We've all heard of photographers working for free to build up their portfolios, especially when trying to break into the competitive world of wedding photography. But actually offering to pay a bride and groom serious money for the opportunity of shooting their nuptials is something entirely different - and perhaps best avoided.

A would-be wedding photographer in Scotland has upset professional wedding photographers by offering couples £250 (US$330) to photograph their nuptials for his portfolio.

Posting on the public Facebook group The Scottish Wedding Group, the user, named Ja Vier, wrote: "Special Offer. Full Day Wedding Photography – I'll pay you £250 if you let me shoot your wedding for my portfolio."

He posted an AI-generated image of a thrilled bride and groom (wearing a kilt for extra Scottish authenticity) being covered in confetti by their guests, adding the dubious disclaimer: "This image is AI but I'm sure I can do something similar."

At the time of writing, the post had almost exclusively received 'laugh emoji' reactions – but not everyone reading it was amused.

"Is this a joke post?!!!!" asked wedding photographer David Knowles of Black Dog Wedding Photography.

Snapper Derek Wells of Sunshine Photography & Video replied, "I could do a full wedding from my bed. It won't look like the couple or venue, but with a little imagination, well, you know what I mean." He added, "I have been a wedding photographer for 30 years and this could be the maddest thing I have seen!"

While one particularly irate user called Danny McLaren failed to adhere to the group's first rule, Be Kind: "JESUS Christ. I beg you to leave. Like genuinely get the f**k outta here. You ain't welcome here and I swear to God if I get one whiff of you going near a couple I will make sure they know what sorta scum they've 'hired'."

However, Anonymous user RubyLychee1925 may have summed up potential couples' attitude to Ja Vier's proposal best: "Ah yes, my wedding day - the most likely day I'll be 'sure' you can do something similar!"

It looks very much as though the hapless amateur photographer will be remaining portfolio-free, with £250 still in pocket.

If you do end up shooting someone's special ceremony, be sure to check out our essential wedding photography tips, and study our guide to the best cameras for wedding photography

Finding it difficult to track down an image you uploaded to Facebook? Well, here's what might sound like good news. The social giant has introduced a new opt-in feature that will scan your phone’s camera roll, suggest edits and collages, and help you share “hidden gems” you may have missed. 

It’s being pitched as an effortless way to rediscover forgotten moments and make them “shareworthy”. The company says it’s rolling out now in the US and Canada, with plans to expand soon. Facebook adds that all suggestions are private, and nothing is shared unless you choose to post it. 

But, as always, there’s a caveat. And it’s one that photographers, videographers, and anyone else protective of their images should pay attention to.

AI training

Around the world, photographers, filmmakers and other creatives are in uproar at the moment, over AI companies training their models on their images. So what's Facebook's policy here? Well, it insists it doesn’t use your camera roll to train its AI... unless you edit the suggested content with Meta’s tools, or share it publicly. In other words, the minute you take advantage of what the feature is designed to do, you’ve effectively handed over permission for Meta to use that material to “improve" its AI model.

That’s a significant trade-off, especially for professionals whose camera rolls are likely to contain raw files, client work or unreleased projects. While Meta says these images are uploaded privately to its cloud, the idea of giving a social media giant ongoing access to your camera roll, even on an opt-in basis, isn't something many professionals will feel comfortable with.

After all, this isn’t just about privacy; it’s also about ownership. Once your image passes through Meta’s systems, how confident can you be that it won’t end up influencing future AI models, even indirectly? The company’s privacy statement is careful with its words, but far less reassuring in spirit.

Where's the upside?

So that's the downside; what's the upside here, exactly? What problem is Facebook trying to solve?

According to Meta, it's that people have stopped sharing personal photos because they don’t feel their snaps are “special” enough. The new feature, the company says, can take care of that; by enhancing images, building collages and crafting little highlight reels so you can reconnect with friends and family.

But I think that's all nonsense. People haven’t stopped sharing because their photos aren’t good enough. They’ve stopped because they don’t trust the platform anymore. Between data scandals, algorithmic manipulation, and a general sense that Facebook has become more ad network than community, many users have simply opted out. 

Facebook’s answer to all that is... more AI? To me, that sounds like someone breaking your camera, then offering to lend you a better one, as long as they get to keep the negatives. So I'm going to avoid opting in to this new feature, and I suggest you do, too.

A Facebook pop-up is asking whether or not the user wants to: “Allow cloud processing to get creative ideas made for you from your camera roll?” According to TechCrunch, the notification appears when you create a new story on the Facebook app. However, having fired up the app myself, I’m not currently receiving the notification.

The pop-up continues to state: “To create ideas for you, we’ll select media from your camera roll and upload it to our cloud on an ongoing basis (...) Only you can see suggestions. Your media won’t be used for ads targeting.” But as TechCrunch points out, you’re also agreeing to Meta’s AI Terms, which appear to contradict the above, somewhat. Specifically, the Image Processing section states: “This processing allows us to offer innovative new features (...) and generate new content based on the image.”

As the embedded X post from Glenn Gabe (below) perfectly illustrates, the news hasn't been particularly well-received.

What stands out to me, within Meta's T&Cs, is the passage following the Personal Information section: “Do not share information that you don’t want the AIs to use and retain such as account identifiers, passwords, financial information, or other sensitive information.” This perfectly illustrates why I don’t think it’s acceptable for Facebook to essentially scrape your camera roll. It’s asking you to relinquish a great deal of control over your personal image library, and in my mind, that’s a huge privacy concern.

I’m sure most users have sensitive information hidden within their camera roll – perhaps more than they’d like to admit or even think to consider. How are you going to remember that invoice you screengrabbed or password you snapped for posterity (however ill-advised) three years ago? What I can’t work out is whether accepting these terms overrides those who have already chosen to limit Facebook’s access to their camera roll within their phone's settings.

Something else I can’t help but wonder is whether this will ever appear on Meta’s other social media leviathan, Instagram. After all, it’s a lot less casual than Facebook, and as such, has the potential to cause a huge stir among a creative community that’s already reeling from the unregulated impact of artificial intelligence.

I, for one, will not be granting Facebook’s AI access to my camera roll, but will you? Let me know in the comments below…

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I've got plenty more thoughts on AI, such as photography will live and die by how transparent we photographers choose to be about the images we create and why I think restoring this iconic photo with AI is heresy. Also, did you know that AI can identify a photo’s location?

With camera prices skyrocketing, it’s no surprise that many of us are turning to second-hand to save some cash. I’m no stranger to buying used kit from sites like eBay, MPB and Wex, though some of the best bargains have come from private sellers on Facebook Marketplace in recent years.

Facebook Marketplace started in 2016 in the USA, UK, New Zealand and Australia, and enables users to list their pre-loved equipment so that people in the area can pick up a bargain locally. 

I’ve used Facebook Marketplace a fair bit over the years, and I’ve even been stung a few times – though fortunately nothing worth losing sleep over, and it's all handy experience that I'll share with you here.

It is a bit more like the Wild West compared to reliable retailers where you have some sort of guarantee or buyer protection. However, without seller fees, the offers on Facebook Marketplace can be very tempting. Here’s what I’ve learned over the years…

Buy safe on Marketplace

It pays to be cynical when buying from strangers online, and Facebook Marketplace is no exception. Even before messaging somebody to enquire about a sale, remember the motto "If something is too good to be true, it probably is".

If an item is priced way below the market value it could be broken or, even worse, stolen! Be hyper-vigilant and do a background check on the seller – see if they have ratings or feedback from other users to back them up, and be suspicious of new accounts that have no profile picture. 

Most people at this point will have had a Facebook account for many years. If I see a listing from a new user with no profile picture, I simply leave it and move on as it’s not worth my time.

Never stump up a deposit, and stay away from dealing with anyone who wants to post your item or take the conversation away from Facebook – as once you’ve handed over the money, you have no guarantee that the item will turn up.

If you're happy, and you do go ahead with the sale, remember to meet up in a public place, in a well-lit area and bring a friend for extra security if you like. When you see the item, do a thorough check to make sure it all works as has been described.

Check that the camera turns on, the shutter fires and the screen isn’t broken. And if looking at a lens, make sure that the aperture closes down as it should, the zoom and focus rings turn smoothly, and that the optics are free from dust and fungus.

Follow these tips and you should have a safe and more enjoyable experience picking up camera bargains on Facebook Marketplace.

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If you enjoyed this article about Facebook Marketplace you might also like Facebook's self-built 360-camera is a live-streaming mothership and Why I've only ever bought second-hand cameras.

