News

Instagram Attempts To Dispel Shadowbanning Conspiracies

The Meta-owned company wants creators to better understand how the platform’s algorithms work.

Published

2 years ago

June 2, 2023

instagram attempts to dispel shadowbanning conspiracies

A new blog post by Adam Mosseri — Instagram’s top exec — has offered some of the most detailed explanations about how the platform’s algorithm ranks various recommended content in a bid to dispel conspiracy theories concerning shadowbanning.

“Instagram doesn’t have a singular algorithm that oversees what people do and don’t see on the app,” explained Mosseri in his post. Instead, the executive explained that there are several algorithms and ranking systems working behind the scenes of the Explore, Reels, Stories, and Search sections of the app, with each using different signals for cues as to whether a creator or piece of content should be offered for a viewer’s perusal.

Regarding the order of posts in a user’s main feed, the algorithm uses past viewing activity to determine what to show next, as well as “closeness” and “how likely you are to be connected as friends or family”. On the other hand, Explore recommendations are primarily driven by “posts you’ve liked, saved, shared, and commented on in the past” but are more likely to come from creators or accounts the user has never interacted with.

One of the most interesting parts of Mosseri’s blog post is about “addressing shadowbanning”. Mosseri admits there isn’t a universal definition for the term but acknowledges that some creators “use the term to imply that a user’s account or content is limited or hidden without a clear explanation or justification”. Mosseri says that Instagram is working hard to increase transparency around when content or accounts are hidden from the platform’s recommendations.

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Mosseri notes that the “account status” feature will alert users if their content or entire account is considered “ineligible” for recommendations and that an appeals process is also available. While this isn’t the first time Instagram has addressed shadowbanning, there has been a noticeable shift in how the company talks about the topic.

The new details from Adam Mosseri’s blog underscore just how vital algorithm recommendations are to Instagram’s operation. Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg has even said that his goal is to transform both Instagram and Facebook into “discovery engines” focused on recommendations rather than posts from friends.

News

Ripple Gains DFSA License To Offer Crypto Payments In Dubai

The company is now the first blockchain-powered payments provider licensed by the Dubai Financial Services Authority.

Published

3 days ago

March 13, 2025

Nour Nasir

ripple gains dfsa license to offer crypto payments in dubai

Dubai Media Office

Digital asset infrastructure provider Ripple has secured a license from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) to become the first regulated crypto payment services provider within the Dubai International Finance Center (DIFC).

This milestone marks Ripple’s debut regulatory approval in the Middle East. With the new license, businesses in the UAE can now access Ripple’s enterprise-focused payment solutions, further solidifying the company’s reputation as a reliable partner for financial institutions looking to harness the potential of digital assets for real-world applications.

“We are entering an unprecedented period of growth for the crypto industry, driven by greater regulatory clarity around the world and increasing institutional adoption,” said Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse. “Thanks to its early leadership in creating a supportive environment for tech and crypto innovation, the UAE is exceptionally well-placed to benefit”.

Ripple has witnessed growing interest across the Middle East from both crypto-native businesses and traditional financial institutions, all eager to address the challenges of conventional cross-border payments — namely high fees, slow transaction times, and limited transparency.

His Excellency Arif Amiri, CEO of DIFC Authority, commented, “We are thrilled that Ripple is deepening their commitment to Dubai by securing a DFSA license that makes them the first blockchain-enabled payments provider in DIFC. This milestone not only highlights our commitment to fostering innovation but also opens the door for Ripple to tap into new growth opportunities across the region and beyond”.

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With roughly 20% of Ripple’s global customer base operating in the region, regulatory approval further positions the platform for accelerated growth in a market that’s already highly receptive to crypto adoption. In fact, more than 80% of finance leaders in the MEA region have expressed strong confidence in integrating blockchain technology into their operations.

“Dubai and the broader UAE have established themselves as leaders in fostering a progressive and well-defined regulatory framework for digital assets,” said Reece Merrick, Ripple’s Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa. “Securing this DFSA license is a major milestone that will enable us to better serve the growing demand for faster, cheaper, and more transparent cross-border transactions in one of the world’s largest cross-border payments hubs”.

Ripple’s DFSA license is the latest addition in a comprehensive list of worldwide regulatory approvals, joining the company’s Major Payments Institution license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), a Trust Charter from the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS), a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) registration from the Central Bank of Ireland, and Money Transmitter Licenses (MTLs) across multiple U.S. states.