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Threads Updates Algorithm To Prioritize Accounts Users Follow
- Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
Meta’s latest social media network Threads announced multiple updates to its platform including a customizable algorithm to allow users to see more content from the accounts they follow.
In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!
- Threads announced a new customizable algorithm to allow users to get more content from the accounts they follow
- The company also announced new updates to its features Trending New and Search
- The updates come just a few days after Bluesky announced millions of users joined their network
“We are rebalancing ranking to prioritize content from people you follow, which will mean less recommended content from accounts you don’t follow and more posts from the accounts you do starting today,” wrote Adam Mosseri , head of Instagram, on Threads.
Mosseri clarified that Threads’ team is still making adjustments and that it might take time for them and content creators to find the balance between reaching larger audiences and maintaining connections with followers.
The new features and updates come just a few days after Bluesky—one of Thread’s main competitors—announced that it gained millions of users after the U.S. elections. Bluesky, an open social network, also reached a million users within a day milestone, showing significant growth during the past few weeks.
Bluesky has also a customizable algorithm that allows users to choose their preferred feeds and has been one of its top features since its announcement last year.
This month, Threads announced it reached 275 million active users in a month.
Photo by Rachit Tank on Unsplash
WhatsApp Rolls Out New Audio Transcription Feature For Voice Messages
- Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
WhatsApp announced yesterday that the company’s feature to transcribe audio messages will start rolling out in the next few weeks globally.
In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!
- WhatsApp released its voice message transcripts for all users
- Users must activate the voice message transcripts feature manually
- The feature will roll out globally within the next few weeks, but not all languages are supported yet
According to 9to5Mac , WhatsApp announced the feature last year and started rolling it out back then but only for beta users. Now, all users with up-to-date software and in certain regions will be able to access the transcription feature.
“We’re excited to introduce voice message transcripts,” shared the company in a public statement . “Voice messages can be transcribed into text to help you keep up with conversations no matter what you’re doing.”
Users interested in the feature must go to Settings, then Chats, activate the Voice message transcript option, and choose the preferred language option available: English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian at the moment. To transcribe a voice message, users must press the voice message in the chat and wait for the message “transcribe” to pop up.
WhatsApp clarified that the transcriptions are generated directly through the platform on the user’s device and that no one can hear or read personal messages, not even them.
Users on X have already reacted and commented on WhatsApp’s announcement. “Finally! I have been waiting years for this 🤩,” wrote one user. “This is a game-changer for convenience and privacy! Having the option to read voice messages while keeping the content secure is a great move by WhatsApp,” added another.
📣 transcripts for voice messages are rolling out now! so when you can’t listen right away, you have the option to read them voice messages transcripts are generated on your phone so that no one, not even WhatsApp, can hear or read them 🔒 rolling out in select languages — WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) November 21, 2024
WhatsApp reached over 100 million users in the United States in July and keeps competing with other messaging apps to offer its users similar or unique features.
