A writer reflects on leaving all Meta-owned platforms over several years, having deleted Facebook in 2018 and dropped Instagram and WhatsApp about a year ago. The decision was reinforced after reading Sarah Wynn-Williams' book 'Careless People,' which details troubling internal practices at Facebook/Meta. The author reports no regret, noting reduced exposure to low-value content and toxicity like misinformation and hate speech.
strategictree.bearblog.dev
· 2026-09-10
WhatsApp is rolling out an update that doubles the maximum length of music clips users can attach to status updates, from 15 seconds to 30 seconds. A new duration picker in the music editor lets users scroll through options and choose any clip length up to the new maximum, whether pairing music with a photo or posting it alone.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-09
Meta introduced Muse, a new personal AI agent that can independently send emails, book travel, complete web forms, and negotiate deals using a user's stored email, payment, and account information. Announced by Mark Zuckerberg via Instagram, Muse runs on Meta's new Muse Spark model and is available in the U.S. through a standalone app, WhatsApp integration, and the muse.ai website, with free basic access and paid tiers for more complex tasks. Meta also plans to bring Muse support to its AI glasses.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-09-08
Meta rolled out Muse, a personal AI agent built by Meta Superintelligence Labs that can be messaged through a dedicated app, Muse.ai, or WhatsApp to handle digital chores like sending emails, booking travel, or selling a car. The agent can also make purchases on a user's behalf using single-use virtual card numbers powered by Stripe's Link tool, and is free to try with paid subscriptions needed for heavier use.
wired.com
· 2026-09-08
WhatsApp is developing a feature that lets users generate an API key inside the app to link outside AI agents to individual chats, then message those agents directly for responses or task execution. According to WABetaInfo, the feature limits agents to reading only the messages shared in that one conversation, with no access to other chats, contacts, or media, and currently supports only one-on-one chats rather than groups or communities.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-07
Security researcher Jose Rodriguez found that on some Android phones, WhatsApp's video call feature can let anyone view your entire photo gallery without unlocking the device. The flaw is triggered by answering a video call, opening the effects panel, selecting AI-generated backgrounds, and choosing to edit an existing photo, which opens the gallery directly. Rodriguez says the bug affects OPPO and vivo phones but not Samsung, and has reported it to Meta and Google.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-03
A YouGov survey found that 34 percent of U.S. adults under 30 belong to at least four group chats, with 3 percent managing more than 20 separate threads across text and messaging apps. The report frames this as evidence that group chats have become the default tool for organizing nearly every social interaction, from book clubs to family reunions.
wired.com
· 2026-08-30
WhatsApp has begun rolling out five new chat theme categories on iOS: Featured, Nature, Live, Minimal, and Doodle, according to WABetaInfo. The standout is Live, which offers slowly moving animated backgrounds marked by a small icon, while the app automatically matches chat bubble colors to the chosen theme.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-08-28
Nation-state hacking groups linked to Russia have shifted their phishing campaigns away from email and toward messaging apps like Signal and WhatsApp to target European Union officials. In response, EU governments are reportedly working to move away from these popular consumer messaging platforms for sensitive communications.
darkreading.com
· 2026-08-27
WhatsApp is rolling out stronger account-security options, letting users replace their six-digit PIN with a full password containing letters, numbers and symbols, and allowing multiple passkeys across Android and iOS devices. The Meta-owned app is also giving users more context on unknown callers, such as whether a number originates from another country.
cnet.com
· 2026-08-25
Meta unveiled three new WhatsApp security updates: support for multiple passkeys per account across iOS and Android, two-step verification that now allows full alphanumeric passwords instead of just a six-digit PIN, and an Android-only feature showing extra context about unknown callers, such as their country or shared groups. WhatsApp says over a billion users already rely on passkeys via Face ID, Touch ID, or screen locks.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-08-25
WhatsApp is strengthening its two-step verification by letting users set a full password—supporting letters, numbers and special characters—instead of the previous six-digit PIN. The company is also improving caller ID on Android, showing more context about unknown callers such as their country and any shared groups. Both features are rolling out gradually, with the password option available on Android and iOS, while enhanced caller ID is Android-only for now.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-25
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