Instagram is currently trialing a new privacy-focused feature with a small percentage of its users that would alert them via a notification when someone took a screenshot of their Story.
Instagram is testing Story screenshot alerts
Apps
WhatsApp is testing person-to-person payments in India
Facebook-owned service WhatsApp is testing a new person-to-person payments feature with its employees in India, where the app enjoys a large base of 200 million users and is by far the most popular messaging service in the country.
Facebook is testing desktop posting for Stories
Doubling down on the Stories format, Facebook is now testing a new feature with some folks that would allow users to upload Stories from a desktop web browser on their Mac or Windows PC in an effort to push the ephemeral sharing feature to as many people as possible.
WhatsApp is testing advanced spam detection system that’ll notify you of hoax messages
In addition to testing the ability to cross-post your Instagram Stories to WhatsApp, the WhatsApp team is working on other potential enhancements such as a new spam-detection system designed to help warn users about suspected hoax messages.
Instagram is testing a new text-only feature for Stories, called Type
Aside from quietly rolling out a new online status feature in Direct that will be great for stalkers, Instagram has reportedly been working on a text-only capability for Stories, called Type.
How to prevent Instagram from broadcasting your online status to friends
Facebook-owned Instagram is pilfering a feature from Messenger and WhatsApp that makes stalking people a lot easier. It's enabled by default, but can thankfully be turned off at will.
WhatsApp unveils accounts for businesses
The WhatsApp messaging platform appears to be inching closer to a viable revenue plan with all-new accounts for businesses available starting today via the new WhatsApp Business app.
Spotify to add coverage of news, sports, politics & pop culture that can be seen and listened to
Apple Music rival Spotify has a new plan to take on radio and reinvent podcasting by offering listeners audio coverage of news, sports, politics and pop culture, featuring visuals.
Messenger bug prevents some iPhone users from typing, Facebook is investigating
A weird bug has hit Facebook's mobile Messenger app, preventing some iPhone and iPad users from typing their messages altogether or only allowing them to type a few words at a time.
Facebook admits Messenger is “too cluttered,” promises massive streamlining this year
In the words of David Marcus, who is Facebook’s Vice President of Messaging products, the company's official mobile Messenger app for iPhone and iPad has become “too cluttered.”
How to get Extra Lives on HQ
There is no room for approximation in HQ. If you answer a question incorrectly, you are eliminated. However, if you have some social clout and have used your referral code, you might get a few HQ Extra Lives from that, but these usually don't come by that easy.
Kiyo, J-A-M, WSH LST, and other apps worth checking out this weekend
This week's edition of our Apps of the Week roundup features a new kind of social media app, an app that lets you shake your iPhone to create music and a wish list for the App Store. And as always, we've selected two great new games for you to check out.