Instagram latest experiment copies BeReal's features

Source: Alessandro Paluzzi

Unsurprisingly, a new feature Instagram is testing out copies another buzzy social media app. Just as it paterned its Stories feature from Snapchat's Stories, the Meta-owned app is now setting its sights on BeReal, an app that prompts you to take photos from the front and rear camera within two minutes of clicking the notification. Instagram is testing its take on this feature through its copied Stories feature.

The company is calling it "IG Candid Challenges." According to leaker and reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi, the feature lives within Instagram's Stories section and is an opt-in feature. You'll get prompted to post a story at different times a day within two minutes. It will use the Dual feature Instagram introduced for Stories in July. While it is being tested there is no guarantee that Instagram will roll this out to users. But with the buzz BeReal is getting, we wouldn't be surprised if the company pushes through with it.

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Facebook starts default end-to-end encryption test on Messenger

Source: Meta

Facebook finally has more to say about its long-awaited plans to enable end-to-end encryption (E2EE) by default in its Messenger app. The tech company announced it started testing the feature for chats "between some people" this week. It's already possible to enable E2EE on a per-chat basis. But, of course, the typical user won't think to allow that. 

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Facebook will actually let you see posts of your loved ones in new Feeds tab

Source: Meta

Facebook could actually be a place to stay in touch with your loved ones now. Meta is introducing a new Feeds tab "where you can see posts from your friends, groups, Pages, and more separately in chronological order." If that seems familiar, that was basically what Facebook was for before it focused on showing you curated content. This option will help you find what your friends and favourite accounts are up to. 

This new Feeds tab is divided further into sections like Favourites, Friends, Groups, Pages, and more. This new tab has begun rolling out, but you might have to wait a bit if it hasn't shown up for you.

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Oculus won't require a Facebook account (finally)

Source: Meta

It took a long time, but Meta has finally decided that you can decouple your Oculus VR headset from your Facebook account. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced it'll offer a new Meta account instead for new and existing users starting August. If you are still signing into your VR headset with an Oculus account, you'll have to ditch that before January 1, 2023.

Meta emphasizes that the Meta account isn't a social media profile per se. Instead, it "lets you log into your VR devices and view and manage your purchased apps in one place." There is still a social aspect integrated into this, though. Your Oculus profile will be replaced by a Meta Horizon profile that you'll set up. It comes with a username, photo and avatar. 

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