Early smart glasses received a bit of a tepid response but, as AI brings more features to wearables, 2025 could be a make-or-break year for the technology. During its quarterly earnings call, Meta lead Mark Zuckerberg said the upcoming year will be a “defining year” for the smart glasses category and hinted at a third generation for the Meta Ray-Bans.

During the call, Zuckerberg focused primarily on the impact of AI but touched on everything from the social networks' user count to the Metaverse to “redefining our relationship with governments.” But the founder and CEO’s brief discussion on the company’s smart glasses seemed to hint at an upcoming third generation.

“Our Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses are a real hit, and this will be the year when we understand the trajectory for AI glasses as a category,” he said in the earnings call. “Many breakout products in the history of consumer electronics have sold 5-10 million units in their third generation.

“This will be a defining year that determines if we're on a path towards many hundreds of millions and eventually billions of AI glasses – and glasses being the next computing platform like we've been talking about for some time – or if this is just going to be a longer grind. But it's great overall to see people recognizing that these glasses are the perfect form factor for AI – as well as just great, stylish glasses.”

There are a few potential takeaways from Zuckerberg’s comment, the biggest being his mention of tech that tends to break out in the “third generation.” The comment could support the rumors that are calling for the smart glasses to get a third-gen refresh in 2025.

Zuckerberg’s comment also seems to address the relatively slow reception to smart glasses technology, pondering the possibility of the tech being “the next big computing platform” or if the process will be a “a longer grind.”

Some unconfirmed rumors are calling for the glasses to get a display in the next generation, but Zuckerberg seems to hint at more AI features when he calls the tech “the perfect form factor for AI.” The smart glasses already have Meta AI features, enabling users to not only ask general questions but ask about something in a photo taken with the camera glasses.

The last reported sales numbers for the glasses were over 700,000 as of last fall, so Zuckerberg’s note on third-generation technology that tends to see 5-10 million sold would be a steep jump for the category. The second generation, however, outsold the first after just a few months.

Zuckerberg added a bit more insight in the questions and answer session at the end of the earnings call. “I’ve said for a while that I think that glasses are the ideal form factor for an AI device because you can let an AI assistant on your glasses see what you see and hear what you hear, which gives it the context to be able to understand everything that’s going on in your life that you would want to talk to it about and get context on,” he said.

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For more inspiration, browse the best smart glasses or read the Ray-Bay Stories review.

Ready to start paying for Facebook and Instagram? Because that time is upon us.

Last month Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that Instagram and Facebook would introduce a monthly subscription fee, with trials taking place in Australia and New Zealand. Following its success, the verification service is now being rolled out in the US – although those hoping to sign up will have to join a waitlist.

• Check out the best cameras for Instagram to up your Meta game 

Meta Verified is designed to make Instagram and Facebook safer for individuals, improve the reach of business accounts and give users better access to customer support if their account is locked. 

As things stand, it’s extremely difficult (some might say impossible) to talk to a real human being when an account is compromised. And while this feature is advantageous, shouldn’t it be included anyway? Meta is a multi-billion-dollar company, after all, with 239.65 million Facebook users and 230.25 million Instagram users.

To become Meta Verified you will need to upload a government-issued ID photo and turn on two-factor authentication. Once verified, you will be unable to change your name, photo, username or date of birth unless you complete the verification process again.

Another advantage to Meta Verified, other than being able to brag about the blue tick on your profile, is that verified users will have access to exclusive stickers that can be used on Stories and Reels. Verified members will also receive 100 Stars (the Facebook streaming currency) per month, which can be used to show support for other creators. 

Since Facebook launched in 2004, aside from businesses paying for advertising, it’s been a free service. However, like so many businesses, Meta has felt the pinch of high inflation and rising interest rates. Last year Zuckerberg made the difficult decision to lay off 11,000 employees (equivalent to 13% of the staff), marking the biggest job cut in the company's history. 

It’s unclear exactly how successful the Meta Verified trial was in New Zealand and Australia, but the fact that it’s being rolled out in the US is a good sign. Introducing it might just be another desperate attempt to find another revenue stream but, if it works in favor of creators, perhaps it’s not so bad.

Plans start at $11.99 / AU$19.99 (no UK rollout has yet been made public) for the desktop version or $14.99 / AU$24.99 a month for the mobile and web version. It certainly isn’t a cheap service but, if it increases engagement and businesses notice a boost in sales, it might be worth the additional monthly cost. 

If this article was of interest, you might want to check out the best cameras for streaming, the best cameras for TikTok, and the best cameras for vlogging.

Facebook and Instagram are introducing Meta Verified – a subscription-based service that includes a verified badge plus extra account protection, better access to support, and increased visibility. Not only will this move make it easier to identify authentic accounts, it should also make it harder to hack accounts and easier to recover them.

Since so many people now use Facebook and Instagram as their primary method of sharing photos, losing access to your account can also mean losing years' worth of memories. Once upon a time, hackers only seemed to target accounts with a high number of friends or followers – but recently it seems any account can be hacked and lost forever, which is especially bad news if you’re using it for business purposes.

• These are the best cameras for Instagram to share your photography online

There are several steps that can be taken to ensure that your Facebook or Instagram account is secure, such as setting a strong word, using two-factor authentication, and making sure you log out of shared computers. If the worst happens, though, getting it recovered is nearly impossible. 

With Meta Verified, you’ll be able to speak to a real, human person should you lose access to your account, who can provide help and guidance on common account issues as well as effectively find and flag imposter accounts. 

To get the verified badge, users must provide a government-issued ID with a real name, date of birth, and photo. Other benefits include increased visibility, that will enable people who use a personal account for business (such as creatives) to be more easily seen and hopefully improve engagement. Users who subscribe to Meta Verified will also have access to a range of exclusive stickers, that can be used in stories or on posts to stand out. 

With a monthly fee of $11.99 / AU$19.99 on desktop or $14.99 / AU$24.99 for iOS and Android, Meta Verified certainly isn’t cheap – and arguably a lot of its benefits should be accessible anyway. It shouldn’t be so difficult to talk to someone in customer services at the world’s largest social media company, and yet if you lose access to your account it’s extremely difficult to know who to contact.

Mark Zuckerberg's announcement on his Facebook page has already received over 83,000 comments. While some users seem to agree with Meta’s latest move, lots of people have pointed out that the features included should be free anyway – especially considering Meta is a $400 billion business. 

It’s been more than a decade since the Free the Nipple campaign started, and during that time thousands of posts have been wrongly removed due to unfair censorship policies. Now, thanks to Meta’s Oversight board, Facebook and Instagram could finally update their nudity policy guidelines. 

As things stand, being topless on Instagram is fine – so long as you’re a man. However, Instagram’s nudity policies are incredibly restrictive (not to mention prejudiced) if you’re a woman, transgender or nonbinary person. 

• These are the best cameras for Instagram – perfect for creating content to send to your phone, nipples and all

One photographer, who goes by the name Adey, created an entire photo book in response to Instagram's nudity policies. Uncensored addresses issues of unfair censorship when it comes to portraying the body in its purest form: bare, undressed and naked. Throughout his work, he creates non-sexualized images of the naked, human form to prove his point. 

Meta’s Oversight Board issued a  statement overturning Instagram’s decision to remove two separate photos, posted by a US-based transgender and nonbinary couple. The images were posted in 2021 and 2022 and, initially, both posts were removed for violating the Sexual Solicitation Standard as they contained breasts and a link to a fundraising page for top surgery (chest reconstruction). 

Meta’s nudity policy is fundamentally problematic, as it’s based on a binary view of gender – as in, you must be either male or female. In today's society, gender is viewed as a spectrum where people don't fit into neat little boxes. As owners of two of the world’s biggest social media platforms, Meta needs to be doing more to ensure all its users are treated consistently – regardless of sex or gender.

Censorship on Instagram and Facebook has been a long, ongoing debate that all comes down to inequality and lack of understanding. There is one rule for male and male-identifying people, and another for everyone else. 

While it’s perfectly acceptable for a man to pose topless, a womxn (a term used since the Seventies to avoid perceived sexism) might have their post removed and their account shadow banned for sharing similar content. 

Shadow banning is particularly hard on those who use Instagram or Facebook to run a business. From artists to photographers to sexual activists, shadow banning means that your account becomes less visible, which means fewer clicks, fewer followers and fewer people likely to buy your products – and in a cost-of-living crisis, every sale helps. 

