Instagram has launched Instants, a new ephemeral photo-sharing feature designed for spontaneous, unedited moments. Shared images appear in a stack within Instagram inboxes and disappear after they’ve been viewed. Instagram also released a standalone companion app for faster camera access. The feature is rolling out globally starting today.
Instagram is rolling out a new feature called Instants that borrows from Snapchat’s ephemeral vibe and BeReal’s prompt-like feel. Users can share disappearing photos to Close Friends or mutual followers. Viewers can open the image only once, while the post remains accessible in the chat for up to 24 hours, adding urgency without going fully transient.
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Prateek Yadav’s sudden death at his Lucknow home has triggered grief and speculation within Uttar Pradesh’s influential Yadav political family. He was found unconscious before dawn and is now under forensic investigation. Online attention has intensified on his marriage to Aparna Yadav, as older Instagram posts alleging marital discord and distress have resurfaced amid the mystery.
Kannada actor Dileep Raj has died at 48 after a heart attack at his residence, leaving colleagues, friends, and fans in shock. Known for his work in film and television, his sudden death has prompted an outpouring of condolences, while attention has also turned to his last Instagram post, which is going viral online.
Prateek Yadav, 38, stepbrother of Akhilesh Yadav and husband of BJP leader Aparna Yadav, died in Lucknow. Friends and family noted his passion for fitness and deep bond with his pet, reflected in recent Instagram posts. His first post on the feed reportedly begins with a line about how life should treat you. The cause of death is still under investigation.
German influencer and singer LizLaz is back in the spotlight after alleging that a journalist offered her money to promote false claims about Virat Kohli. The allegation comes amid earlier links between the two, including when Kohli clarified an accidental “like” on her Instagram post. The new dispute raises questions about motives and misinformation.
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Santa Clara County has filed a lawsuit against Meta Platforms, alleging scam advertisements on Facebook and Instagram violated California false advertising and unfair business practices laws. The county seeks restitution and damages, saying Meta profited from high-risk scam ads and tolerated misconduct while allegedly slowing efforts to reduce scams.
Telugu actor and content creator K Bharat Kanth, 31, died in a road accident near Hyderabad on Sunday. His car collided with a container lorry on the Outer Ring Road, killing him and his friend G Sai Trilok. The sudden loss has left fans and celebrities grieving, and attention has turned to his last Instagram post as it goes viral.
Meta says it will stop supporting end to end encrypted chats on Instagram from May 2026, citing low adoption and regulatory pressure. While WhatsApp will continue encryption by default, Instagram users will lose a key privacy layer that many relied on for private conversations. The change reignites the debate over how tech companies balance safety demands with user privacy.
MeitY has denied involvement in blocking Rahul Gandhi’s Instagram posts about TVK chief Vijay’s swearing-in. The ministry says its internal system mistakenly flagged the content and that the posts have since been restored. The denial comes as Congress alleges suppression, escalating the dispute over social media moderation and political claims.
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Meta is reportedly building a personalized “agentic” AI assistant for users, powered by its new Muse Spark AI model. The company is also working on an internal AI agent called Hatch. Separately, Meta plans to integrate a shopping tool into Instagram, with a launch targeted before the fourth quarter of this year.
Ireland’s media regulator has opened a probe into Meta’s recommender system used by Facebook and Instagram. The investigation will examine whether users’ feeds are “selected and ranked” by a system that learns from what they like, interact with, or spend time on. Regulators are testing how recommendation logic may affect profiling and content delivery.
Ahmedabad police have uncovered an Instagram racket that used fake astrologer or spiritual healer profiles to lure women with promises of rituals to solve personal problems. Victims were then coerced into compromising nude video calls, after which the accused allegedly extorted them for lakhs. Police arrested one suspect while two others remain at large.
Meta’s Q1 results point to AI as the engine behind higher engagement and stronger advertising performance. Video consumption rose across Instagram and Facebook, while ad conversion improved, lifting revenue. The company is also rolling out more AI-powered tools for content discovery and advertiser solutions, signaling continued growth as it expands its AI toolkit.
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Meta says New Mexico plans to seek $3.7 billion in damages tied to a 15-year mental health plan, including new healthcare facilities. The case could pressure the company that runs Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp into new policies or operating shifts. If the trial’s outcomes influence regulators, everyday features and safety approaches may change sooner than users expect.
Zayn Malik has cancelled all US dates for his 2026 “Konnakol” tour as he continues recovering at home after being hospitalised last month for an unspecified illness. The singer shared the update via Instagram, thanking fans for their support and promising he will “be stronger.” Reports say his family urged followers to stay calm and avoid sending flowers.
Instagram has introduced changes aimed at content aggregators that primarily re-upload posts rather than creating original content. The update is designed to limit the reach of accounts that recycle others’ work, reducing visibility for repost-driven pages and encouraging more original posting across the platform.
Facebook and Instagram have been charged by the EU after a two-year European Commission probe under the Digital Services Act. Regulators allege Meta did not do enough to prevent children under 13 from accessing the platforms. The findings mark a new push for stricter enforcement of online safety duties tied to harmful and illegal content rules.
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The European Union has accused Meta of not doing enough to stop children under 13 from accessing Facebook and Instagram. Regulators warn the breach could trigger substantial penalties as the EU tightens safeguards for minors online. Meta disputes the claims, setting up a likely regulatory showdown over the company’s age verification and enforcement processes.
Actor Channing Tatum shared a cryptic poem on Instagram Stories, pairing the word “read” with lines by poet John Roedel. The move immediately fueled online speculation amid reports that his ex-fiancée Zoë Kravitz may be engaged to Harry Styles. While the post offers little context, fans are reading into every detail.
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