Scams on Facebook and Instagram are stealing billions from Americans. Zuckerberg’s empire is doing nothing to stop it.
💬 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.
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.
🔴 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.
💬 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.
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.
Gen Z is a national security threat
Sixty percent get their news from TikTok, YouTube and Instagram. Here’s why that has experts alarmed.
Scammer ruins a 45-year marriage
What’s worse than your mom leaving your dad for a guy she met on Instagram? Finding out he’s a romance scammer and she knows — but she’s still in love. That’s what happened to Grant Inman. Now, the My Funeral Home Stories host is trying to help his mom see the truth.You, 21 min
📸 DIY stickers: Instagram’s Cutouts lets you turn your photos into custom stickers. Start a new Story or Reel, tap Stickers (square smiley face icon) > Cutouts > choose a photo or video with a clear subject. Instagram will create it for you right away or save it for later. FYI, you can only pick one object at a time.
🛑 Stop creepy DMs: Take charge of who can message you on Instagram. Open the app, tap your profile > More (three lines) > Messages and story replies > Message requests. Choose if you want DMs from followers or others to go to your Message Requests folder or not. Finally, an option between let everyone in and total digital hermit.
Uber drove off with her kid
Her 5-year-old fell asleep in the backseat, and the driver left with her still inside. Uber refused to help until police stepped in. Their apology? A $7 credit. Plus, what’s up with Instagram Edits, Meta’s AI glasses now transcribe your convos, and chatbots place bets on the next pope.
Reel in the views: Want to go viral on Instagram? The algorithm loves Reels with trending sounds. After uploading your video, tap the Music icon on the right. Then, hit the Trending tab for the top 50 tracks right now. Pro tip: Press the Bookmark icon next to a song to save your favorites for later. You’re not basic, you’re just strategically algorithm-friendly.
🛍️ Set up shop: Turn your followers into customers with an Instagram shop. You’ll need a Business profile, which you can create during setup. Just go to the Facebook Shops page, click Get Started and follow the steps. Once approved, tag products in posts, so your followers can buy them easily. Buy my shirt, my ego and the dream I had when I posted this.
How to go viral on Instagram
Want your content to actually take off? Here’s a simple framework to boost your chances of getting it out there.
🏛️ Meta, meet another existential court case: Mark Zuckerberg put on his best courtroom tie and took the stand Monday in a trial that could break up Meta’s empire. The FTC basically wants (paywall link) Meta to sell off Instagram and WhatsApp, claiming Meta bought them just to squash the competition. If IG goes, it could gut over half of Meta’s U.S. ad revenue. The trial runs through July, but the vibes are already tense.