Current policies don't differentiate between overly sexualized content and nudity that is for an artistic or creative purpose. This means that artists are having to censor their own work that they have invested time and energy planning and creating, only to have to cover any nipples out of fear of being targeted by Meta. 

One of the big issues is that posts are often removed using an automated system that can't tell the difference – and sometimes it gets things so wrong that it removes posts that are completely unrelated to nudity. 

The Oversight board has recommended that Meta, "define clear, objective and rights-respecting criteria to govern its Adult Nudity and Sexual Activity Community standard," and suggests that Meta conducts a comprehensive human rights assessment, engaging stakeholders and creating a plan to address any harm identified. 

The Free The Nipple battle has been going on far too long, but this news is finally a step in the right direction. For Instagram accounts such as Genderless Nipples, which has racked up an enormous 71K followers in its effort to see policy change, this could be the single most important change that Instagram will ever make. 

Whether or not it becomes reality, we will have to wait and see – but we have everything crossed that Meta will listen to the Oversight Board and make Facebook and Instagram a creative space for all. 

These are the best camera phones so you can take high-quality, sharp photos wherever you are!

Choosing the right camera for streaming can make a real difference to your content, whether you’re building an audience on Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, or TikTok once you’ve passed the 1,000-follower mark. A laptop webcam might be enough to get going, but the upgrade to a dedicated streaming camera is immediately noticeable, delivering sharper visuals and cleaner sound that help keep viewers watching.

This guide is built around cameras we’ve tested and reviewed, making it easier to find a setup that suits your style and budget. Most picks are compact, plug-and-play webcams that work seamlessly with Mac and Windows systems. There are also hybrid cameras designed for photography or vlogging that double as capable streaming tools, alongside a newer wave of pro-level gear aimed at creators who want broadcast-quality results.

Each option offers something different, so it’s about deciding what you value most: outright image quality, simplicity, or a setup that can grow with you. Built-in microphones are fine to begin with, but if you’re serious about streaming, audio should be your first upgrade. A good external mic will elevate your content faster than almost any camera or lighting change, helping you sound professional long before you look it.

The Quick List

The best camera for streaming in 2026

The best streaming camera for most people

Despite it being a relatively old product, we still think the best camera for the average streamer - from a fixed spot, anyway - is the Logitech C922. This is a standout choice for anyone either getting into streaming for the first time, and is looking for something better than the webcam they already have.

It clips neatly onto the top of your television or PC monitor or can be attached to a tripod if you want to get more creative with your angles and framing. The camera shoots and streams live in 1080p Full HD resolution at 30 frames per second, and there's also a ‘hyperfast’ mode for streaming 720p at 60fps.

Dual microphones create stereo audio, saving you from setting up separate microphones, and the camera comes with an 18.5cm tall tripod. The lens offers a 78-degree wide view, and it comes with a free three-month license for Xsplit streaming software. Also, check our guide to the Best Logitech webcams.

Read our full Logitech C922 Pro review for more details

Final thoughts

The Logitech C922 Pro is a solid choice for streamers, offering sharp 1080p video at 30fps or smooth 720p at 60fps. With reliable autofocus, decent built-in microphones, and background removal features, it delivers good quality without needing extra gear. It’s not the most advanced option, but it offers great value for its price.

The best streaming camera for ease of use

The Elgato Facecam is a relative newcomer to the streaming circuit, placing a firm emphasis on accessible, high-quality content. It shoots video at a streaming-friendly resolution of 1080p, uncompressed, with a 60p frame rate.

The default image it produces is bright – some might call it overexposed – but if it’s not to your taste then it’s easy enough to fix the settings with Elgato’s Camera Hub software.

In other respects, the camera is pretty simple. The focus is fixed, and in a move that seems surprising but makes sense once you think about it, there’s no onboard mic. Elgato's reasoning is that anyone who’s willing to spend almost $200 on a streaming camera probably isn’t planning to use a crappy on-board mic, and either has or is going to acquire their own. Fair enough, though this does mean you have to factor in the cost of a mic on top of the already slightly chunky asking price.

Read our full Elgato Facecam review for more details

Final thoughts

The Elgato FaceCam delivers sharp 1080p at 60fps with excellent color and low-light performance, thanks to its Sony sensor and glass lens. While it lacks a built-in mic and autofocus, its image quality and deep customization via Elgato’s software make it a strong pick for serious streamers.

The best streaming camera for movement

Obsbot's original Tiny was so-called to distinguish it from the 'Tail' – a camera which was designed for streamers. The thing is, for many, streaming requires nothing more than a good webcam and the Tiny 2 (actually the third, after the Tiny 4K), is a very good webcam which also will track its subject so, for example, if you want to do your own live cooking show, it's got you covered.

Of course there are reasons to look for the Tail series (which is just about to get an update), but unless you need features like NDI|HX3 and multi-cam setups managed by the cameras themselves then the smarts you need can all be found in this sophisticated webcam. If you use a platform like OBS it'll have no issue recognising it, and the 4K image is good, even in relatively low light thanks to the 1/1.5-inch sensor.

Our only real complaint is that we thought the 770MB for the Obsbot app seemed a little excessive, but the provision of Mac and Windows support is appreciated. Obsbot also provide an excellent hard case and the device is tiny enough to sit on a laptop screen and run from USB-C power only (though has a tripod screw). You can check samples I took in my full review of the Obsbot Tiny 2.

Final thoughts

The Obsbot Tiny 2 offers impressive 4K video, smooth AI tracking, and smart features like gesture and voice control. Its large sensor and gimbal system deliver excellent image quality, though it’s pricier than most and lacks Windows Hello. For streamers wanting standout performance and innovation, it’s a top-tier option.

The best streaming camera with built in light

Lighting is a crucial part of video production, and you’ll want to make sure your face is brightly and evenly lit when streaming. You can invest in standalone lighting to help achieve this, but on a tight budget, you could be better off with the Razer Kiyo, which has its own integrated light ring made up of 12 LEDs.

The light ring surrounds the camera and its brightness can be adjusted; the lights offer up to 10 Lux of brightness at a distance of one meter, with a color temperature of 5600K. As well as brightening your face, the light should also help prevent your face from mirroring reflections of gameplay from your screen, making for a more professional look.

As for the camera itself, the Razer Kiyo streams at 1080p Full HD resolution at 30 frames per second (the gold standard for streaming at this price range), and a 60fps at 720p option is also available. Although a little larger than some other streaming cameras, the Kiyo still clips neatly to the top of your PC display.

See our full Razer Kiyo review for more details

Final thoughts

The Razer Kiyo is a great entry-level webcam for streamers, offering 1080p video at 30fps and a built-in ring light for better lighting without extra gear. It has fast autofocus and decent audio, making it a simple, effective option for improving stream quality.

The best streaming camera for automatic features

While the Logitech C922 Pro has staked out a place as a near-ubiquitous camera for conferences and the like, the Logitech Streamcam is a newer model that’s pitched directly toward streamers. Its video quality is excellent, with 1080p 60fps footage that looks excellent. You’ll have no reason to worry about your streaming quality once this camera is up and running – the auto framing and exposure features keep you centered and keep the image balanced for a pleasing output. You can also install the Logitech Capture software, available for Windows or Mac, to further streamline the process.

The cuboid Logitech Streamcam looks pretty chic and comes with a range of mounting options including a diddy desktop tripod, which makes it easy to put the camera at exactly the angle you want it. Our only real gripe is the fact that the USB-C cable is both short and non-detachable, meaning you can’t simply replace it with a longer one of your own. This does diminish positioning versatility a bit, but it’s a small strike against an excellent streaming camera.

Read our full Logitech Streamcam review for more details

Final thoughts

The Logitech StreamCam delivers smooth 1080p at 60fps with sharp autofocus and smart exposure, making it great for streamers. It supports vertical video and auto-framing, though the fixed USB-C cable and lack of HDR may limit some users. Overall, it’s a strong, flexible choice for content creators.

The best compact camera for streaming

If you want to improve the quality of your live streams and also have a camera that can be used for photography, the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III is a great choice. It's one of the most popular cameras when it comes to vlogging thanks to its front-facing screen and the addition of live streaming capabilities makes it even more desirable.

You can shoot high-quality 4k with no crop, it has a 24-100mm lens which offers a versatile shooting range and there is also a 3.5mm port for connecting an external microphone. One of the downsides of the G7 X III is there isn't a viewfinder so you'll have to rely on the LCD screen but if you're using it mainly or streaming, this won't be an issue.

Read our full Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III review for more details

Final thoughts

The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III is a compact camera with excellent 4K video, a flip-up screen, and native YouTube live streaming. Its large sensor and fast lens offer strong image quality, and the mic input boosts audio. It’s a great choice for streamers wanting pro-level results in a portable package.

