News

Google Update Makes It Easier To Remove Private Information

The company has also strengthened parental controls and will blur explicit imagery in search results by default.

Published

1 year ago

August 4, 2023

Nour Nasir

Google

A new Google update will make it easier to control information appearing in search results. Last year, the company released a tool to help people remove phone numbers, home and email addresses. The latest update will add further features to the “results about you” tool to make it even more effective.

google privacy update

A new dashboard will appear over the next few days, letting users know when personal information pops up in search results. When alerted, you’ll be able to ask Google to remove the offending results.

google privacy update 2

Earlier this year, the company debuted a new feature for Google One users that crawls the dark web to see if information has been included in data breaches. The latest update seems to work similarly for the wider internet, further protecting your privacy.

The tool can be accessed in the Google app by tapping your profile photo and choosing “results about you” or from a dedicated webpage if you’re using a PC or laptop. The new feature is only available in the US for now, but Google plans to roll out the update to a wider audience very soon.

Also Read: The Largest Data Breaches In The Middle East

Meanwhile, Google is also implementing an upgrade that will allow people to not only remove non-consensual explicit images from search results, but also consensual photos that they no longer want to be seen.

Finally, Google is also updating its parental controls and SafeSearch. Explicit imagery will be blurred by default, and it will soon become much easier to access parental controls.

News

Will Upcoming Changes Turn Instagram Into A TikTok Clone?

Updates are rolling out for the grid layout and Reels length, while new editing tools clearly imitate those of the rival Chinese platform.

Published

2 days ago

January 24, 2025

Nour Nasir

Instagram

Instagram recently faced backlash for swapping its iconic square grid for rectangles, disrupting the aesthetic of thousands of carefully curated profiles. However, the Meta-owned platform isn’t stopping there, after announcing more incoming TikTok-like changes designed to give users greater control over their profiles.

“We launched a new tall grid on profiles this week and I got a lot of feedback, both positive and quite negative,” Instagram head Adam Mosseri shared in an Instagram caption on Monday. “The goal is a simpler, cleaner place that maintains, and even increases, creator control”.

Here are some of the details about further changes we can expect:

Customizable Grids: Users will soon be able to tweak how their posts appear on the grid, including adjusting image crops and reordering posts entirely.
Direct-To-Grid Posts: A new option will allow users to post directly to their profile grid without automatically adding it to their main feed.
Highlights Relocation: Instagram’s Highlights feature will move from above the grid into a dedicated tab, while also becoming part of the profile grid itself.
Longer Reels: Reels are getting a significant upgrade, with the maximum video length jumping from 90 seconds to 3 minutes.

The updates are part of Instagram’s ongoing effort to compete with TikTok, which narrowly avoided a US ban following a 75-day delay granted by President Donald Trump. With the Chinese video platform’s future remaining uncertain, Instagram seems eager to capture disillusioned users by offering features that feel increasingly similar to those of its rival.

Also Read: How To Find & Cancel Pending Instagram Requests

In fact, Instagram’s recent changes go beyond just the app’s layout: On Sunday, parent company Meta launched the standalone Edits app, a clear imitation of TikTok’s popular video-editing tool, CapCut. Additionally, Meta has been enticing creators with cash bonuses to encourage them to post their videos on Instagram and Facebook.

It’s clear Instagram is shifting its strategy to appeal to the short-form video crowd. Whether these changes will win over users or continue to spark discontent remains to be seen.