Instagram Pushes New ‘Shots’ Feature to More Users

TikTok has begun the next phase of its European data localization push, breaking ground on a new data center in Kouvola, Finland.  As shown in this week’s images, Kouvola city officials joined company representatives in a ceremonial event to mark the start of construction. The Kouvola facility, developed in partnership with local firm Hyperco, is designed to expand TikTok’s ability to store EU user information within the region, rather than sending it back to China.  The project also carries political weight, serving as a visible investment in the European economy and an effort to strengthen ties with EU leaders. In TikTok’s own words:“The €1 billion investment will provide a major boost to Kouvola’s economy. More than a thousand people are expected to be employed during peak construction, with around 200 permanent jobs once the facility is fully operational.” The initiative is central to TikTok’s bid to meet EU data regulations and to avoid the difficulties it continues to face in the U.S., where the platform remains under threat of a nationwide ban because of its links to China. The build forms part of TikTok’s broader “Project Clover” strategy, which has already delivered data centers in Ireland and Norway. In the U.S., a parallel effort known as “Project Texas” has been put in place with the same aim. Together, these facilities are intended to assure regulators that TikTok can safeguard local user data and continue operating without further disruption. But, as ever, the picture in the U.S. remains far from certain. Later this month, President Donald Trump is expected to decide whether to once again delay enforcement of the TikTok divestiture bill through an executive order. Without an agreement, TikTok could face a complete shutdown in its second-largest market. That makes Europe even more critical to the app’s future. TikTok recently reported that its European user base has now surpassed 200 million, a significant milestone. Should the U.S. option collapse, Europe will inevitably become the company’s priority as it refines its revenue models and growth strategy. In that context, the Kouvola data center is not just another construction project—it could prove pivotal to TikTok’s survival and long-term presence in the global market. 📢 If you're interested in Facebook Ads Account, don't hesitate to connect with us!🔹 https://linktr.ee/Adshinepro💬 We're always ready to assist you!

Instagram is expanding access to its “Shots” quick image-sharing tool, giving more users the ability to capture and send fleeting moments to their connections within the app. At first glance, the feature feels like a leftover experiment from the BeReal craze of 2022—an attempt to tap into that wave of authenticity—which raises questions about whether it can truly gain traction on Instagram. Still, perhaps there’s more potential than it initially appears. As shown in these previews, Shots offers a stripped-down experience: no edits, no filters, just a single, unpolished snapshot. The image can be sent to a friend, who gets only one chance to view it before it disappears. In practice, it’s a hybrid of BeReal and Snapchat, aimed at fostering spur-of-the-moment exchanges between users. A few key rules apply. Shots can only be shared with followers who also follow you back, ensuring reciprocity in interactions. Recipients cannot see who else you’ve sent Shots to, and while your own Shots remain stored in your archive, they vanish for the recipient once opened. The feature has been in testing for several months, available to users in select regions. Now Instagram is broadening access, in what looks like another push to spark casual, direct engagement across its network. In many ways, Shots feels like a vestige of Instagram’s previous BeReal-style experiments. Back when BeReal was surging, Instagram rolled out several similar trials, including “Candid,” a near replica of BeReal’s daily prompt mechanic, along with a handful of other spontaneous-sharing tests that never went fully live. Shots, though, seems designed to echo the same intimate, off-the-cuff vibe that’s made Notes popular among younger users—a nudge toward more private, lightweight interactions, layered into the broader Instagram ecosystem. Whether Shots becomes anything more than a novelty is debatable. On one hand, it could be dismissed as yet another imitation. On the other, the appetite for quicker, more personal sharing may give it staying power, especially as Instagram continues to experiment with smaller-scale connection tools. Interestingly, TikTok is also trialing a similar concept called “PhotoSwap,” suggesting there are usage signals across platforms that support this type of feature. It may prove to be a minor update in Instagram’s larger strategy, but it’s one worth watching as the rollout widens. We’ve reached out to Instagram for details on the expansion timeline and will update if we receive more information. 📢 If you're interested in Facebook Ads Account, don't hesitate to connect with us!🔹 https://linktr.ee/Adshinepro💬 We're always ready to assist you!

AI chatbots are about to come under sharper regulatory focus, with U.S. authorities weighing potential restrictions following mounting concerns about how these tools interact with young users. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has formally ordered Meta, OpenAI, Snapchat, X, Google, and Character AI to disclose details about the inner workings of their AI assistants. The probe seeks to determine whether sufficient safeguards have been put in place to prevent harmful outcomes for children and teenagers. As the FTC explained:“The FTC inquiry seeks to understand what steps, if any, companies have taken to evaluate the safety of their chatbots when acting as companions, to limit the products’ use by and potential negative effects on children and teens, and to apprise users and parents of the risks associated with the products.” The move follows a series of troubling reports involving minors and AI-powered chatbots on major platforms. Meta, for instance, has faced criticism over claims that its bots were engaging in inappropriate exchanges with underage users—at times even encouraged by the company as part of its AI expansion efforts. Snapchat’s “My AI” assistant has also come under scrutiny for the way it communicates with young people, while X’s newly launched AI companions have raised fresh alarms about how users might form emotional bonds with these digital entities. What ties these cases together is the speed at which companies have been pushing their AI tools into consumers’ hands, determined not to be left behind in the broader AI race. Regulators worry that in the rush to innovate, critical safety checks may have been glossed over. The long-term effects of these interactions remain largely unknown, particularly when it comes to adolescents forming relationships with bots. That uncertainty has already prompted at least one U.S. senator to call for an outright ban on teen access to AI companions—a sentiment that appears to have influenced the FTC’s decision to act. According to the agency, its investigation will focus on what steps companies are taking “to mitigate potential negative impacts, limit or restrict children’s or teens’ use of these platforms, or comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act Rule.” That includes examining safety testing, product design, and oversight mechanisms to determine whether platforms are doing enough to shield young users from harm. The outcome will be closely watched, not least because the Trump Administration has consistently emphasized acceleration over caution when it comes to AI. In its newly unveiled AI action plan, the White House specifically pledged to reduce regulatory red tape, aiming to ensure U.S. companies remain at the forefront of global AI development. Whether that deregulatory stance filters down to the FTC will be key in determining what, if any, new guardrails emerge. Still, the stakes are high. Just as policymakers have spent the past decade reckoning with the unintended consequences of social media, many experts warn that AI chatbots could become the next frontier of regret if action isn’t taken early. By the time society fully understands the impact of these tools on children and teens, the damage may already be entrenched. That’s why the FTC’s move to press for answers now could prove to be a critical first step in shaping responsible use—and possibly, new rules—for AI companions.📢 If you're interested in Facebook Ads Account, don't hesitate to connect with us!🔹 https://linktr.ee/Adshinepro💬 We're always ready to assist you!