The best action camera for streaming

Live streaming from an action camera is a brilliant idea; the cameras themselves are portable and already equipped with connectivity. Both DJI's Osmo Action series and the better-known GoPro Hero series it is attempting to supplant are both so equipped. Both, too, can live stream, albeit via a phone app.

It's something of an area of debate, but Adam Juniper's pick is the DJI camera thanks to the larger image sensor – when you're streaming there is no advantage to 5.3K video since you won't use that resolution, and you can rotate the camera to your preferred broadcast angle so the GoPro's much-vaunted 8:7 sensor is distinctly 'Meh'. What is inescapable, though, is the clearly better low-light performance of the Osmo Action 4 (but, by all means, read our thoughts on the GoPro Hero 12 Black).

Another plus – if you have it – is the ability to use it with DJI's excellent radio microphone system though, though the GoPro has the option of a wireless mic or a media mod too.

Read our full review of the DJI Osmo Action 4.

Final thoughts

The DJI Osmo Action 4 is a tough, portable camera that shoots sharp 4K video up to 120fps with excellent low-light performance. With built-in stabilization, dual touchscreens, and livestreaming via the DJI Mimo app, it's a great choice for streamers who need durability and quality on the go.

The best streaming camera on a budget

A budget option, the HD-3000 by Microsoft proves you can start streaming without having to shell out the big bucks. This webcam is limited to 720p HD resolution at 30 frames per second, but that’s still high definition and will be perfectly acceptable when viewed on a mobile device like a smartphone. The camera offers automatic face tracking, and low-light adjustment has a built-in microphone and claims to attach to all types of computer monitors.

There is also a digital zoom function, although we would advise against using this, because the 720p resolution, while acceptable when viewed normally, doesn’t provide enough pixels for images to remain sharp when zoomed in. Finally, there is a manual focus option for making sure the image stays exactly the way you want it – we prefer this, as autofocus can have a habit of incorrectly adjusting in some lighting conditions, taking you out of focus.

Read our full Microsoft LifeCam HD-3000 review for more details

final thoughts

The Microsoft LifeCam HD-3000 is a simple, budget-friendly webcam offering 720p video at 30fps with decent audio and image quality. It’s easy to set up and works well for casual streaming or video calls, though it lacks features like autofocus and Full HD resolution.

The best mirrorless camera for streaming

It may seem a very leftfield recommendation, but the Sigma fp has an ace up its sleeve – it works natively as a webcam over USB, meaning that you don't need to invest in an additional HDMI capture card to use it. Of course, you do have to invest much more in the camera itself, but this can work both ways; since the Sigma fp is a highly modifiable, modular system, it can replace your webcam, your 'proper' camera, and your video camera. So if you stream, shoot, and film, this could be the ideal purchase.

The key benefit, of course, is the ability to achieve a cinematic look on your live streams by taking advantage of the full-frame sensor's depth of field capability, as well as the choice of any lens you want. If you want to use an f/1.2 lens for bokehlicious blur and tip-top low-light performance, now you can – and it will certainly make your streams stand out from the crowd. Yes, it's expensive, but the cheers you receive for your image quality might pay dividends!

Something else to note: Sigma has released a successor to this camera, the Sigma fp L. While we were pretty impressed by this camera in our full review, we're sticking with the Sigma fp as our streaming recommendation, as it's much cheaper and does everything a streamer needs – and then some!

Read our full Sigma fp review for more details

Final thoughts

The Sigma fp is a compact full-frame camera that delivers excellent 4K video and can be used as a USB webcam without extra gear. Its modular design suits streamers who want top-tier image quality, though it lacks in-body stabilization and a viewfinder.

How to choose the best camera for streaming

When you’re setting up for live streaming, costs can spiral fast - between cameras, lights, and audio gear, it’s easy to think you need a studio-level budget. The truth is, the best camera for streaming doesn’t have to be expensive. Production value matters, but your audience is tuning in to see you, not your backdrop.

If you’re starting small, a simple webcam like the Microsoft LifeCam HD-3000 is an excellent entry point, offering 720p HD that looks great on mobile screens. Step up to something like the Logitech C922 Pro and you’ll get Full HD 1080p streaming for not much more money - a solid balance of quality and affordability. From there, you can explore higher-end options, including 4K models, cameras with zoom and slow-motion, and those with audio input ports that let you connect an external microphone for a big upgrade in sound quality.

For creators who care most about image quality, mirrorless and DSLR cameras are now easier than ever to use for streaming. Where once you needed capture cards and complicated setups, most brands have rolled out software updates that let you plug in and stream directly - Canon’s EOS R is a great example. Sigma was ahead of the curve, too, with the fp being one of the first “serious” cameras designed to double as a webcam.

Action cameras are also worth a look. Models like the GoPro Hero series or DJI Osmo Action offer front-facing screens, so you can see exactly what your viewers see. Camcorders deliver similar benefits with flip-out displays, and for fixed installations - churches, theatres, or events - a PTZ camera with motorized pan, tilt, and zoom adds professional polish.

One thing to note: not every camera can stream at the same resolution it records. Some 4K cameras will only output 1080p when used live, so check the fine print. Extra features like automatic background replacement can also be useful, especially if you don’t have the perfect space to film in. Lighting makes a huge difference too - many streamers swear by ring lights, and Razer’s Kiyo even builds one in.

Ultimately, it comes down to budget and priorities. If you’re just starting out, a reliable, affordable webcam is all you need until your audience grows. But if you’re ready to take things up a level, moving into action cams, camcorders, or interchangeable-lens cameras will give you far more creative control - and help your streams stand out from the crowd.

Social media platforms have become an integrated part of many people's daily lives and routines. As well as using them for personal reasons, the platforms and apps can be incredibly important for photographers to share their work and do business (even if we do moan about them a lot).

While more recently, users, experts, and even ex-employees have questioned the mental health consequences of using social media so regularly, most of us wouldn't think to consider their environmental impact.

But a recent article by BanklessTimes.com has aimed to compare how the biggest social media platforms – including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram – are affecting the environment, in terms of their CO2 emissions. These emissions come from the amount of energy that it takes to store content, and the most impactful news feed of any social media network in terms of carbon dioxide emissions is said to be Tik Tok – because it involves constantly loading videos.

Although Instagram is perhaps of most interest to photographers, there was a greater focus on TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube in the comparison.

How were the numbers calculated?

The BanklessTimes article uses a source from Statista to come up with its numbers, from an original study that "measured the news feed of the 10 most popular social media applications." From this source, BankLessTimes created the infographic below. 

We can't be completely sure of the accuracy of the numbers given that the study is from 2021 and we don't know how testing was carried out, but it's definitely interesting to think about social media platforms in a new light.

Which social media platform is the least environmentally friendly?

It's difficult to draw solid conclusions about which social media platform fares worse when it comes to environmental impact. The original story from BanklessTimes focused on carbon emissions, but there are many other factors that make up an organization's environmental footprint.

We also have to take into account that the story was using estimates for many different calculations: "While there is no reliable data on TikTok or Youtube’s Daily Active Users, there is data on their monthly user base. If we take a conservative estimate that roughly a third of these users might use each platform daily, we can produce a reasonable estimate of their overall carbon emissions," says the writer
Toby McInnis.

Will knowing the environmental impacts change the way we use social media?

Jonathan Merry, CEO of BanklessTimes.com agrees that the majority of users "don’t think about social media as an environmental issue. But this research demonstrates how impactful it can be – and how our choice of which platforms to use might have a large impact on global emissions."

Would knowing the environmental impact of a social media platform stop you from using it? I can't see YouTubers suddenly leaving, given that there are (unless I'm wrong) no "green alternatives, but again, the conversation is interesting, and one which I think will become more important as we navigate our usage – as photographers and videographers and just humans – in the future.

Check out the full infographic from BanklessTimes.com below.

You might like to learn about the social media platform Vero, plus the best camera for TikTok and the best cameras for Instagram.

Facebook has threatened to remove its services from the UK and Europe, following data transfer agreements between the UK and US that are now invalid. If the action goes go ahead, it will affect hundreds of thousands of people who not only use the platform as a tool for socializing and sharing images but businesses who use it for marketing and promotion. 

Over the past few months Facebook, owned by parent company Meta (which also owns Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger), has been threatening to pull its services out of Europe following new regulations regarding GDPR (General Data Protection Regulations). According to the video posted to TDLR YouTube (below), under GDPR regulations personal data can only be transferred to countries that can ensure an adequate level of protection.

