X (formerly Twitter) is experiencing widespread outages, including in India, with users unable to load posts or videos on both the website and mobile apps this Saturday. Reports on a popular downtime tracking website confirm the inaccessibility. While the X developer platform indicated a site-wide outage was resolved days ago, some login-related functions are still suffering degraded performance.
WhatsApp is now letting users generate backgrounds during video calls via artificial intelligence (AI). The Meta-owned platform is adding a new feature that lets users type a prompt to generate their desired background for a video call. The company highlighted that the feature is powered by Meta AI. This is how you can use it.
WhatsApp is developing a new way for you to create and save stickers in your collection. Currently, users are required to send a sticker in an active chat in order to save it. However, the Meta-owned app is working on a new feature which lets you directly add a sticker as favourite or save it in a collection, offering a quicker sticker management avenue.
WhatsApp has fixed a zero-click security vulnerability, which could have been used to carry out sophisticated attacks against targeted individuals, the company said. The flaw affected the Meta-owned messenger app’s iOS and macOS versions, and could “trigger processing of content from an arbitrary URL on a target's device.”
Meta has reportedly created numerous artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots in the name and likeness of popular celebrities without their consent across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. As per the report, the Menlo Park-based tech giant’s celebrity-mimicking chatbots were also spotted sending flirtatious and suggestive messages to users, and even sending lewd images generated using AI.
WhatsApp on Wednesday announced a new feature that leverages AI to rewrite text for different tones and clarity. As per the Meta-owned instant messaging platform, users can draft a basic text, and the AI-powered writing assistant will provide suggestions for improvement, including different tones and styles. WhatsApp said that its new Writing Help is built on top of Private Processing technology, and the chats or responses will not be read by anyone other than the user.
WhatsApp for Mac got a new update via the App Store. The latest update with version 25.22.79 reportedly introduces a chat filtering feature with Unread, Favourites and Group options. This is available to a limited group of users. The messaging service is is making it easier to see unread, favourite, and group chats on your Mac computer.
TikTok on Friday denied circulating reports that it had been unbanned in India. The app was first banned by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in June 2020, due to concerns regarding national security and data privacy. The rumours of a possible comeback surfaced on Friday, after the official website of the Chinese social media platform became accessible for a brief period to some users.
WhatsApp is reportedly working on a new feature that will allow users to leave a voice message when a call isn't answered. The upcoming feature is currently available for some beta testers. It has been spotted in WhatsApp for Android beta version 2.25.23.21, which is available via the Google Play Beta programme.
Russia, through its media and internet regulator, Roskomnadzor, has reportedly imposed a partial restriction on voice calls made via two instant messaging apps, WhatsApp and Telegram. The regulator said that it took this step to better fight crime. Moreover, the regulator said that several law enforcement agencies and citizens appealed that the two instant messaging services had become the primary calling service for deception and extortion.
WhatsApp is reportedly rolling out a Writing Help assistant feature powered by AI Private Processing for select beta users. The new functionality will allow users to enhance their messages using AI-powered assistance. It was reportedly spotted on WhatsApp beta for Android 2.25.23.7 update.
LinkedIn launched a new game, Mini Sudoku, on its professional social networking platform on Tuesday. The game, which is a modern take on the classic puzzle, is available to all users. It also marks the sixth entry in the platform’s gaming catalogue, a new service which started in May 2024.
WhatsApp for Android is said to be testing a new feature for users that will allow them to send motion photos. As per the feature tracker, the new feature was spotted in the latest beta version of WhatsApp and might be available to some beta testers. With this, users can send motion photos, which capture the audio and movement before and after a shot is taken.
YouTube is now preparing to roll out its artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) age estimation tool. Announced in July, this tool uses several user activity metrics to determine the real age of the user. The streaming giant says this feature will better protect minors who have provided fake dates of birth while making their accounts.
Grok Imagine was officially released on Sunday as a multimodal feature that can generate images and videos. It is currently available in beta to all SuperGrok and Premium+ X subscribers on the iOS app. The feature also comes with a Spicy mode which can generate not-safe-for-work (NSFW) content of explicit nature.
WhatsApp is rolling out a new scam prevention tool, it announced on Tuesday. This feature, dubbed Safety Overview, works when someone who is not saved in your contacts adds you to a WhatsApp group. The Meta-owned messaging app will provide key information about the group, along with tips to stay safe from phishing and scams. As part of its ongoing efforts to protect its users from scams, it detected and banned more than 6.8 million accounts linked to scam centres.
Instagram on Tuesday announced a new set of features to help creators keep a track of their audience growth metrics more effectively. The Meta-owned social media platform is rolling out insights for likes on photo carousels and Reels, showcasing the exact moment and the slide when others decided to like the post. Meanwhile, post-level demographics can help creators understand what type of content is resonating with their audience.
