According to residents and internet watchdog NetBlocks, Iran has restricted residents’ access to social media platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp following a week of protests over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. What happened to Mahsa Amini? The protests, which began earlier this month, have seen protests spread across Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini, a young Kurdish woman who died in custody after being arrested by morality police for allegedly wearing her hijab incorrectly. Both men and women across Iran have taken to the streets in protest. However,
Instagram has launched a user survey in partnership with YouGov to understand better how people from different communities experience the app. The initiative, which highlights the company’s efforts to build a more “fair and equitable” platform, will prompt users to participate in an optional survey about their race and ethnicity. According to Instagram, information from the survey will help them better understand different communities’ experiences with the app. The survey will show up at the top of users’ feed and will lead directly to a YouGov survey. According to the
Instagram has partnered with Brooklyn Museum and writer Antwaun Sargent to debut this year’s #BlackVisionaries program. The initiative, designed to help invest in and support Black talent, will include a grant of $650,000. The support program, co-founded by the social media giant, writer Antwaun Sargent and the Brooklyn Museum in 2021, is designed to help uplift and champion underrepresented voices within the creative industry. Last year, five Black designers and Black-led small design businesses were awarded $205,000 in grants last year. The funding allowed each participant to pursue their biggest
Black content creators continue to lead the way in online spaces such as Instagram – from memes, and dances to the way in which they have utilized the app for digital activism and campaigning on important issues. But for far too long – these same creators have often been cast to the side, not credited, and even paid less by advertisers and brands. A report published last year by the communications company MSL and educational organization The Influencer League stated that the pay gap between Black and white content creators
Ahead of international women’s day – Instagram announced that it will be introducing a special tag for professional accounts and influencers that ensures they receive credit for their content. The enhanced tagging feature lets Instagram users show additional information on “People Tags” on their posts. Beyond just a profile’s username, the tags will highlight the creators’ self-designated profile category (titles are chosen from Instagram’s list of categories, like “rapper” or “fashion stylist” or “photographer”) as well as their account’s full name or title. The information is shown when users tap
Jessica Clemons, also known as the ‘culture’s psychiatrist,’ has just landed a podcast deal with Audible Original, where she’ll talk about everything from anxiety, bipolar disorder to substance use disorders and how to know when to seek treatment. She described the achievement as a “long time coming” and revealed to her Instagram followers that her interactions with them inspired the podcast. Ms. Clemons, who has developed a reputation for being the bridge between the Black community and mental wellness, also thanked them for trusting her with their own mental health journeys.