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As an American company, Meta’s servers and data centers are based in the US. For years and years, data has been transferred between the EU and US with no issues under the International Safe Privacy principles regulations. 

One of the main reasons Facebook might be pulled from the EU is due to privacy issues, based on the fact that Meta agreed to the PRISM programe – which enables the United States National Security Agency to collect data from Facebook without user consent. Something that completely goes against EU GDPR regulations.

If Facebook leaves the EU, then services like Instagram are likely to follow suit. Meta has recognized that pulling its services from the UK and Europe will have a massive impact on its business structure unless a solid agreement can be formed between the US and the EU. 

In the second quarter of 2022, around 22% of Meta’s $28 billion earnings came from the EU. So if the US, the EU and Meta can’t come up with a viable solution, Meta will be left with two options: leave the EU and take all its services with it, or it becomes federated, which means it will store most of its data on EU-based servers. This way, only essential data would be sent to the USA, and the NSA wouldn't be able to freely access personal data. 

SWIFT financial messaging operates its services in this way, storing all its data in servers in Switzerland and Belgium. Only the most important information is sent to the US, but Facebook has expressed little interest in operating its services in this way. 

Despite the fact many of us love to hate Facebook, it’s a platform that lots of people rely on. Whether you use it to keep in contact with friends and family around the world, arrange social events, sell things on Marketplace or as a way to market your business, Facebook leaving the EU would have devastating consequences for both individuals and businesses. 

A new state-of-the-art offering from UK-based manufacturer, Meta Camera Limited, follows in the footsteps of its previously launched workhorse cameras – the Meta One, and the Meta Two, and this latest one is titled, you guessed it! The Meta Three. Could Meta Three be the next best camera for live streaming?

Not to be confused with the rebranded name for Facebook, Meta is primarily a camera focussed company, but is also rumored to be working on innovative projects such a dual-camera smartwatch that could rival the likes of the Apple Watch series.

On the market priced at a staggering $42,000/£35,000 (+VAT), this custom-built Meta Three camera is described by the company as the VR industry’s best kept secret. Meta's website states that it is pioneering in fields of immersive technology, specializing in the creation and support of large scale VR and 360 productions. 

Aside from boasting a sharp 12.5K resolution on an equirectangular projection at 30 frames per second, the Meta Three is also fitted with four back-illuminated Super 35mm, dual native ISO, 6k sensors – which in simple terms means that this camera can perform well in low light situations, with great detail and a high noise floor.

The camera lens array is also described as being low parallax, meaning that the formation of its four 6K sensor lenses are beautifully stitched together in a close proximity, with great overlap, covering the full 360 by 180 degree sphere. 

Parallax is also a photographic and videography term used to describe the visual effect when the camera is recording motion, but with the foreground and background appearing to move at different speeds. This effect can vary with either the background moving faster than the central subject, or vice versa. 

The test footage above was shot by the company using the Meta Three, and shows a car with the 360 camera rigged to it, driving through some London Broadwalk roads. When adjusting the quality to 8K when watching the video on YouTube, the quality and sharpness of this camera really impresses.

The Meta Three can live stream footage in 8k resolution, through its HDMI or ethernet port, with the help of third party software and online platforms to stream the content to. The Meta Three is also super controllable, with settings such as focus and aperture adjustable digitally and on the fly via the Meta Controller, which is a companion feature of the camera for PC and Mac. 

The Meta Controller can allow for granular remote control over the camera, and can also be used to monitor things like battery percentage, camera temperature, and to quickly adjust settings through saved shortcuts. The Meta Three can also record footage in the ProRes 422 format, as well as shooting a high bitrate of h265.

Other great features of the Meta Three include synchronized sensors, a great dynamic range, electronic focus and aperture control, extensive connectivity, easy post-production, serial command control, silent running, and options for further camera syncing via its sync port. 

There are a whole host of other awesome features of this 360 Meta Three camera, probably too many to list in great detail in this article, but luckily the Meta website has all the information you could possibly need about its latest camera products, and encourages potential customers to contact its team directly for more information or with intent to purchase. 

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There are two types of people in this world: those who have read receipts on and those who will do anything they can to make sure nobody knows when a message has been read. I’m definitely the latter, so when I discovered that there is a way to preview a message without sending a read receipt I was pretty elated. 

I will go as far as using specific messaging platforms so that I can control whether someone can see if I’ve read their message. Most messaging platforms such as WhatsApp, Apple Messenger and Signal have an on/off setting for read receipts, but annoyingly Facebook Messenger doesn’t. The best you can do is set your activity status to off so that no one can see you’re online. 

In order to preview the messages (and this applied to any messenger platform), all you have to do is hold down the message you want to preview until a new window pops up. It’ll display the last few messages in the chat and give you the option to pin the message, hide alerts, and mark as read or delete the message. If you just want to read the message and do nothing else, you can just tap the screen and it’ll be as if you haven’t seen a thing. 

There are various reasons why I don’t like people knowing when I’ve read a message. Firstly, there is a certain sense of pressure to reply as soon as you’ve seen it and in certain circumstances, this is neither clever nor healthy. 

Say for example you’re in a heated discussion with someone, replying instantly takes away the time to think about what you’re saying and instead, you end up sending a reactive response. Often in the moment you can say something you don’t mean and might later regret, but not replying straight away gives you time to mull things over. 

Or perhaps you're working with a really exhausting client and you need to see what they've said, but don't have the mental capacity to reply straight away. This hack will give you some time to think up a reasonable reply that is both honest and firm. 

On the flip side, you might be excited to read a message but not want someone to know just yet out of fear of seeming overly keen. Anyone who’s had to navigate the world of dating will know exactly what I mean. While dating is not about playing games, this seems to be a trap everyone falls into.

Whatever reason you have for not wanting to know when people have read a message, this sneaky hack solves all your problems. You can still be nosey and find out what’s been said only you don’t need to give it away. Next time you find yourself in a position where you want to know what someone has messaged but want time to think about your response, use this hack and you won't look back.

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The Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses are just the start for Meta (previously Facebook), whose ambitions in the world of augmented and mixed reality are well known. The Ray-Ban Stories may not be AR glasses in the truest sense, instead offering built-in audio, dual-lens camera recording, and a sleek Ray-Ban frame available in a medley of shapes and colors – with more ambitious AR features likely coming in future models.

There’s more than a touch of the Snap Spectacles about them (sorry Snap), but the fashion credibility granted by this Ray-Ban collaboration could mean we see a lot more Stories out on the go. 

Some may balk at the idea of having a Meta-made camera on their face at all times, and any users need to be wary of privacy concerns – though we can’t fault these glasses when it comes to the quality or usability of the hardware.

Ray-Ban Stories: specifications

Pricing: $299 / £299 / AU$449
Battery: 3 hours
Memory: 4GB flash storage
Speakers: x2 speaker open air
Camera: Dual 5MP cameras
Photo resolution: 2592x1944 pixels
Video resolution: 1184x1184 pixels at 30 frames per second
Dimensions in mm: 41.2 (height), 50 (width), 22 (bridge width), 150 (temple length)

Key features

At first glance, the Ray-Ban Stories are like any aviators you might find sold by the lifestyle brand. Look closer, though, and you’ll see a full suite of modern smart features that elevate them above and beyond your average pair of sunglasses.

First, the camera. There are two 5MP lenses, built into opposing ends of the glasses to get a sense of depth in your images. They’re not stunning quality compared to the cameras packed into some modern smartphones, but the ease of taking photos on the go is the real draw here. Photos are captured at 2592x1944 pixel resolution, whereas more taxing video capture drops to 1184x1184 pixels (30 frames per second) instead.

There is a color indicator on the front of the glasses, which lights up when camera recording is in use. That’s a handy feature when it comes to letting those around you know you’re recording, but it’s important to respect the privacy of others at the same time, given these smart glasses aren’t ubiquitous or readily-recognizable hardware just yet.

Next, the speakers. There are two open-air drivers that are placed near where your ears will be, allowing you to listen to music without having to stick headphones in, on, or over your ears.

Design and usability

The Ray-Ban Stories are, unsurprisingly, a bit heavier than standard glasses, given the technology that needs to be packed into the Stories’ frame: speakers, camera lenses, and a rechargeable battery.

