Your phone can capture shots that look as good as the real thing. Three simple tricks for Instagram-worthy snaps this Fourth of July.
🏡 Zillow bans hidden listings: Into real estate? You need to know that Zillow now blacklists home listings that agents publicly market (think “For Sale” signs or Instagram posts) without first putting them on a local MLS database. It’s the real estate equivalent of “pics or it didn’t happen.” Compass, a major brokerage, is suing, calling the move anti-competitive.
Over 35,000
People were paid by Stanford to quit Instagram or Facebook for six weeks. The goal? See what happens to emotional well-being. Turns out there was only a slight mood boost. The biggest gains came from people over 35 quitting Facebook and women under 25 leaving IG.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Tired of Instagram suggesting people to follow? Go to your profile > Edit profile > toggle off Show account suggestions on profiles.
Stop trolls on Instagram: You can filter out nasty comments. Go to Profile > Settings and activity > Hidden Words (under How others can interact with you). Tap Manage custom words and phrases to build a block list, then toggle on Hide comments. Anything with those words stays hidden from your followers.
🔍 Zoom in on Instagram posts: Using Instagram on your phone and can’t see the tiny details? You can zoom in on photos and videos by spreading two fingers apart on the screen. It’s great for reading small texts. Just don’t double tap by accident while snooping. That late-night “like” is hard to explain.
Time to go viral: Want more likes, views and comments on your Instagram Reels? Post during peak hours. Noon is prime time, especially on Fridays. Chasing likes? Try midnight. But timing isn’t everything. Click here to find the best days and hours that match your niche.
Reset your social feeds
Tired of seeing the same ol’ stuff? A few quick settings on Facebook and Instagram can clean up your timeline fast.
🤫 Mute Instagram stories: Just because you follow someone doesn’t mean you need to see every single story they post. Tap their story, hit the three-dot menu in the top right, choose Mute, then tap Mute stories. Hooray.
Don’t buy that Facebook lie
Scams on Facebook and Instagram are stealing billions from Americans. Zuckerberg’s empire is doing nothing to stop it.
🔴 Go live, privately: Instagram lets you livestream just to your close friends instead of all your followers. Tap the + button, choose Live, then select Share with Close Friends and start broadcasting. You can add up to three pals. Want to tweak your list? Head to More (three lines) > Settings > Who can see your content > Close Friends.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Mute annoying people on Instagram instead of unfollowing to save drama. Below their profile, tap Following > Mute.
3:4 aspect ratio
That’s the new photo size Instagram now supports. ICYDK, it’s also how most phone cameras shoot. So now your pics will show up exactly as you took them, with no weird cropping at the top or bottom. And yes, square and 4:5 posts still work, too. Finally, justice for your forehead.
💬 Add and view Instagram captions: Want auto-captions on your story? Tap the (+) icon, upload your video, then tap the Stickers icon and select Captions. To see captions on other people’s stories and reels, go to your Profile > Menu > Settings and activity > Accessibility > Captions, then toggle on Always show closed captions.
💬 Catfished by herself: One woman’s “online girlfriend” turned out to be … also herself? The digital muse/impersonator had built a fake Instagram to impersonate her, complete with matching tattoos, selfies and even unsolicited lewds, which the impostor was sending to other people. Love languages: words of affirmation, physical touch, identity fraud.
Instagram’s teen accounts don’t work: A group of testers created fake profiles to see what the algorithm would push. Instead of the so-called protection enabled by default, they were still shown sexual reels, eating disorders, drugs or worse (paywall link). Meta’s clapback? The report is flawed and most of the content is “PG-13” at worst. Sure.
Meta’s scam spiral: Facebook and Instagram reportedly ran God only knows how many shady ads tied to scams from fake food giveaways to nonexistent golden retrievers. Internal docs say the company avoided cracking down to keep the $$$ flowing. JPMorgan says half of Zelle scam complaints lead straight back to Meta. Turns out “move fast and break things” meant “let’s break trust.”
Don’t fall for Facebook or Instagram scams
See a great deal on your feed? Here’s why it could be a slick scam that takes your money fast.
🔗 Don’t connect your socials: Unless you’re an influencer, it’s best to keep your accounts separate. Linking apps, like putting your Instagram in your Facebook bio, makes it easier for stalkers to track your life and location. Use different usernames, handles and profile pictures to stay safe.