logo
Meta is bringing video ads to Instagram Threads: Here's what they look like

Meta is bringing video ads to Instagram Threads: Here's what they look like

Indian Express10-05-2025

Instagram Threads, Meta's rival to X (formerly Twitter) will soon start testing video ads. The company made the announcement at IAB NewFronts, an industry event where social media companies and advertisers pitch themselves.
In a blog post, the company said that a 'small number' of advertisers will be able to test 16:9 or 1:1 creative video ads in between pieces of organic content. 'We're testing video ads on Threads so businesses can expand their reach and engage with their audience in a familiar way across multiple platforms.' However, there is still no news about the pricing or frequency of these ads.
Video ads on Threads isn't a new concept, as other Meta owned social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest have been showing them for quite some time now.
The Mark Zuckerberg owned company also announced it will now notify Threads users when their accounts are penalised and that it is bringing its 'Account Status' feature to the platform.
This means Threads users will now be able to view the 'actions' taken by Meta against their account and indicate if a post has been removed, made less visible or hide content not recommended by Meta. The feature can also help users if they have been blocked from using certain features on the platform and make an appeal.
Meta also said that it would soon start testing Reels trending ads, a new content targeting product that delivers ads for the most popular and engaging creator-created Reels on Instagram. The company is also rolling out Video Expansion for Facebook Reels, an AI powered feature that automatically generates unseen pixels in each video frame to expand their aspect ratio.
Last month, at its earnings call, Meta announced that Threads now has more than 350 million monthly active users and that the amount of time spent on the platform has increased by 35 per cent.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

'AI can't be your friend and pretending so is dangerous': LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman
'AI can't be your friend and pretending so is dangerous': LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman

Mint

time24 minutes ago

  • Mint

'AI can't be your friend and pretending so is dangerous': LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman

Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn and a prominent investor in artificial intelligence, has cautioned against the growing trend of portraying AI systems as emotional companions, arguing that such framing risks undermining human relationships and emotional well-being, reported Business Insider. Speaking on a recent episode of thePossible podcast, Hoffman asserted that no current AI tool possesses the emotional depth required to qualify as a friend, and that suggesting otherwise could be psychologically harmful, added the publication. 'I don't think any AI tool today is capable of being a friend,' he said. 'And I think if it's pretending to be a friend, you're actually harming the person in so doing.' You may be interested in As per the report, his remarks follow a wave of AI companion rollouts by Meta across its platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Ray-Ban smart glasses. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently claimed that AI chatbots might help address the United States' growing loneliness crisis, pointing to research indicating that many Americans have fewer than three close friends. However, Hoffman drew a clear distinction between companionship and authentic friendship. He stressed that genuine relationships are built on mutuality — both giving and receiving emotional support. 'Friendship is a two-directional relationship,' he explained. 'It's not only, 'Are you there for me?', but also 'I am here for you'.' Reportedly, the tech entrepreneur warned that blurring the line between simulated and real emotional bonds risks diluting the value and understanding of human connection. While AI systems can imitate empathy and responsiveness, he noted that they lack the true reciprocity required to sustain meaningful relationships. He praised Inflection AI's design of its 'Pi' assistant, which explicitly refers to itself as a companion rather than a friend. Hoffman commended the tool's emphasis on encouraging users to engage with real-world relationships. 'Helping you go out into your world of friends is, I think, an extremely important thing for a companion to do,' he added. Although he acknowledged that AI tools can offer utility and support — particularly for individuals facing social isolation — Hoffman warned against using them as a replacement for real-life human interaction. He expressed particular concern about the impact on children and vulnerable users who may struggle to differentiate between digital simulation and genuine emotion. Hoffman also called for stronger industry standards and possible government intervention to address what he views as a growing ethical concern. 'We as a market should demand it, we as an industry should standardise around it,' he said. 'And if there's confusion around this, I think we as government should say, 'Hey, look, if you're not stepping up to this, we should.'' He concluded with a broader reflection on the implications of emotionally misleading AI systems. 'I think that's a degradation of the quality of elevation of human life,' Hoffman said. 'And that should not be what it's doing.'