However, they’re still relatively light, and fine to wear for long periods of time. When not in use, they function like any pair of Ray-Ban glasses, whether that’s solely as a fashion accessory or something more urgent, with options for prescription lenses, transition lenses, or straightforward sunglasses to protect your eyes in sunny weather. The 20 combinations of lenses, colors and styles (Wayfarer, Wayfarer Large, Round, and Meteor) mean there’s plenty to differentiate yourself, too.

The charging case for the Stories is, again, just a bulkier version of a standard spectacles case, with a built-in battery that charges via a USB-C port, and which offers a total three hours of usage – so don’t expect these smart glasses to keep recording into the long hours.

These glasses connect via Bluetooth to a smartphone, and you’ll need Android 8.1 – or iOS 13 on an iPhone 6S and above – at a minimum. The required Facebook View app is pretty bare for the company behind Facebook and Instagram, with hardly any image editing capabilities, to the point where we wouldn’t really bother using them. It’s far simpler to share those images directly with a social media app, which will have better in-app editing software.

Performance

Walking around our neighborhood with the Ray-Ban Stories on a summer’s day offers no immediate problems. 

Taking photos or videos is as simple as pressing a button, though the Stories’ touch slider can be easily activated by accident when taking the glasses on and off – you know, with your hands? So expect the odd blurred photo in your phone’s image library, which the Stories will connect to over Bluetooth to maintain a steady stream of content as you go about your day.

Image capture is largely a breeze, though, while blur reduction during video recording is impressive, ensuring movement stays at a smooth 30 frames per second – a good thing, too, as the Stories would be destined for the dustbin otherwise.

The built-in audio can have some distortion, and doesn’t pack in a huge amount of detail – likely a mix of average driver detail and sound being lost to the air. But it feels like an appropriate tradeoff given how pleasurable it is to walk around with hands-free, and ears-free audio, keeping you aware of your surroundings.

Ray-Ban Stories: Verdict

The Ray-Ban Stories are hard to fault. They offer capable, if basic, image and video capture capabilities as well as built-in audio that’ll have you humming a happy tune as you walk the streets around your home. They also look great, thanks to the Ray-Ban collaboration, and the option to pack in prescription lenses overcomes a common problem for those with vision problems – namely, you can’t easily wear smart glasses over your regular glasses.

We’d hope to see an improved app experience down the line, given the bare launch software, though issues are easily sidestepped by doing the bulk of image or video editing in other apps on your phone.

One important thing to consider, though, isn’t just the quality of the glasses, but privacy around the device. They could, in the wrong hands, act as discreet surveillance, and the indicator and startup sound activated during recording will be less noticeable in busy or loud environments. 

Privacy concerns run both ways too. The Facebook View app is, for some reason, permanently active on your phone, even after closing it; the company says it’s to monitor necessary Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and battery life data, though it’s worth asking whether you’re comfortable with that state of affairs.

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There is a fantastic deal on the older 10-inch Facebook Portal this Month, which gets you this much-talked-about bit of tech for a massive £90 discount. The deal lasts until 7 November, and is from Facebook direct - and billed as its headline Black Friday camera deal. There are offers on other Portal models too…

The Facebook Portal is best known as an easy way to enjoy video calls with friends and family. The service is set up to use the Facebook Messenger service, allowing to make video calls to your contacts - through a large LCD screen that can sit on your kitchen or desk – or get carried from room to room. The big 10-inch screen is an appeal for group chats – but it is also really popular with people who don't have a smartphone or a laptop. So if you have an elderly relative, say, who misses out on family video chats – this is the perfect device for getting them included in the conversation.

Other stores where the Black Friday discounts have already started include:

• Wex Photo Video – Great deals from the UK's biggest camera outlet
• Park Cameras – Amazing savings from the imaging specialist
• John Lewis – The latest deals from one of the most trusted retailers
• Jessops - Cashback and coupon deals from the iconic camera store
• Amazon – Get your camera kit delivered fast with Amazon Prime
• Adobe - 39% off the Creative Cloud all-apps plan
• Apple – Check out the latest iPhones and Macbooks direct from Apple
• Dell – Save up to £300 on XPS & Inspiron laptops
• Microsoft – Save up to £500 on select Surface Pro
• Mixbook – Up to 50% off all items, including photo books & calendars 

But what people don't realize, is that the Facebook Portal is a great digital photo frame – giving you a screen that can display your favourite photographs when you are not using the device for video calls. 

This amazing offer is on the  version of the Portal which has a 10.1 inch screen – and which is available at this £90-off-price in either black or white.  It will allow you to make calls via Messenger or WhatsApp, but also works as an Alexa device. That means you can use this Portal to check on indoor security cameras and outdoor security cameras, to play music, listen to the radio - and a whole lot more

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After careful consideration, Facebook has decided to remove the Face Recognition System operating on the platform. More than a third of Facebook users originally opted-in to use the feature, and its removal will see more than 1 billion facial recognition templates deleted. 

The decision was made due to concerns about the place of facial recognition technology in society, how it is regulated and by whom. In April 2021, the phone numbers and personal data of more than 533 million people were stolen from Facebook and leaked online, which sparked a discussion into the platform’s security measures. 

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On the whole, the decision seems like a positive one for users’ online safety, but facial recognition technology does have its advantages. The removal of the service means that those who rely on AAT (automatic alt text) such as the blind or visually impaired will no longer be able to know who is in a photo, just how many people. 

In a statement released on Meta (the newly renamed parent organization of Facebook), Jerome Pesenti, Vice President of Artificial Intelligence said: “Our award-winning automatic alt text system, that uses advanced AI to generate descriptions of images for people who are blind and visually impaired, uses the Face Recognition system to tell them when they or one of their friends is in an image. 

"After the change, AAT will still be able to recognize how many people are in a photo, but will no longer attempt to identify who each person is using facial recognition. Otherwise, AAT will continue to function normally, and we’ll work closely with the blind and visually impaired community on technologies to continually improve AAT"

Facebook recognizes that this decision will make the platform less accessible, but it hopes that the company-wide move away from broad identification will result in narrower forms of personal identification.

This change represents one of the largest technological shifts Facebook has made to its platform, but it’s not scrapping facial recognition technology entirely. It hopes that the service may help people gain access to locked accounts, verify their identity for financial products or unlock a personal device. 

While this change does mean that you’re going to have to manually tag friends and family in photos, it also takes away the risk of having your facial recognition template leaked online. Facebook is determined to find a balance between the long-term role of facial recognition in society and the safety of its users, so will continue working with civil society groups and regulators who are leading the discussion.

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Facebook has announced it's pausing development of its upcoming Instagram Kids app. In his blog, Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram, states that "We believe building “Instagram Kids” is the right thing to do, but we're pausing the work."

Intended as a version of Instagram designed specifically for children under the age of 13, the idea behind the development of Instagram Kids is to address the problem of children misrepresenting their age in order to sign up to the full version of Instagram.

Mosseri goes on to say: "We firmly believe that it’s better for parents to have the option to give their children access to a version of Instagram that is designed for them — where parents can supervise and control their experience — than relying on an app’s ability to verify the age of kids who are too young to have an ID"

In deciding to pause the development of the Instagram Kids app, developers will have more time to "work with parents, experts, policymakers and regulators, to listen to their concerns". Mosseri is quick to insist that this delay is not simply "acknowledgement that the project is a bad idea". He points out that both YouTube and TikTok already have specific versions of their apps that cater for users under 13, and Instagram Kids would be intended for children between 10 and 12 years old. Parental permission would be required in order to join, there would be no ads, and all content would be age-appropriate.

Extensive parental supervision tools would also be a major part of Instagram Kids, with parents being able to supervise the time their children use the app, and who they communicate with. Such supervision tools are said to be coming to the full version of Instagram regardless of the delay in Instagram Kids, so parents of teenagers 13 or over can still monitor their children's use of the app.

In light of previous controversies surrounding Instagram such as negative body image, the promotion of self harm, and the ever-present risk of child exploitation, it should come as no surprise that a a version of Instagram aimed specifically at especially vulnerable pre-teenage children would need to be researched in great depth and implemented exceptionally carefully.

In response to some of these issues, Mosseri cites possible new ideas like encouraging individuals to view other topics if the app detects a user is dwelling on content that might contribute to a negative self image. Another possible feature titled "Take a Break" would also allow a user to pause their account in order to take some time out to consider whether or not their use of the app is enhancing their wellbeing.