WhatsApp for Android might be developing a new feature that comes with several privacy benefits. Dubbed Username keys, there are two parts to this feature, a WhatsApp tracker revealed. The first part is the username itself, which is said to replace the need to share one’s number when sharing their WhatsApp account. The second is Username keys, which allow users to manage whether a first-time texter can contact the user or not.
WhatsApp banned over 98 lakh accounts in India in June to tackle abuse, with nearly 19.79 lakh removed proactively before any user complaints. The platform also received 23,596 user grievances and acted on 1,001 accounts, including bans and reinstatements. Most complaints were ban appeals, according to the company. Other concerns included account support, product issues, and safety. The Meta-owned platform stressed prevention and the use of abuse detection during account setup, messaging, and in response to negative user feedback.
Jack Dorsey has launched Bitchat Mesh, a new Bluetooth-based messaging app for iPhone. He previously unveiled Bitchat as a peer-to-peer (P2P) app, a weekend project designed to function without phone numbers, email, or access to the internet. Bitchat Mesh supports both end-to-end encryption and identity verification. An Android release date for the Play Store is expected to follow in the future.
WhatsApp is said to be developing a new feature for its Android app which aims to improve photography in low light conditions. As per a feature tracker’s report, a dedicated night mode option is present in the camera interface of a beta version of the instant messaging app. It reportedly optimises the image clarity and brightness when shooting in low-lit environments, without applying any overlays or stylisation to the image.
WhatsApp is said to be testing a new feature for its Android app which makes it easier to import profile photos from other existing social media accounts. According to a discovery by a feature tracker, the instant messaging client may bring support for directly importing profile pictures from other apps under Meta Platforms’ umbrella, such as Facebook and Instagram. This builds upon other cross-platform features such as single sign-on and unified avatar management.
Elon Musk made the announcement in a post on X, formerly Twitter, but did not provide further details. X did not immediately respond to a Reuters request seeking more information on the reboot.
WhatsApp is said to be testing a new feature for Android users that will allow them to have real-time voice conversations with Meta AI. As per a feature tracker, the new artificial intelligence (AI) feature is now rolling out to select beta testers, and allows users to either directly initiate voice chat or switch to it while within the chatbot’s interface.
CloudSEK, a cybersecurity firm, announced that it has unmasked a syndicate involved in printing and selling counterfeit Indian currency. As per the firm, the group was marketing the fake notes via social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, and even used authentic marketing channels such as Meta ads. As per the report shared by the company, the group spread Rs. 17.5 crore worth of fake currency in just the last six months.
Meta announced a couple of new safety features for teen accounts on Instagram on Wednesday. The Menlo Park-based social media giant said it is expanding its Teen Account protection and safety features to offer more tools to teenagers while they exchange messages with other users via the platform’s direct messaging (DM) feature.
WhatsApp is developing a new artificial intelligence (AI)-powered feature for its Android app which aims to make it easier to catch up with unread messages. As per claims by a feature tracker, it is currently testing the Quick Recap feature, enabling users to select a specific number of chats and get a summary of the most relevant unread messages in each one of them, presented in a detailed manner.
Meta announced the introduction of the Imagine Me feature in India on Thursday. The artificial intelligence (AI) feature has been available in the US and a select few countries so far. But with its expansion in the country, Indian users will be able to generate AI images of themselves in different styles, contexts, and scenarios. The feature is available within the Meta AI interface across all the different platforms.
Beeper has been updated with support for on-device connections to WhatsApp, Telegram, Messenger, Instagram, and Google Chat, ensuring end-to-end encryption (E2EE) without relying on Beeper Cloud. The app's core features remain free, but a new Beeper Plus subscription will unlock additional features and customisation options.
Meta AI reportedly had a vulnerability that could be exploited to access other users’ private conversations with the chatbot. As per the report, a researcher found the bug late last year and informed the Menlo Park-based social media giant about it. The company then deployed a fix to the issue in January, and rewarded the researcher for finding the exploit.
Facebook says it will crack down on unoriginal content. According to Meta, the reach of accounts that improperly reuse content will be lowered and access to monetisation tools will be limited. Original videos might also get more views, as the distribution of duplicate copies will be restricted. Meta's changes to its policy were announced after YouTube announced it was taking action against repetitive and mass-produced videos shared on the platform.
Yaccarino, 61, made the announcement in a post on X suggesting it was her decision, though Musk has a history of dismissing deputies suddenly. "I've decided to step down as CEO of X," Yaccarino wrote.
Grok 4 artificial intelligence (AI) model was released by xAI on Monday. The new AI model was introduced by xAI developers and company owner Elon Musk in a live stream on X (formerly known as Twitter). The company claimed that the new large language model (LLM) comes with a significantly improved reasoning ability and better performance across multiple subject areas.
Grok reportedly ran wild on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Tuesday, making racist and hateful comments on posts. As per the report, the artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot developed by Elon Musk’s xAI began generating less neutral responses after it was updated on Friday. However, on Tuesday, the chatbot was said to post comments that were racially charged and discriminatory.