'Beware of this man and this company': Jermaine Johnson makes public warning after being scammed by a construction company
'Beware of this man and this company': Jermaine Johnson makes public warning after being scammed by a construction company

Time of India

time39 minutes ago

  • Time of India

'Beware of this man and this company': Jermaine Johnson makes public warning after being scammed by a construction company

Jermaine Johnson (via Getty Images) New York Jets edge rusher Jermaine Johnson has accused a company he hired to work on a personal project of ripping him off—losing around $60,000 in the process. In a series of tweets on X (formerly Twitter), Jermaine Johnson alleged that the company, which was called 'Court Dreams,' took his entire payment at the beginning for a job that is still not done. New York Jets ' Jermaine Johnson calls out 'Court Dreams' company over unfulfilled project — ii_jermaine (@ii_jermaine) New York Jets' linebacker Jermaine Johnson publicly denounced a sports construction business after reporting that he was swindled out of $60,000, going to social media to warn others and recount his experience with the now-private company. The New York Jets' 2022 first-round draft choice wasn't shy on social media, calling out the company and advising others not to do business with it. Although Jermaine Johnson didn't detail exactly what kind of work he hired them to do, the company's Instagram indicates they do specialty courts, turf installations, and pool construction and market themselves as the '#1 Sports Construction Firm.' 'Beware of this man and this company,' Jermaine Johnson wrote on X. 'He has stolen roughly $60K of my money by not completing a job I regretfully paid full price for before completion.' Johnson said he was urged to hire the company after getting favorable word-of-mouth recommendations from public figures and friends. Nevertheless, he now wishes he had not paid the full advance. After numerous attempts to reach the company for a refund or project completion, Johnson said he's been given 'the runaround' for over a year. 'He's been giving me the runaround for over a year now when I ask about either a refund or just for the work to be completed. I had recommendations from friends and other celebrities that used him, which is why I felt comfortable paying upfront. Lesson learned by me but this guy will steal your money [shake my head],' Johnson said, venting frustration that he can't tag the company because it isn't on X. Within hours of his messages going viral, the company's Instagram account was made private. Fans also joined the discussion, tracking down the company and posting messages of support for the 26-year-old linebacker. Also read: Mikko Rantanen trade sends a powerful message about Dallas stars ambition It looks like Johnson's newest fight off the field illustrates the real-life weaknesses professional athletes are vulnerable to, even when conducting business off the field.

WhatsApp Status gets 4 new features, new music and layout options added
WhatsApp Status gets 4 new features, new music and layout options added

India Today

timean hour ago

  • India Today

WhatsApp Status gets 4 new features, new music and layout options added

WhatsApp has introduced four new features for its Status section to make it more interactive. The Meta-owned messaging platform is now rolling out features including the ability to add music tracks as stickers, customisable layouts, the Add Yours feature, and photo stickers. These updates are expected to roll out gradually to all users in the coming months.'We're adding four new WhatsApp Status features that give you new ways to express yourself through collaging, music and stickers,' says Meta in the official announcement blog take a quick look at all the upcoming WhatsApp features and how to use them. 1. Layout feature to create collagesOne of the highlighted features Meta is rolling out for WhatsApp is the new Layout feature. This feature allows users to create collages directly within the app. Users will be able to choose up to six photos and arrange them into a collage using built-in editing tools. They will be able to use this feature to share highlights from an event, a trip, or just daily snapshots in a more visually engaging format—similar to Instagram.2. Song Sharing and Music StickersWhatsApp recently rolled out music support for stories, similar to Instagram. With the More with Music feature, users can post a song directly as their Status. Additionally, WhatsApp allows users to create music stickers, which enable you to overlay your favourite track on a photo or selfie, turning a simple picture into a dynamic audio-visual post. advertisement3. Photo StickersAnother engaging tool being added is Photo Stickers. This feature lets users turn any photo into a custom sticker that can be resized, cropped, or shaped as desired. 'Turn a photo into a sticker and add it to your status. You'll be able to edit it so it's the right size and shape,' writes Meta. 4. Add YoursSimilar to interactive formats used on other platforms like Facebook and Instagram, the new Add Yours feature brings a collaborative element to WhatsApp Status. Users will be able to post a photo or video along with a prompt like 'Best coffee moment' or 'Throwback pic,' inviting friends to respond with their own notes that the upcoming changes are part of WhatsApp's plans to enhance personal expression while maintaining the platform's end-to-end encryption and privacy-first approach.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store