However, even with such features, opposition of an Instagram Kids app is still fierce, with many calling for the project not merely to be paused, but to be completely abandoned. In response to Facebook's announcement that it's putting Instagram Kids on hold, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Representative Kathy Castor (FL-14), Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Representative Lori Trahan (MA-03) released a joint statement asserting that:

 “Facebook has completely forfeited the benefit of the doubt when it comes to protecting young people online and it must completely abandon this project” and " “Time and time again, Facebook has demonstrated the failures of self-regulation, and we know that Congress must step in." They are campaigning for the "Kids Internet Design and Safety (KIDS) Act, which will give young internet users the protections they need to navigate today’s online ecosystem without sacrificing their wellbeing."

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Facebook recently unveiled its latest product – a pair of smart glasses produced in collaboration with Ray–Ban. While we've seen other smart glasses before, such as the Google Glass and Snapchat's Spectacles, these new glasses from Facebook lack the augmented reality features that others boast.

Instead, the Ray–Ban Stories are focused on enabling users to capture photos and videos, listen to music and answer phone calls. For this ambitious array of tech to become a reality, Facebook had to pack an optimized Snapdragon processor, dual 5MP camera sensors, a battery and speakers into the classic Ray-Ban Wayfarer, Round or Meteor frames.

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The Facebook View companion app for iOS and Android has also launched in conjunction with Ray–Ban Stories. This app is designed to give users an easy way to import, edit and share any content captured on the smart glasses – and if you're wondering whether you can only upload to Facebook-owned social media platforms, you'll be pleasantly surprised. Users should be able to upload content to Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, Twitter, TikTok, Snapchat and more. 

It will be interesting to see how the Ray–Ban Stories will be received. While we've seen other smart glasses appear over the past few years, there hasn't yet seemed to have been a product that has truly connected with consumers in the same way that smart watches have. 

It's possible that focusing on content creation rather than augmented reality could be the winning factor for Facebook and Ray–Ban. Being able to quickly capture photos and video without having to get out your phone could potentially give rise to a whole new host of viral content. The only potential sticking point we could see is the 5MP camera sensors, as we wonder whether these will be good enough quality to please photo and enthusiasts - although video is recorded at 1184x1184 pixels @30fps - which is at least slightly better than Full HD. 

Ray–Ban Stories are now available in the US, UK, Italy, Australia, Ireland and Canada, starting at $299 / £299 / AU$449. 

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The all-female photography community, SheClicks, will be returning to The Photography Show in 2021. The SheClicks Facebook group and website welcomes women from all photographic backgrounds, from novices to pros, encouraging them to create and share images. 

Becoming a member of SheClicks is free and allows you access to the members-only area of the website. Once you're a member, you can access free webinars, get discounts exclusive to SheClicks members and keep up with upcoming events and meet-ups.  This year, SheClicks will also have its own stand at The Photography Show where women will be able to find out more information about the group. 

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Founded by Angela Nicholson in 2018, SheClicks has grown into a community of more than 10,000 female photographers in just three years. Angela told us, “Because of all the people I knew in the industry, I thought we’d get to 300 members in about six to eight weeks but we actually did it in 24 hours which is pretty astonishing.” Less than a month after launch, membership had reached 1000 and Angela’s plans to start female-led webinars were brought forward. 

The webinars are designed to give women a safe place to learn, ask questions and build confidence. They are presented by female photographers or females working in the industry. Angela thinks that “it’s really important that young girls see photography, or any career, as a possibility for them. If they only ever seeing guys doing it, how do they know to put themselves in that place, which is so why it’s so important we have women presenting as well as listening to the webinars.”

Angela has a long-standing history with photography, having previously been the technical editor for Amateur Photographer magazine and the Head of Testing for Future Publishing’s photography magazine portfolio including Digital Camera and PhotoPlus. During her time as an editor she noticed that women often didn’t feature heavily in the magazine. 

“I was aware of lots of women who were into photography and taking photographs but not necessarily featuring in the magazines. I didn’t think it was deliberate sexism it was more to do with editorial staff being under pressure or women not knowing how to approach a magazine. It started from the desire to get women's work seen more widely, as I knew lots of women who ran workshops but they were only known locally."

Since starting the group, SheClicks has become more than just a platform for inspiring female photographers. It has blossomed into a community where friendships are formed and lasting relationships are made. During lockdown, SheClicks also provided a support system that helped with people’s mental health and wellbeing through virtual coffee mornings and weekly webinars.

Angela told us about one woman “who came all the way to RHS Wisley, Surrey from Somerset. She had to get up at something stupid like 4am, but the next time we put an event on, she had made friends with someone through SheClicks and ended up staying at their house so I think it’s a very powerful thing.”

This year SheClicks will have its own stand at The Photography Show where people can sign up to become a member or meet other members in person. SheClicks also has a space in the gallery where it will be displaying photographs taken by female photographers. 

The speed at which the SheClicks community has grown shows that there is clearly a demand for female–focused photographic groups. Angela insists, “it’s [SheClicks] not about excluding men, it’s about encouraging women to create in an environment where they feel comfortable.”

If you’re interested in becoming a SheClicks member, sign up for free on the website to access free biweekly webinars, exclusive discounts and virtual coffee mornings with like-minded women.  You can also find the SheClicks at Stand N602 at The Photography Show.

Get your TPS 2021 ticket

Tickets for The Photography Show 2021 are available now, with free passes available for professionals (who make the majority of their income from photography or videography).

Free passes are also available for students on Tuesday 21 September, to support the next generation of imagers and make sure they can take advantage of everything the event has to offer.

• Book your ticket to The Photography Show

If you purchased tickets for the 2020 show, you will receive a replacement ticket for this year's event at no extra cost. You should have received an email regarding this in June, but if not you can get your ticket reissued here. 

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In a bid to make Instagram independent again, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is renewing an antitrust lawsuit against Facebook. The FTC argues that the social media giant has an illegal monopoly on social media and should be forced to sell Instagram and Whatsapp. 

The FTC first filed an antitrust case against Facebook in December 2020. The case was thrown out by a federal judge who believed the prosecutors failed to prove that Facebook had done anything illegal.

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According to the FTC, “It [Facebook] unlawfully acquired innovative competitors with popular mobile features that succeeded where Facebook’s own offerings fell flat or fell apart.” Without any real competitors, Facebook has been able to introduce surveillance-based advertising and impose ever-increasing burdens on its users.

Facebook has also been accused of luring app developers to the platform, surveilling them for signs of success, then burying their careers when they become competitive threats.

Instagram has been around for over a decade. Commonly known as the photo-sharing platform, it grew exponentially before Facebook bought it in 2012 for one billion dollars. Since then, many photographers would argue the changes made by Facebook have made it much harder to have their content seen.

Instagram used to operate a chronological posting system. Now it uses algorithms to decide what posts users see first, similar to how Facebook news feeds work. In June 2021, Instagram head Adam Mosseri even declared that “Instagram is no longer a photo-sharing app” in a video he posted on his Instagram and Twitter. 

Under the ownership of Facebook, several new features have also been added. Reels enable users to upload short clips that make it more similar to TikTok, while IGTV  permits users to post videos longer than one minute. 

Holly Vedova, Acting Director of the FTC Bureau of Competition said, “Facebook lacked the business acumen and technical talent to survive the transition to mobile. After failing to compete with new innovators, Facebook illegally bought or buried them when their popularity became an existential threat”.

She continued,  “Facebook’s actions have suppressed innovation and product quality improvements. They have degraded the social network experience, subjecting users to lower levels of privacy and data protection and more intrusive ads.”

There hasn’t been a court-ordered antitrust breakup in the United States since President Reagan separated AT&T in the 1980s. Although this enforcement would come as a big blow to Facebook, it's likely that many users of Instagram would welcome the change.

The FTC hopes the new antitrust case against Facebook will restrict it from making similar acquisitions in the future. With more independent social media networks, competition would be restored – hopefully resulting in a better user experience for social media audiences.

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There is a fantastic deal on the original Facebook Portal this Month, which gets you this much-talked-about bit of tech for half price. The deal lasts until 30 July, and is from Facebook direct - you save a massive $110 dollars if you use the discount code PORTALSUMMER.

The Facebook Portal is best known as an easy way to enjoy video calls with friends and family. The service is set up to use the Facebook Messenger service, allowing to make video calls to your contacts - through a large LCD screen that can sit on your kitchen or desk – or get carried from room to room. The big 10-inch screen is an appeal for group chats – but it is also really popular with people who don't have a smartphone or a laptop. So if you have an elderly relative, say, who misses out on family video chats – this is the perfect device for getting them included in the conversation.

But what people don't realize, is that the Facebook Portal is a great digital photo frame – giving you a screen that can display your favorite photographs when you are not using the device for video calls. 

