This week, X and Bluesky battle it out with new DM features, Instagram is getting sneaky with new password-protected Reels, and Threads is making it easier for users to find creators that they follow on X.
Meanwhile, Minecraft is trending with a new TikTok filter that creates a character based on your name. And, in perhaps the most unsettling AI filter yet, TikTok users are regretting turning their fluffy friends into human ones. Read on for more social media news.
Instagram tests password-protected Reels
Image credit: Instagram
Instagram is testing Reels that can be unlocked using a code. The new feature allows creators to lock their content with a password, offering clues like “my birthday” or “my dog’s name” to help followers crack it. The feature was first spotted on Instagram’s Design account, where a reel prompted users to “enter secret code” with a hint reading “1st # in the caption.” So far, the feature has been spotted on a handful of public accounts but Instagram is yet to confirm if it is being rolled out widely.
Threads allows users to follow their favourite X creators
Image credit: Maxwell Zeff/TechCrunch
Threads is testing a new feature allowing users to follow the same creators they follow on X, similar to how you can follow the same Instagram accounts when setting up a Threads account. The feature is currently in beta testing with some users being shown a pop-up saying they can now “Find popular creators from X.”
Bluesky challenges X with new search and messaging features
Image credit: BlueSky
Bluesky has added new features to the app, making it even more similar to its rival X. First, it has added emoji reactions on messaging. A handful of default emojis pop up automatically, but users can use the three-dot menu to choose any emoji. There are also updates on the search page including an explore section with trends, suggested accounts, Starter Packs, and more.
X is revamping DMs with new features including full message encryption, the ability to send files, vanishing mode, and more. X does offer optional DM encryption already, but only to X Premium subscribers. These changes are all part of Elon Musk’s plan to make X an ‘everything app’.
