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Meta said it’s testing new ways to combat scams, including a new technology for detecting celeb-bait scams.
“We will try to use facial recognition technology to compare faces in the ad to the public figure’s Facebook and Instagram profile pictures. If we confirm a match and determine the ad is a scam, we’ll block it. We immediately delete any facial data generated from ads for this one-time comparison, regardless of whether our system finds a match, and we don’t use it for any other purpose,” Meta said.
I=6 Meta reduces the price of its ad-free subscription in Europe by 40% and introduces a free less personalized option
In response to regulatory demands, Meta Platforms will reduce the price of its ad-free subscription in the EU by 40%.
“Despite our concerted efforts to comply with EU regulation, we have continued to receive additional demands from regulators that go beyond what is written in the law. In response to this feedback and to continue providing our services for free to as many EU citizens as possible, we are launching an additional option for EU users,” Meta wrote in the press release.
Meta will also introduce a free less personalized option in the region.
The company said these changes are already factored in its recent business outlook and guidance.
It’s unclear whether the changes will satisfy the EU regulators. EU Commission insiders said investigations are still ongoing and are expected to be completed by March 2025.
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Meta said it is testing a feature that will enable creators to share Reels with non-followers.
“Trial reels will be shown to non-followers first. Now, if you want to try out a new genre, storytelling format or topic, you can easily get a gut check on how your content might perform. If you feel good about a trial reel and how it’s performing, you can choose to share it with your followers with one tap or decide to set up the reel so that once the trial is over, if it’s performed well, it gets automatically shared with your followers,” Meta said in a statement.
Meta tests eBay listings on Facebook Marketplace, Reuters reported citing Meta.
The move is probably meant to appease the EU antitrust regulators who had fined Meta €798 million for tying its Marketplace to its social media network and for imposing unfair trading conditions on rivals.
I=4 Instagram announced a new video editing app, the same day TikTok briefly stopped its service in the US
Instagram announced a new video editing app called “Edits”.
Edits is more than a video editing app; it’s a full suite of creative tools. There will be a dedicated tab for inspiration, another for keeping track of early ideas, a much higher-quality camera (which I used to record this video), all the editing tools you’d expect, the ability to share drafts with friends and other creators, and — if you decide to share your videos on Instagram — powerful insights into how those videos perform," said Adam Mosseri, Instagram head.
The announcement came the same day TikTok briefly stopped its service in the US.
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Instagram launched a dedicated iPad app for the first time
The app will open into Reels, a departure from the default photo and video feed that opens on the Instagram mobile app, enabling more video consumption.
Users have asked for an iPad app for years, but Instagram held back, due to technical hurdles and the fact that the iPad wasn’t viewed as a core consumer platform.
However, iPad has made a revenue comeback in recent years, generating more than $28 billion in the fiscal year ending this month.
I=5 Meta enhances Facebook’s recommendation system, launches “Friend Bubbles” showing what friends like
Meta Platforms said it has upgraded Facebook’s recommendation system so that it learns your interests faster and shows you newer and more relevant reels.
It is also rolling out Friend Bubbles on Reels and Feed, enabling you to see what your friends like and start a chat instantly about what you are both interested in.
It is also introducing AI-powered suggestions on some reels, making it easier to find similar reels and explore the things you are interested in.
Meta announced on June 2025 that it will soon be making all videos on Facebook reels.
I=4 Instagram’s Edits is taking market share from TikTok’s CupCut
According to data analytics firms AppFigures, downloads of Edits ( Instagram’s video editing app that was launched in January) in the U.S. rose from 4 million in April to 8 million in September.
Downloads of CupCut (TikTok’s rival) declined by 22% in the U.S. to around 17.5 million.