This amazing offer is on the original Gen 1 version of the Portal which has a 10.1 inch screen – and which is available at this 50%-off-price in either black or white.  It will allow you to make calls via Messenger or WhatsApp, but also works as an Alexa device. That means you can use this Portal to check on indoor security cameras (and outdoor security cameras), to play music, listen to the radio - and a whole lot more.

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UPDATE 11/05: A group of 44 State Attorneys General have called upon Facebook to abandon its Instagram for Kids project, a new Instagram-like app that would have allowed children under the age of 13 to use it. These AGs have argued that building a platform specifically targeted to children has the potential to make cyberbullying issues worse amongst this demographic. 

Attorney General Letitia James of New York says, "Without a doubt, this is a dangerous idea that risks the safety of our children and puts them directly in harm’s way. Not only is social media an influential tool that can be detrimental to children who are not of appropriate age, but this plan could place children directly in the paths of predators. There are too many concerns to let Facebook move forward with this ill-conceived idea, which is why we are calling on the company to abandon its launch of Instagram Kids. We must continue to ensure the health and wellness of our next generation and beyond."

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As reported by Engadget, this group of AGs have published an open letter urging Facebook to abandon its Instagram for Kids plans.

ORIGINAL STORY: An internal company report at Facebook has indicated that the social media company is set to build a version of Instagram specifically for children. This is apparently part of a larger plan for Facebook, which has identified that it needs to do more to protect its younger users. 

While Instagram's official policy prohibits anyone under the age of 13 using the app, the reality is that many children lie about their age in order to use the platform. Ensuring the safety of children using Instagram has clearly become an important issue for the company, as Instagram has also recently introduced new policies designed to limit interactions between teenagers and adults. 

These policies include "safety prompts" that will be shown to teenagers when the message adults who have been "exhibiting potentially suspicious behavior". These prompts will give teenage users the option to report or block adults that are messaging them and will remind them not to feel pressured to respond to the messages. 

However, it seems that Facebook wants to go another step further in its plans to protect younger children. Buzzfeed recently obtained an internal company post from Facebook that discusses plans for an entirely new Instagram platform for children. 

In this message, Vishal Shah, Instagram's Vice President of Product, says, "I’m excited to announce that going forward, we have identified youth work as a priority for Instagram and have added it to our H1 priority list. We will be building a new youth pillar within the Community Product Group to focus on two things: (a) accelerating our integrity and privacy work to ensure the safest possible experience for teens and (b) building a version of Instagram that allows people under the age of 13 to safely use Instagram for the first time."

Apparently, Facebook is planning to have this new project overseen by Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri and Pavni Diwanji, a former Google employee who oversaw YouTube Kids. 

Many parents will likely be pleased to hear that Facebook is focusing on making the Instagram platform safer for children. However, it seems that this project is still in the early stages, so we're not likely to see this new platform launch any time soon. 

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Facebook will pay $650 million – approximately £465 million / AU$831 million – to users in Illinois, United States, in a settlement over the website's controversial photo-tagging feature. 

The social media monolith had previously offered a settlement figure of $550 million (around £394 million / AU$694 million) in June 2020, which the court deemed an insufficient amount. 

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The ultimate figure was approved by the presiding judge to settle a class action lawsuit brought against Facebook in 2015, where users in the US state claimed that the site's photo-tagging function violated privacy rights. 

"Overall, the settlement is a major win for consumers in the hotly contested area of digital privacy," wrote Judge James Donato, as reported by Yahoo!. "The standing issue makes this settlement all the more valuable because Facebook and other big tech companies continue to fight the proposition that a statutory privacy violation is a genuine harm."

Specifically, Illinois Facebookers argued that the site violated the state's Biometric Information Privacy Act – a provision to prevent private entities from collecting, storing, or using biometric information without explicit prior notification and written consent. Namely, this means digital scans of their faces.

The suit claims that Facebook began creating and storing facial recognition templates for Illinois users in June 2011 as the basis for identifying and tagging people in photographs uploaded to the site. 

Judge Donato called the outcome "one the largest settlements ever for a privacy violation" and noted that it would "put at least $345 into the hands" of every participant in the suit.

Yahoo! points out that Facebook maintains it had, in fact, always disclosed its facial recognition technology and that users had the option to deactivate the function.

The social media giant last found itself in hot water over the facial recognition technology in 2019, when the FTC fined it $5 billion (£3.6 billion / AU$6.4 billion) over the Cambridge Analytica privacy breach – at which point Facebook began requiring users to opt in (rather than opt out) of the feature.

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We’ve all experienced the frustration of posting an image we’re proud of on social media, expecting a positive response and receiving lower engagement than we would have hoped. It can be difficult to identify what went wrong in these circumstances, which only adds to the sense of confusion. Performance of posts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram is a far more complex system than many people realize and the quality of our photography is only one influencing factor in how many likes, favorites and comments they accumulate. 

Part of the issue is how we approach our social channels. When posting for ourselves, on personal platforms, we can afford ourselves the freedom to add content when we like and interact with who we want, without a structured engagement strategy. If using these same outlets for marketing purposes, we have to be more focussed in our objectives. Here we explore some of the main errors of which to be aware, so you can improve your social reach today.

1: Post and post again 

Many social users look down on re-posting content multiple times, however there are those who swear by this technique for maximizing hit rate. The logic is that not all of your followers will see your posts the first time, so reposting will ensure greater accumulated engagement. Posting only once may cost you the attention of up to 75% of your total followers. Use for posts containing links or important information.

2: Image sizing

As photographers we will no doubt be using social media to show off the quality of our images. For this to be successful and to garner the greatest possible attention, don’t leave image down-scaling to automatic algorithms. Pre-size your files in photo-editing software before uploading to avoid unexpected artefacts, which can degrade the appearance of your work.  

3: Bad timing 

It can be tempting to simply post content once you have finished creating it, but this may not yield the greatest audience access. Consider when your desired viewership will be online and schedule posts for those times. If seeking a professional following for example, posting at weekends may not be the best strategy.

4: Missed mentions 

While it is important to maintain a professional image, don’t miss out on the social aspect of social platforms! Interact with other users by responding to follower comments and mentioning important accounts in the industry, in relevant posts. This makes your presence more visible. By only posting content and failing to engage with viewers you will be missing out on a large proportion of potential hits.

5: Text overload

Social posts will often have the greatest engagement when they appear quick and accessible. As photographers our main medium should be imagery, so ensure your posts don’t feature too much descriptive text. Let the images speak for themselves. Don’t fill your twitter character limit with hashtags - more will not necessarily gain you more attention and the length of the post may encourage users to scroll past your content to a snappier, more digestible post.  

6: Off topic

Since photography is a visual medium, viewers will instantly respond to your content in their feed. Posting non-relevant material or out-of--season images will likely fail to attract the greatest engagement. Showing winter images in July or autumnal scenes in January will not degrade the quality of the images, but may not generate the greatest performance on social, purely because these types of shot are not what people are searching for at the times they were posted.

Conclusion

Not only do we have to focus our social media strategy for business purposes, but we also need to think as a photographer when sharing content. Think about how to maximise the quality of your product (your images), what your audience are looking to find online and how best to ensure they see what you want them to see.  

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In news that will likely make experienced drone pilots give a collective groan, an amateur drone operator has been "given words of advice" by the police after he illegally flew his drone near a city centre… and then uploaded the video onto social media. 

The video, which was shared in a Facebook group with over 30,000 members, shows the drone flying too close to Norwich Castle. This breaks the Civil Aviation Authority guidelines that state that people flying drones for fun should operate no closer than 150m from any area that's used for residential, commercial, industrial or recreational purposes.

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Talking to the BBC, PC Thomas Munday of Norfolk Police said, "After being made aware of this illegal flight in Norwich, officers investigated and identified the operator who has since been spoken to. Due to the circumstances, we judged no formal action was required." 

While this is purely speculation, it sounds as if the drone pilot was simply unaware of the law surrounding flying drones near a city. With legislation changing so frequently as lawmakers race to catch up with the quickly-developing technology, it's more important than ever for drone users to keep themselves up-to-date on the law.

New legislation due to be introduced on 30 November will require operators to register if their drone weighs more than 250g and up to 20kg. Additionally, drone pilots wishing to fly outdoors will need to take and pass an online competency test every three years. 

If you'd like to update yourself on the latest legislation, you can refresh your knowledge at the Drone Safe website. 

And failing that, if you do happen to be in possession of illegal drone footage, we would suggest it's perhaps best not to upload it onto Facebook…

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