes your videos without relying on specific hashtags, users, or locations that you specify. It is created to help you increase your visibility on the platform by raising likes on your content and potentially gaining new users' attention. TikTok auto-like is easy to use and can be a highly effective way to grow your following and engagement on TikTok.

How Does TikTok AutoLiker Work?

TikTok autoliker is a tool that offers Auto Likes TikTok. It works by automating the process of liking videos on the platform. There are thousands of TikTok auto liker tools online, but you should only trust an authentic, reliable tool, such as AutoLikes TikTok (#Iamat). You only need to provide your Instagram username or password, and the rest work tools manage. It will automatically boost likes on your recent posts, which can help you get noticed by other users and potentially attract new followers to your account.

Why TikTok AutoLiker- The Growth Hack You Need to Know?

There are many reasons why Autoliker TikTok is the growth hack you need to know. Here are just a few:

Saves Time and Effort: TikTok autoliker takes the hassle out of manually liking videos on the platform. Instead, you can sit back and let the tool do the work for you, freeing up your time to focus on creating more content.

Boosts Visibility: By automatically liking videos based on your preferences, TikTok autoliker can help you get noticed by other users and potentially attract new followers to your account.

Improves Engagement: When people see your post with many likes, they trust your posts and get into your profile. It can lead to increased engagement on your account, which can help you grow your following even further.

Customizable Targeting: With Auto TikTok likes, you can target specific hashtags relevant to your niche. It allows you to reach a highly targeted audience and attract followers who are genuinely interested in your content.

Affordable Pricing: TikTok autoliker is an affordable option for growing your following on the platform. With a range of pricing plans, you can find a package that suits your budget and needs.

Also Read: 07 Simple Tricks to Get More Auto Views on TikTok

Final Thoughts

Auto TikTok likes are a valuable addition to your overall TikTok growth strategy. If you're looking for a TikTok growth hack that can help you boost your visibility and attract new followers, AutoLikes TikTok (#Iamat) is the tool you need. With customizable targeting, automated liking, and affordable pricing, it is a no-brainer for anyone serious about growing their following on the platform. Today, give it a shot and observe the outcomes for yourself!

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How to recover your hacked Instagram account

Credit: MaxPixel

Welcome to TNW Basics, a collection of tips, guides, and advice on how to easily get the most out of your gadgets, apps, and other stuff.

Previously, if your Instagram account was taken over by an attacker, recovering it would require wading through choppy customer support, or calling for assistance from white-hat hackers. Now, Instagram is rolling out new measures to help you get your account back more easily

Here’s what you have to do in case your account gets hacked:

Open the Instagram app, and go to the login page.

Tap on ‘Need more help’.

Enter the original email address and phone number you used with your account.

Instagram will send a six-digit unique code to that email address and number. Enter the code to recover your account.

  Instagram recovery process

In addition to this, Instagram told Motherboard that it’ll prevent hackers from using the code sent to you from another device. Plus, it’ll also put a lockdown on the user name for a definitive period after any changes to the account – even if you’ve made the changes yourself. The username lockdown feature is currently available for Android users, and it’s rolling out gradually to iOS users.

https://growinsta.xyz/how-to-recover-your-hacked-instagram-account/

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Facebook won’t remove Zuck’s Instagram deepfake — yet

The internet’s often a big bad place, but every once in a while it’ll make you chuckle. In a hilarious prank, two creators have uploaded a deepfake of Mark Zuckerberg on Instagram talking about stolen data.

The video starts off with Zuckerberg saying, “Imagine this for a second: One man, with total control of billions of people’s stolen data, all their secrets, their lives, their futures. I owe it all to Spectre. Spectre showed me that whoever controls the data, controls the future.”

View this post on Instagram

Mark Zuckerberg reveals the truth about Facebook and who really owns the future… see more @sheffdocfest VDR technology by @cannyai #spectreknows #privacy #democracy #surveillancecapitalism #dataism #deepfake

A post shared by Bill Posters (@bill_posters_uk) on Jun 7, 2019 at 7:15am PDT

The creators, Bill Posters and Daniel Howe, have made the video in partnership with ad agency Canny. The deepfake is made to look like a news clip with tickers and logos hovering around Zuckerberg.

