January 2021

User counterblast – WhatsApp delays data-sharing

Amid the heavy counterblast from the users across the globe, popular social media platform WhatsApp delayed the data-sharing change. “We’re now moving back the date on which people will be asked to review and accept the terms,” WhatsApp said in a blog post.
The leading platform has announced a privacy policy change a few weeks back and earned pretty heavy recoiling of customers, which also caused excess fled to rival platforms like Telegram and Signal. In response to these latest interventions from the large group of users, WhatsApp canceled the announced deadline to accept a change in the privacy policy.
Earlier, February 8 was the said deadline for accepting the tweak to its terms of service, involving sharing data with Facebook servers. The platform said it would instead “go-to people gradually to review the policy at their own pace before new business options are available on May 15.”

UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority Alerted WhatsApp Users

The UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has issued an advisory note to the WhatsApp users in the country. The alert announced on Thursday, conveyed the users across the country to be aware of the amended service and privacy policy of the popular messaging platform and to be thoughtful while choosing the newly issued advisory for users. The most popular social platform has updated its terms of service and privacy policy since Tuesday.

The users were given a time frame until 8th of February 2021 to accept the changes to policy or to forgo their use of the social media app if they decline. “The page that currently appears to WhatsApp users is an update on the terms of the Privacy Policy that regulate the operation of the application and must be approved by those who wish to continue using the application,” said a notice posted by the TRA on its social media accounts.

The new policy updates will alter WhatsApp’s service and the system of how the company used to process users’ data as of date. It will also change how businesses can use Facebook-hosted services to store and manage their WhatsApp chats. And also the company has announced that, the update would change how it partners with Facebook to offer integrations across the tech giant’s products.

Hashtags are not required to search on Instagram

The Facebook-owned, most popular social media platform Instagram announced the new no hashtag keyword search feature in English in six countries. The said feature is exclusively available only for Instagram users in select countries and also the search is limited to general interest topics and keywords that are within Instagram’s community guidelines.
To date, users had to search for names, usernames, hashtags, locations, or accounts. But the new feature will allow people to search directly with keywords even if they don’t give a tag. This will help Instagram users easier to find, curate, and share the products, places, and posts people love from their favorite accounts.
The users can find Guides on Profile, and share them across stories and in the direct messages. The company also announced that the product guides may be featured in the Instagram shop within the Instagram app, so that users can discover new products from people whom they may not already follow.
The changes in the form of a Reels tab and a Shop tab on Instagram was announced by Facebook in the last week. The Reels tab will support users to discover short, fun videos from creators across the world, whereas the Reels, help to record and edit 15-second multi-clip videos with audio, effects, and new creative tools. The Shop tab also adds a better way to connect with brands and creators and discover the products they look for.