Page 30 - SAMENA Trends - August 2019

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Facebook Is Developing a New Messaging App
for Instagram Called Threads

Reportedly, Facebook is developing a new A messaging app built around might be
messaging app called Threads. It will be quite famous among your close friends.
tied to Instagram account and is meant Some reports have indicated that an
to promote constant, intimate sharing average snapchat user spends more time
between users and their closest friends. inside the app than the average Instagram
The app is designed to be a companion user does. For Facebook and Instagram
app which automatically invites users to which has witnessed Snapchat’s strong
share their location, speed, and battery engagement among younger users.
life with friends, along with more typical The messaging app Threads could
text, photo, and video messages using represent another effort to chip away at
Instagram’s creative tools. Too, the app rival approach, Apart from the automatic
is designed for sharing all the information sharing, Threads will regularly update your
with your close friends’ list on Instagram, status, giving your friends a real-time view
are not being tested internally at Facebook. of information about your location, speed,
Previously in May, Instagram ceased work and more. At first, the app will not display
on direct standalone messaging app which your name or your real-time location,
has been developing since 2017. At that instead, it probably says something like a
time, the developers told beta testers were friend is on the move, as per the sources.
frustrated to switch between Instagram You would be able to update your status
and a second app whenever they want to manually, with status appearing in the
send a message. However, the company main feed along with messages. It is the
remained interested in building new newest effort to automate status sharing dot indicating which of your friends are
messaging experiences, for instance, using mobile phone sensors and one- currently active. If your friend has posted
Instagram employees who work on tap status sharing. The core of threads a story recently you could also view it from
messaging were moved to the Facebook appears to be a messaging tool, one very the inside thread as well. Threads has a
Messenger team earlier this year. It is a similar to the existing messaging product camera that you can use to capture photos
part of broader consolidation between the inside Instagram. Messages from other and videos and send them to your close
parent company and its prized purchased. users appear in the feed along with a green friends.

Facebook Announces New Updates to Enhance Instagram Security

Facebook is announcing two updates to the bug bounty program, reports will be bug bounty program. Since launching the
further strengthen Instagram’s security rewarded based on impact and quality. bug bounty program in 2011, Facebook
and help protect people who use the Since the Data Abuse Bounty is the first of has worked with the security researcher
platform. First is expanding its Data Abuse its kind, Facebook continues to welcome community to help identify and fix
Bounty program to include Instagram; feedback on how to help the program potential issues in products and services.
second is introducing an invite-only improve and grow. The second update is This program is one of the longest-running
bug bounty program for Checkout on for Checkout on Instagram, which allows in the industry and has received thousands
Instagram before it expands beyond the people to purchase products directly on of bug bounty reports from researchers
US, said a statement. Last April, Facebook Instagram without leaving the app and around the world. Facebook is exploring
launched the Data Abuse Bounty program is currently only available in the US. To other opportunities to tap into the expertise
to help identify potential violations of the continue to ensure this feature’s security of researchers who consistently submit
platform’s policies and reward people who as it expands globally, a select group of high-quality research to the bug bounty
report misuse of Facebook data by app security researchers has been invited to program and invites them to test new
developers. The program is expanding stress test it. As part of their participation, features prior to launch. If you would like
to Instagram, it said. The goal is to help the researchers will receive early access to to be considered for these opportunities,
protect the information people share the feature and receive bounty awards for please continue sharing high-quality and
on Instagram and encourage security eligible reports. The researchers who are high-impact reports, it stated.
researchers to report potential abuse helping test this feature have previously
so action can quickly be taken. Just like submitted high-quality research to the

30 AUGUST 2019