Founders of Canny, Omer Ben-Ami and Jonathan Heimann, told FXGuide that their algorithm is inspired by the works of the University of Washington and Stanford’s Face2Face algorithm. Ben-Ami told Motherboard that engineers used a 21-second clip of Zuckerberg from a seven-minute video to train the AI model. Plus, they used several videos of the voice actor for training.

Later, they reconstructed Zuck’s face with matching expression from the voice actor’s recording. This is not the first time Canny has made such a video. In the past, it has posted deepfakes of Donald Trump, Morgan Freeman, and Kim Kardashian.

Even though the clip is certainly fake, Instagram is not planning to remove it. The company said in a statement that it’ll only delete the video if third-party fact checkers mark it fake:

We will treat this content the same way we treat all misinformation on Instagram. If third-party fact-checkers mark it as false, we will filter it from Instagram’s recommendation surfaces like Explore and hashtag pages.

This goes to show how easy it is to create deepfakes.

–Just a few days ago we saw algorithms that can create deepfakes from just one image, and alter speech by just editing the transcript. Social networks must brace themselves and tighten their policy on this subject.

https://growinsta.xyz/facebook-wont-remove-zucks-instagram-deepfake-yet/

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Instagram will now ask you to think twice before posting profanities

Instagram today released two new features with a view to curb bullying on the platform: a warning when you try to post an abusive comment, and a ‘Restrict’ function to limit another person’s interaction with you.

Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram, said the AI-powered warning feature has stopped some people from posting foulmouthed comments during the early testing period:

In the last few days, we started rolling out a new feature powered by AI that notifies people when their comment may be considered offensive before it’s posted. This intervention gives people a chance to reflect and undo their comment and prevents the recipient from receiving the harmful comment notification.

Often, people use different tricks like using symbols or alternative spellings to fool the AI and post abusive comments. Instagram hasn’t shared any details as to what it’s doing to curb that, and hasn’t specified if the feature is available for languages other than English. We’ve asked the company for more information, and we’ll update the post accordingly.

Instagram’s warning for posting abusive comment

The social network is also testing another feature called ‘Restrict,’ which will allow you to limit a person’s interaction with you. If you restrict a person, they will still be able to post comments on your posts, but they won’t be visible to anyone but themselves. You can then review and allow the restricted person’s comment to be visible to others specifically. 

Restricting an instagram user

Instagram said often people don’t block, unfollow, or report their bullies, because “it could escalate the situation.”  The restricted person won’t be able to see when you’re active on the platform, or when you’ve read their direct messages. 

In April, the platform started demoting offensive posts as a measure to curb hate speech. We’ll have to wait and see if these features are effective, and if the social network’s AI is strong enough to detect tricky abusive comments.

https://growinsta.xyz/instagram-will-now-ask-you-to-think-twice-before-posting-profanities/

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How to report fake news on Instagram

Welcome to TNW Basics, a collection of tips, guides, and advice on how to easily get the most out of your gadgets, apps, and other stuff.

Instagram announced today it’ll let you flag posts for false content. The feature will start rolling out to users in the US from today, and it’ll roll out to other parts of the world within two weeks.

Right now this feature is only available on Instagram’s mobile apps. Here’s how you can report a post:

Open the Instagram app on your phone, and head to the post you want to report.

Tap on the three-dot menu on the right-hand corner of the photo.

Select Report, and then select It’s inappropriate.

Tap on the False information option to report the post.

False information reporting option in Instagram

The company said it won’t pass every post to fact-checkers. Instagram added if a post is flagged as misinformative, it won’t delete the post, but rather demote it and remove it from the explore tab.

Only US-based fact-checkers from the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) will check flagged posts against its code of principles. Instagram says it wants to capture this data as “signals” from users and fact-checkers to train its artificial intelligence model. It aims to use this model in the future to reduce reliance on fact-checkers to detect false information. 

https://growinsta.xyz/how-to-report-fake-news-on-instagram/

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Here’s how to delete or deactivate your Instagram account

Welcome to TNW Basics, a collection of tips, guides, and advice on how to easily get the most out of your gadgets, apps, and other stuff.

Tired of Facebook too? We’ve got a guide for that.

