News

Instagram Adds New Digital Message Board Feature For Creators

The addition is known as Broadcast Channels and will function as a one-way messaging tool.

Published

1 year ago

February 17, 2023

Nour Nasir

Instagram

Yesterday, Instagram users received an unusual notification from Mark Zuckerberg himself. The random invitation from the head of Meta heralded the arrival of a new feature, urging users to “join their broadcast channel: Meta Channel.”

The new addition, known as Broadcast Channels, is a “public, one-to-many messaging tool for creators to engage with their followers directly.”

instagram broadcast channels

In essence, Instagram creators can message all their followers simultaneously in the form of a one-way group chat. Followers can react to broadcasts and participate in polls but can’t write back directly. Finally, Broadcast Channels can be muted at any time or notifications turned off entirely.

Meta is currently testing the new feature on 14 celebrity and influencer accounts, including Olympian Chloe Kim, skier Mikaela Shiffrin, and gamers Valkyrae and FaZe Rug. The Zuckerberg-led company will also be bringing the tool to both Messenger and Facebook over the coming months, as well as adding extra features such as question prompts.

News

NASA Forms New Partnership With Saudi Space Agency

The pair will collaborate on the Center for Space Futures, advancing space tech by bringing together public and private stakeholders.

Published

2 days ago

May 16, 2024

Nour Nasir

Saudi Space Agency

Saudi Arabia’s space industry is on the brink of substantial expansion after generating $400 million in revenue in 2022, according to a report by the Saudi Communications, Space and Technology Commission.

Now, in a new venture with NASA, plans for a “Center for Space Futures” are set to further drive the Kingdom’s aspirations of becoming a leading player in space exploration and technology.

Capturing moments from the joint delegation visit with leaders from the Saudi and American Space Agencies @NASA to @PSU_RUH, along with scenes showcasing the audience's engagement. pic.twitter.com/oB1cFTiRNl

— وكالة الفضاء السعودية (@saudispace) May 14, 2024

The partnership between NASA and Saudi Arabia goes beyond economic advantages. The pair have already cooperated on preliminary work for the Artemis II lunar mission, which is slated for a September 2025 launch and aims to land astronauts near the moon’s South Pole.

Also Read: Plans Underway For Massive Middle East Autonomous Freight Network

During a visit to the capital, Riyadh, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasized in a TV interview the broader objectives of the collaboration, which encompass “returning to the moon and then [to] Mars” while utilizing space exploration to glean important insights into climate change. The NASA spokesman also reiterated the space agency’s dedication to collaborating with Saudi Arabia on other future ventures.