WhatsApp may soon roll out improved status feature

WhatsApp is reportedly working on an improved feature called status, which will allow users to set an expiration for their text status information. This will give users more control over their profiles and prevent outdated or irrelevant information from persisting. In other news, WhatsApp will no longer support certain older smartphone models starting from October 24, 2023, in order to focus on supporting the latest operating systems. Users will be notified and reminded to upgrade their devices to continue using WhatsApp. https://ift.tt/cE2bjox

Elon Musk’s X has a new competitor, a ‘news’ app

Artifact, the news aggregator app created by Instagram co-founders, has introduced a new feature that allows users to create posts directly on the platform. This feature expands on the recently launched Links feature and aims to enhance personalization algorithms. Users can share various types of content, including thoughts, reviews, recipes, and design inspirations. The posts will appear in a visual feed and can be shared on different platforms. With this new feature, Artifact is entering the realm of social media platforms like Twitter and Meta's Threads. https://ift.tt/Rk1Sw3z

How TikTok Shop's growth in Indonesia, meant to be a template for a global expansion, ended in a ban amid backlash from rivals and an "activist" minister (Bloomberg)

Bloomberg:
How TikTok Shop's growth in Indonesia, meant to be a template for a global expansion, ended in a ban amid backlash from rivals and an “activist” minister  —  - Company ordered to split off TikTok Shop in its No. 1 market  — Indonesia puts pressure on TikTok to protect local merchants

A look at the rise of online feminism in China, driven by content on apps like Weibo, Douyin, WeChat, and Douban, despite increased scrutiny from the platforms (Wanqing Zhang/Rest of World)

Wanqing Zhang / Rest of World:
A look at the rise of online feminism in China, driven by content on apps like Weibo, Douyin, WeChat, and Douban, despite increased scrutiny from the platforms  —  Lying in bed one night in 2021, Zhang Zirui was swiping through Chinese social media app Weibo when she came across a post that gave her pause.

Hands-on with Mercedes-Benz's Drive Pilot, the first and only Level 3 system approved for sale in the US and EU, available only on freeways mapped by Mercedes (Daniel Golson/The Verge)

Daniel Golson / The Verge:
Hands-on with Mercedes-Benz's Drive Pilot, the first and only Level 3 system approved for sale in the US and EU, available only on freeways mapped by Mercedes  —  Drive Pilot is a Level 3 autonomous system, meaning you can take your hands off the wheel and — more notably — eyes off the road during certain conditions.

Itel S23+, itel P55 Power 5G smartphones launched in India: Price, specs and more

Itel has unveiled two new affordable smartphones, the itel S23+ and itel P55 Power, with 5G connectivity and MediaTek chipsets. The itel S23+ is priced at Rs 13,999 and features a 6.78-inch FHD+ AMOLED display, 8GB+256GB storage, a 50MP main camera, and a 32MP selfie shooter. The itel P55 Power comes in two variants, priced at Rs 9,699 and Rs 9,999, and offers a MediaTek Dimensity 6080 chipset, up to 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and a 50MP dual rear camera. Itel aims to make 5G technology accessible and affordable for the masses in India. https://ift.tt/GVvgmjz