Social platforms like Instagram walk a fine line between being handy and consuming your whole life. Whether your screen time notification says you’ve spent a horrendous amount of time on your phone today, or you just don’t feel the need to share every inch of your life on an app anymore — it might be time to finally pull the plug on your online life and delete your account temporarily… or forever.

If you think now’s the time to cure your Instagram addiction, you can decide to deactivate your account or delete it off the face of the earth permanently. 

But if you’re still on the fence about deleting your Insta for good, you have the option to simply deactivate your account. If you decide to go with this temporary measure, your profile, photos, comments, and likes will be entirely hidden — but if you log back on, your activity will be restored.

If you decide to delete your account forever, your profile, photos, videos, comments, likes, and followers will vanish as though they were never there. And be warned: it’s impossible to reactivate a deleted account. 

Also, the chances are, that if you decide to one day re-register on the platform, you may not be able to have the same username as another account could’ve taken it — so be ready to wave good-bye to AwesomeRippedDude69.

I just want to deactivate my Instagram, but where do I begin?

To temporarily delete your Instagram account and its content, here’s how you do it:

On your desktop, visit the Instagram website and log into your account.

Navigate to your profile page and click ‘Edit Profile.’

Select ‘Temporarily disable my account’ at the bottom of the page.

Open the drop-down menu next to ‘Why are you disabling your account?’ and select the option most relevant to you.

When prompted, re-enter your Instagram password.

Finally, select ‘Temporarily disable account.’

  If you decide you want to take more permanent steps, consider downloading your Instagram content beforehand, which includes a copy of everything you’ve ever uploaded to the platform including photos, videos, comments, and your profile information. 

To download your Instagram activity, follow this link, enter your password, and select the ‘Request Download’ button. According to Instagram, it can take up to 48 hours to receive your data which is sent to your chosen email address. 

I want to permanently delete my Instagram account

Big decisive action, good on you! Similarly to permanently deleting your Facebook account, make sure this is what you want to do since it’s an irreversible step. But if you’re sure you don’t need Instagram to get through the day, follow these steps:

On your desktop, visit the Instagram website and log into your account.

Follow this link, which takes you to the ‘Delete Your Account’ page.

Open the drop-down menu next to ‘Why are you deleting your account?’ and choose the option most relevant to you.

When prompted, re-enter your Instagram password.

Finally, select ‘Permanently delete my account.’

And you’re done. Goodbye Instagram… forever. 

There’s a deep pool of social networking sites out there, but most don’t make it as tricky to delete your account for good. If you’re wondering how to delete you account on other social sites, head to their FAQs page or search on Google for an easy guide.

https://growinsta.xyz/heres-how-to-delete-or-deactivate-your-instagram-account/

[growinstablog]

People with disabilities are finding empowerment from Instagram communities

When I search for “bipolar mother” on Google Images, I find a lot of women with their heads in their hands, their crying children in the corner. These images actually understate the broader stigma of being a bipolar mother — the stories that I hear daily about interactions between mothers and their families are disheartening. As a bipolar pregnant woman, I was terrified that my first psychiatrist was right when he told me I should never allow myself to get pregnant; he said I might kill my baby.

When empathy and understanding are not part of our daily life, we suffer. But social media has filled in that chasm — and it can provide a lifeline. I don’t drive on freeways, and while getting around Southern California has always been intimidating for me, with an infant it’s become even more difficult. Social media can function as the support group and family that most of us don’t have, or have trouble accessing physically.

While pregnant, I started to follow Elsie Larson’s entry into motherhood on Instagram. Larson is known for her popular DIY blog on “A Beautiful Mess” and for the app “A Color Story.” She adopted a girl with albinism from China named Nova. They painted together, giggled together — they were what I wanted to look like with my little girl. I decided that when I had my baby, I would try to Elsie Larson it and forget about those scary Google images.

I joined Instagram. I didn’t know what typical people were doing there — I saw a lot of pictures of food. But popular hashtags like #disabledandcute and #disabledandsexy mean that a diverse group of disabled people — different genders, nationalities, disabilities — are calling their bodies sexy with the same tag. All of these people are connected by disability.