WhatsApp is rolling out an AI-powered feature that lets users generate custom chat wallpapers. After updating to the latest stable version of WhatsApp for iOS, users can create backgrounds with prompts and fine-tune them. WhatsApp will also make it easier to view replies to messages in the form of structured threads, in the future. Here's everything you need to know about how the feature works on WhatsApp for
Jack Dorsey on Monday announced a new decentralised messaging app called Bitchat. It is a peer-to-peer public domain messaging project which operates over Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) mesh networks. Bitchat is said to offer a more secure method of messaging, protected with end-to-end encryption. The app does not require internet, an account, or even a phone number to function, the X (formerly Twitter) co-founder said. Other features include a favourites system, mentions, and rooms for topic-based conversations.
TikTok is building a new version of its app for users in the United States ahead of a planned sale of the app to a group of investors, The Information reported on Sunday, citing unnamed sources.
YouTube is updating its monetisation rules to increase its scrutiny of mass-produced content. The YouTube Partner Programme (YPP), which governs the platform’s monetisation policy, has always encouraged creators to publish original and authentic content. Now, with this update, the streaming giant is better defining mass-produced and repetitious videos to evaluate them and likely reduce the monetary compensation. The new policy will come into effect starting July 15.
Telegram on Friday announced a new update for its app which enables creators to earn directly from within the platform, along with more features. With Checklists, Telegram Premium users can create interactive checklists in individual and group chats to manage tasks and track progress in real time. Channel subscribers can also suggest posts in channels and it also becomes a new avenue for content creators to earn money on the platform.
Meta is reportedly training its customisable artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots, which can be created in the AI Studio, to be able to message users unprompted. As per the report, the Menlo Park-based social media giant is adding a new capability to its Meta AI-powered chatbots that will allow them to send follow-up texts to users proactively.
Meta Platforms has been on a banning spree which is affecting users across the many social media apps under its umbrella. Amidst the ongoing mass bans, even those who are paying a premium for the Meta verified subscription have been left disappointed by tech giant’s customer support. Users have deemed the service “useless”, despite Meta claiming to offer access to direct account support as part of the benefits of its Verified check mark subscription.
WhatsApp Business users will soon get to use two new features, Meta announced on Tuesday. The company unveiled new features for businesses at its global Conversations conference in Miami. The first feature is aimed at larger businesses that will soon be able to receive and make voice calls to customers.
X (formerly known as Twitter) is reportedly planning to use artificial intelligence (AI) to write Community Notes on the platform. As per the report, the company has asked developers to submit custom AI agents capable of verifying the authenticity of posts and providing neutral explanations about them. This will mark a big shift in the social media platform’s fact-checking programme.
Threads has finally introduced direct messages (DMs) on its platform, allowing users to communicate one-on-one without leaving the app. As per Instagram head Adam Mosseri, the feature has been a “top request” from users since the launch of Threads in 2023. It arrives with several options, including messaging controls, inbox filtering, and group messaging.
Instagram has released a new feature which makes it easier to share songs with others on the platform, as per a report. Users can now share tracks on their Instagram Stories and they will appear with a preview of the song. While users could previously share tracks too, only the album cover appeared without any audio. This builds upon the recent rollout of another feature which allows sharing tracks from Spotify directly as Instagram Notes.
Facebook is reportedly asking users to share private media from their camera roll to Meta’s cloud servers. As per the report, a pop-up message requesting access appears when users upload a photo or a video to Stories. The social media giant reportedly says that by giving access, Meta AI will suggest collages and artificial intelligence (AI)-powered edits that they can post in Stories.
WhatsApp is said to be developing a new feature for its iOS app which aims to simplify the ability to handle multiple accounts on one iPhone. Earlier this year, the Meta-owned instant messaging platform was reported to be developing multi-account support for iOS devices. Building upon this, a feature tracker claims WhatsApp for iOS will add a new section in settings that shows all of the accounts signed in on the iPhone and quickly switch between them.
YouTube is adding a new artificial intelligence (AI) feature to its platform. On Thursday, the video streaming giant announced Search Results Carousel, which will show up when users search certain keywords. The new carousel will feature suggested videos in a new layout as well as a text description of the videos to help users learn more about them before beginning to watch them.
Telegram reportedly has a bot that sells sensitive personal data of Indian users to willing buyers. As per the report, the bot operates independently and shares information such as names, addresses, father’s name, and even Aadhaar, Pan Card, and Voter ID numbers. The bot reportedly lets users find the full profile data of another Indian user based on their phone number.
WhatsApp has rolled out a new artificial intelligence (AI)-backed feature which can summarise messages for you. Called Message Summaries, it leverages Meta AI to help users catch up on unread texts. As per Meta, the feature uses a new technology called Private Processing which is claimed to keep the message from being read by anyone else in the chat, including Meta.
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, called on the government to reverse its controversial exemption for YouTube from a social media ban for under-16s. In a blog post, YouTube said Inman Grant’s comments ignored the benefits YouTube offered to school students and teachers.
