Instagram's 'Quiet mode' comes to Facebook

Image: Meta

Meta is introducing new features to help users manage their time and well-being on its apps, especially for teens. One is the "Quiet mode," which lets users mute notifications and auto-reply to messages that they are taking a break. This feature, which was first available on Instagram, will now be extended to Facebook. Users will also get a reminder to take a break after 20 minutes of using the app.

Another feature is a nudge for teens who watch Reels late at night to close the app and sleep. Meta said these nudges are designed to promote healthy habits and balance online and offline activities. Teens can choose to ignore these nudges or opt out of parental supervision altogether.

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Meta helps teens block unwanted messages on Messenger and Instagram

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Meta, the company formerly known as Facebook, has announced a new feature that will help users protect themselves from unwanted messages from strangers on its messaging platforms, Messenger and Instagram. The feature will require people who are not connected with a user to send a text-only invitation to chat, and they can only send one at a time. Users won’t be able to send another one until the recipient accepts or declines.

The feature aims to prevent harassment and abuse from unknown people, especially adults who may target teens. The invitations are also limited to text only, so users won’t receive unsolicited photos, videos, voice messages, or calls from strangers. Meta said the feature will give its teen users more control over who can contact them and what they can see. This joins the new parental supervision hub Meta introduced for its platforms.

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Meta Quest users can now watch Reels in virtual reality

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Reels, the short-form video feature Instagram launched to compete with TikTok, is now coming to Meta Quest, the company’s VR headset. Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the news on Instagram with a Reel from influencer Austin Sprinz, who explored the world’s deepest pool. The immersive video showcases how Reels can offer a different viewing experience on VR than on mobile or the web.

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Meta runs test to block some news content for Canadians on Facebook and Instagram

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Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, will soon start testing a feature that will prevent some Canadians from viewing or sharing news content on those platforms. The company said it is preparing for the possible passage of Bill C-18, the Online News Act, which would require online platforms to pay Canadian news outlets for linking to their content.

The federal government said the bill aims to create a fairer relationship between news outlets and digital platforms that dominate the online advertising market. 

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