Michelle Griffith, owner of the Spoonie Sisters shop on Etsy, explains it this way: “Those with disabilities learn what it’s like to live with other disabilities. It’s an amazing supportive community. They truly understand your struggles, victories, frustrations, excitements.”

Hulya Marquardt, a double amputee and course manager, finds a correlation between how many pictures of disabled people one is able to see and the degree of acceptance they embrace. “It becomes normal,” Marquart tells me. “People get used to seeing other people in wheelchairs or with missing limbs.”

Images like these are influential. Kārlis Podnieks, a paraplegic basketball player, was inspired by photos he saw online. “As an athlete, I always have had examples,” he says. “So I try to be that example now. Instagram gives me a way bigger platform to be an example for a bigger audience.”

The dual effect of this dynamic is to simultaneously manifest an actual community — you and I are not alone — and to build self-esteem — you and I are “normal.” A bipolar woman posted on Instagram that she hated taking her medicine. One day later, this started an expanding conversation about how we are all so grateful that bipolar is a treatable disorder, despite the real physical and emotional hassle that taking or changing medicine can cause.

Of course, some people with disabilities are unable to access the internet at all. And for those of us who can, connecting online still has its downsides — social media spaces can be both dangerous and upsetting, and personal boundaries are poorly defined. I get lots of responses to my pictures asking if it’s really true that I’m bipolar and a mother because other users, too, have been warned not to have children.

Recently, I received a message from a woman with bipolar disorder asking if she could also get married and have children. I sent a picture of my baby, asleep on my lap, and told her that I was properly medicated. She sent me a self-harm picture of her wrist with the words: “Look what I did.” I told her that was unacceptable and if she did it again I’d have to report her.

When guys try to hit on me on Instagram, I ignore them at first. But if they continue, I block them. Once I started a conversation about what to do about insomnia. People were chiming in with all the things they do to sleep. But one man — who was mad that I wasn’t following him back — wrote, “Try a shotgun.”

Sometimes people ask for my cocktail of medications so they can be as stable as I am. I’m glad to describe what works for me, but I make it clear that different meds work differently for different people. I always tell them the same thing: this is the best time in history to be bipolar, but it’s just about finding what works for you.

Like Kārlis Podnieks, I’ve wanted to be an example for others since finding this diverse support community. I don’t want to be a victim. My desire to set an example has helped me move away from people who demeaned me (intentionally or not) and spend more time in a more supportive climate, even if the support is digital. My digital spaces help me feel that I’m protecting myself in an otherwise hostile environment.

Elsie Larson is setting an example for me to follow: when she announced that she had been matched with a baby with albinism, the increased traffic to her blog crashed her site. Though she talks openly about albinism and her daughter’s sensitive eyes, no one is obsessed with her daughter’s disability. With every image on Instagram, Larson and Nova normalize it. We’re obsessed with Nova’s sunglasses, her bell-bottoms, and her three stuffed pigs, all named Piggy.

I have experienced what Ben Clark, another person in my online social sphere who calls himself “your friendly paraplegic,” explains this way: “Having the platform to do this has really helped not only others but myself, giving me the opportunity to learn about myself.”

During the terrible days of a med change, I removed myself from my daughter for her safety. I turned to Instagram for support. I didn’t post happy photos to pretend it wasn’t happening. I posted thoughts and images of how I felt in a “bipolar middle” — the middle of a potential relapse. I showed what my house looked like during a recovery and a list of my med-change mistakes, and I talked about what I should have done differently.

The irony is that the digital world feels more real to me than the real world has ever felt — this digital world includes so many of us, and it shows our strengths and helps us deal with our weaknesses. I have found not only friends on Instagram but collaborators as well. I’ve asked people to be a guest on my blog and sell “Meet My Meds” T-shirts, which list the medications that help make us who we are.

Knowing that I’m part of this becomes a touchstone, something I can rely on when I’m feeling great or not so great. No matter the time or day of the week, I can find someone going through something similar to what I’m going through. A comment on a picture or a direct message starts a dialogue. This centers me — it helps me be honest about who I am, and about what I can and cannot do every day.

I can’t wait for everyone to catch up and learn from us. I long for the day when a Google search offers images of a “bipolar mother” in the same context as a “working mother” or “CEO mother” or “astronaut mother.” After all, the moon is within our reach.

This article by Rae Rose was originally published on How We Get To Next, a non-profit project interested in exploring the intersections between science, technology and culture, and how those things are changing the future. Follow them on Twitter,  like them on Facebook, and subscribe to their newsletter.

https://growinsta.xyz/people-with-disabilities-are-finding-empowerment-from-instagram-communities/

[growinstablog]

How to make one of those ‘Best of’ Instagram collages

Welcome to TNW Basics, a collection of tips, guides, and advice on how to easily get the most out of your gadgets, apps, and other stuff.

So you, like most everyone out there, love posting on Instagram. Selfies, food shots, travel photos… you do it all, and your followers love you for it. Or maybe you’re a lesser-known ‘grammer and want to create a little something to commemorate how you’ve done this year or see what your friends enjoyed most.

Nine-square grid collages on Instagram aren’t new, but the trend of doing a year-end best-of really kicked off in 2018, with big names like Beyonce and Kim Kardashian doing them. And no matter what time of year you do it, it’s still a charming little recap of your best photos. So here’s how you can have a collage of your own.

There are two primary options, both of which work pretty much the same way. One is Top9 and the other is BestNine.

With Top9, you enter your IG handle and your email address, and the website automatically generates your most-liked nine posts. Here’s what it looks like:

Credit: Top9

No surprise a pic of my dog wound up there, but damn, I didn’t realize my followers liked my knitting that much.

Anyway, the reason that one has a watermark is because you have to pay Top9 a fee to get it removed. Top9 has one advantage, in that it offers you the option to remove your data from its servers via a form on its website. There’s no guarantee this actually removes it, but the gesture is a welcome one.

The other site is BestNine, and it works much the same way. The main difference is that BestNine is free, meaning the final grid comes without a watermark. I much prefer this one for that reason — it’s a small difference, and I hate to sound cheap, but it’s really the only way to distinguish between the two:

Credit: BestNine

Both sites also have app versions, which require you to actually log into Instagram in order to generation the collage. This is currently the only way to make a collage for a private account. Top9 still requires a payment in order for you to get the grid without a watermark, and BestNine has a paid version which offers fancy frames and such.

Credit: BestNine

Of the two, I still lean towards BestNine, if only because it gives the option to make a “Best of 2019” grid (even though the year is only half-over at this point), which Top9 does not.

Good luck with your collages!

https://growinsta.xyz/how-to-make-one-of-those-best-of-instagram-collages/

[growinstablog]

Former Texas Governor Rick Perry fell for an old-school Instagram hoax

You know, in many respects, I admire former Texas Governor Rick Perry. He’s accomplished so much, despite clearly being an absolute fucking moron that, in Europe, wouldn’t be trusted with a pair of safety scissors.

In the years after landing the top job in Texan politics, Perry has since wrangled his way into President Trump’s cabinet, where, as Secretary of Energy, he’s responsible for maintaining America’s sizable nuclear arsenal.

Oh yeah, and a few hours ago, he posted an image to his Instagram warning about a new change in the company’s privacy policy. This change, unless the user explicitly opts-out by posting the same image, would allow the Facebook-owned image sharing site to use his content in perpetuity.

  View this post on Instagram

  Feel free to repost!! #nothanksinstagram

A post shared by GovernorPerry (@governorperry) on Aug 20, 2019 at 6:52pm PDT

This particular image macro has circled the Internet for ages, with different permutations for different websites. I’ve seen versions for Twitter and Facebook, shared mostly by, let’s face it, confused and incoherently conservative baby boomers.

And obviously it’s total bollocks.

It’s also worth noting that the image macro shared by Governor Perry states should Instagram violate his privacy, he’ll be able to seek remedies under “the Rome Statue [sic]”.

That’s hilarious for a lot of reasons, not least the fact that the Rome Statute established the International Criminal Court, which the US isn’t a part of, after it declined to ratify its accession in 2002. Even today, it’s still not a member, although the US has participated as an observer since 2010.

You’d think Rick Perry would know that, given the ICC has long been a Conservative bête noire, representing a powerful supranational entity seeking to undermine American sovereignty. But then again, he’s an idiot, so maybe not.

In the hours since Perry posted the image, Instagram users have taken to thoroughly roasting the former Governor for his apparent lack of technical savvy.

In response, Perry has tried to feign that the post was merely a joke. Replying to his post, he wrote: “I’ll be darned!! First time I’ve seen anything fake on the internet!!”

“im not owned! im not owned!!”, i continue to insist as i slowly shrink and transform into a corn cob

— wint (@dril) November 11, 2011

Obviously, people aren’t buying it. I’m not buying it. Perry is exactly the type of person who would fall for that kind of stale hoax, and has a track record for overall stupidity.

Remember when he ran for President and forgot one of his key policy proposals while on stage?

And remember when he ran for President on the position that courageous gay men and women shouldn’t be allowed to openly serve the country they love?

And now he’s the custodian of a nuclear arsenal that could destroy the Earth many times over, transforming our cities and countryside into some kind of Southampton-esque hellscape.

At least, if we all die in a fiery blaze, we won’t have to hear about Instagram’s fucking privacy policy again.

https://growinsta.xyz/former-texas-governor-rick-perry-fell-for-an-old-school-instagram-hoax/

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How to see what ads Instagram thinks you’ll care about

Credit: Pxhere

Welcome to TNW Basics, a collection of tips, guides, and advice on how to easily get the most out of your gadgets, apps, and other stuff.

Instagram‘s one of the prime social networks, and its ads are sometimes marginally less obtrusive than the likes of its big brother, Facebook. But they’re still there and they can be a nuisance — especially if you’re getting ads that have nothing to do with what you’re interested in.

Instagram provides a way for you to see what it thinks your interests are, so you can see what kinds of ads it’s going to serve you. These interests are pulled from accounts you follow, pictures you’ve liked, and other ads with which you’ve interacted.

There are two slightly different paths to finding the list depending if you’re on mobile or the desktop site. To get to the list on mobile, go to Settings, then Security. Go to Access Data, then scroll all the way down to the bottom, where you’ll see Ad Interests, and select “View All.” On desktop, go to Settings, then Privacy & Security. Select “View Account Data,” and you’ll find Ad Interests at the bottom right.

Once you’re at the list, you’ll have to keep hitting “View More,” in order to see more and more of the things Instagram thinks you’re interested in. In my case, the list is pretty on point, though I do wonder if having “Online Shopping” at the top of the list is a bit self-serving on Instagram’s part, especially considering I’ve never bought anything via Instagram.

There’s one downside to this list, though: you can’t actually alter the list in anyway. You can’t delete any of the interests from here. The only way to alter the ads list is to hide ads you don’t think are relevant. That requires extra work on your part, but it’s currently the only way to be proactive about altering the list.

To do this, tap the ellipsis on the side of the ad and select “Hide Ad.” This doesn’t necessarily have any immediate effects, but you might eventually see less of the kinds of ads you hide. Of course, the trade-off is that you have to give Instagram (and Facebook) even more information about yourself and your preferences.

https://growinsta.xyz/how-to-see-what-ads-instagram-thinks-youll-care-about/

[growinstablog]

You can now share your Netflix faves to Instagram Stories — if you have an iPhone

When streaming first took off it felt like the period of shared viewership had ended. How could anyone gather around the water cooler to discuss a show or movie when you could all be watching different things at different times?

But, recently, things have changed. The success of (and the raft of discussion about) Netflix titles like ‘Bird Box’ and ‘You’ illustrates the communal viewing experience is alive and well. The difference is that the forum has changed. Rather than the aforementioned water cooler, we now discuss on social media. And Netflix is paying attention.

Yes, the streaming giant today announced that iPhone users of its app will be able to share Netflix titles straight to Instagram Stories. Joy to the world.

It works like this: you open Netflix on iOS, choose a title you’d like to include on your updates, and then you can either add its artwork to your Story, or simply send it to some friends.

Here’s what the share menu looks like in the Netflix app::

And this is what it looks like when you’re about to share to your Story:

A Netflix spokesperson had this to say about the update: “We’re always on the lookout for ways to make it easier for members to share the Netflix titles they’re obsessing about and help them discover something new to watch. We hope our members enjoy this new feature!”

We asked Netflix when this functionality will arrive on Android, and were told the company is “working on it! We don’t have details to share at this time, but stay tuned.”

I can say one thing for certain: this integration will be popular. We covered the announcement (and launch) of music on Instagram and if you use Stories then you know how widespread this has become. It’s rare I go a waking hour without seeing someone sharing a snippet of track they’re listening to.

While some might scoff at this Netflix and Instagram integration, there’ll be many more people excited for an easy way to share their viewing habits with friends, family, and the public at large. And more power to them.

Maybe, just maybe, announcing the death of a shared viewership was premature. It’s now easier than ever to connect with, and talk to, people who are consuming the same media as you.

Well, if you own an iPhone at least.

[conf-ad-unit]

(Update January 23: Netflix sent us a quote regarding Android availability, which we have inserted into the relevant part of the article)

https://growinsta.xyz/you-can-now-share-your-netflix-faves-to-instagram-stories-if-you-have-an-iphone/

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Instagram tests Threads app for ‘intimate sharing’ with close friends

I need another instant messaging app to keep in touch with family and friends. Said no one ever.

But if a recent report by The Verge is anything to go by, Facebook is internally testing a new chat app for Instagram called Threads in what appears to be the company’s “latest assault on Snapchat.”

The app — conceived as a sister app for Instagram for “constant, intimate sharing” between close friends — also encourages users to automatically share their location, speed, and battery life in real-time, aside from offering a plethora of photo and video tools.

Facebook‘s Threads test comes three months after the photo-sharing social network shut down Direct, a standalone messaging app used to send Instagram direct messages, which it had been working on since late 2017.

It’s not fully clear if Instagram intends to officially roll out Threads to its billion plus users, or if its features will be folded into the main app or shelved before a public launch.

Confirmed: Instagram is killing its standalone Direct Messaging app pic.twitter.com/owt2gXtfCE

— Matt Navarra (@MattNavarra) May 16, 2019

But it’s no secret that the development is more of a side-effect of executive reshuffle at Instagram over the past one year.

In the 11 months since founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger entrusted their popular creation in the hands of Adam Mosseri, Facebook has steadily increased its hold over the prized acquisition, with employees working on direct messaging reporting to the Facebook Messenger team starting this year.

Furthermore, the test arrives at a time when Facebook — which has come under criticism for a series of data scandals and privacy missteps — announced a pivot to privacy earlier this May, outlining its plans to merge the messaging systems of Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook to allow users on any platform to message those on another.

The broader consolidation of Instagram with its parent company has ignited further antitrust concerns, with US Federal Trade Commission chairman Joseph Simons warning that Facebook‘s plan to integrate Instagram and WhatsApp more closely could hinder any attempts to break up the social media giant.

Facebook has long gone after Snapchat, even going to the extent of replicating the latter’s well liked Story format across all of its services.

But if Threads needs a better shot at survival in a landscape overpopulated with chat apps, it needs to offer more than standard messaging. Else, it’ll be just another short-lived experiment.

https://growinsta.xyz/instagram-tests-threads-app-for-intimate-sharing-with-close-friends/

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Instagram now restricts visibility of weight loss products and cosmetic surgery posts for teens

If your Instagram feed is anything like mine, your feed and Explore page are probably littered with weight loss meal supplements, timelapses of injected lip filler, and skinny-tea promoted by a Kardashian — because obviously, that’s all we want to see when browsing Instagram. But jokes aside, the pressure to be “perfect” is putting immense pressure on young women more than ever. 

In an effort to combat toxic beauty standards promoted online, Instagram announced it will tighten its policy on posts related to weight loss products and cosmetic surgery by hiding related posts from users known to be aged under 18.

The policy update, which will also be applied to Facebook, includes the removal of any content that makes a “miraculous” claim about a diet or weight-loss product which was simultaneously linked to a commercial offer such as a discount code or affiliate link.

Finding a discount code for some unhealthy meal supplement isn’t hard work, just head to Khloe Kardashian’s Instagram profile — who advertises to almost 100 million followers.

As influencer culture has creeped its way into almost every business model, it has unsurprisingly increased the promotion of dieting products including “appetite-suppressing” meal supplements. Inevitably, this has raised concerns about the impact that diet and detox content can have on young people, especially their mental health and body image.

In 2017, a study titled “#StatusOfMind” by the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH), found that Instagram is rated as the worst social media platform when it comes to its impact on young people’s mental health. 

This policy update has been praised by countless users of the platform, including actor and body positivity activist, Jameela Jamil, who has previously called out influencers on Instagram for posting toxic content.

No. Fuck off. No. You terrible and toxic influence on young girls. I admire their mother’s branding capabilities, she is an exploitative but innovative genius, however this family makes me feel actual despair over what women are reduced to. ☹️ pic.twitter.com/zDPN1T8sBM

— Jameela Jamil 🌈 (@jameelajamil) May 16, 2018

On Twitter, Jamil described the update as “a major step in the fight with the dirty side of diet/detox industry.”

A HUGE DAY! A MAJOR STEP IN THE FIGHT WITH THE DIRTY SIDE OF THE DIET/DETOX INDUSTRY!!! Influencers best watch yourselves… https://t.co/F4iPTyVGU4

— Jameela Jamil 🌈 (@jameelajamil) September 18, 2019

It’s only now we’re admitting the detrimental effects toxic posts like weight-loss promotion can have on people’s physical and mental health. It’s reassuring to see Instagram and Facebook take responsibility for what the platform has previously been exploited for. But it’s yet another reminder that platforms need to prepare themselves to be continually responsive to changes in society and media.

https://growinsta.xyz/instagram-now-restricts-visibility-of-weight-loss-products-and-cosmetic-surgery-posts-for-teens/

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How to (selectively) hide Instagram Stories like a pro

Welcome to TNW Basics, a collection of tips, guides, and advice on how to easily get the most out of your gadgets, apps, and other stuff.

Instagram Stories are a handy way of sharing fleeting moments from your life without immortalizing them on your feed. But sometimes you might want to shield those ephemeral experiences from certain followers – family, partners, bosses, groups of friends your other groups of friends don’t know about, you name it.

Well, there’s a simple way of picking and choosing who can see your Stories. No, scratch that, there are three simple ways of doing it:

Directly from the Stories menu

The quickest way of doing that is directly from the Stories menu. Indeed, Instagram first introduced this feature two years ago.

Once you’ve posted a story, click on the ‘More’ option

Select ‘Story Settings’

In the ‘Story Settings’ menu, you should see the ‘Hide Story from’ segment

If you haven’t used this setting before, it will say ‘0 People’ (the number will depend based on how many people you’ve hidden your stories from)

Click on ‘0 People’

This should pull up your list of followers as well as a search field where you can filter them by their username

Select the people you want to hide your Story from and click the ‘Tick’ sign at the upper right corner

Boom! You’re done

A quick heads-up: once you’ve hidden a story from a certain user, your next stories will remain invisible to them until you update your Story Settings.

Hiding Stories from certain profiles

Now, while the previous method works just fine, it only works with people that already follow you. This still leaves your Stories open to random people that come across your profile.

Fortunately, Instagram also lets you hide Stories from profiles that don’t yet follow you.

Head to the profile of the person you want to hide your Stories from

Click the “Burger” menu in the upper-right corner

That should pull up a number of options, including one to ‘Hide Your Story’ from that account

Click ‘Hide Your Story’

Confirm you want to do so by clicking ‘Hide’

Done!

Show your Stories only to a small batch of pre-selected ‘Close Friends’

There’s one more way to hide your Stories from select people: by building a list of ‘Close Friends‘ pre-approved for screening your Stories.

Go to your profile and hit the “Burger” menu in the upper-right corner

Select ‘Close Friends’

This should open a list of suggested contacts you can add as ‘Close Friends’

Click the ‘Add’ button to include users in that list

When you’re done adding ‘Close Friends,’ head to Stories and chose an image you want to post as usual

Post the story by clicking the ‘Close Friends’ button – this will only send that Story to your pre-approved list

Done!

That’s it, now you know three different ways to selectively choose who can see your Stories.

And in case you’re getting sick of seeing other people’s Stories – here’s how to block them from appearing on your feed.

https://growinsta.xyz/how-to-selectively-hide-instagram-stories-like-a-pro/