Category: How To

Key Highlights

• Meta Verified now available in India
• It is a subscription bundle for creators on Instagram and Facebook
• On Android and iOS, Meta Verified is priced at Rs. 699

Meta has made a significant announcement regarding the expansion of Meta Verified availability to several countries, including India. This service allows Instagram and Facebook users in India to obtain the blue tick verification badge by subscribing to a monthly plan priced at Rs. 699 for iOS and Android.

Additionally, Meta plans to introduce a web purchase option in the coming months, offering a monthly subscription price of Rs. 599. As Meta Verified becomes accessible in India, users can follow these steps to opt for the service on Facebook. Also Read | How To Get Verified On Instagram: Here’s A Step-By-Step Guide

How To Opt For Meta Verified And Obtain Blue Tick On Facebook

Step 1: Access the Facebook app and go to your main profile. Tap the menu icon located at the top right corner.

Step 2: After selecting “Settings and privacy,” scroll down and touch “Settings.”

Step 3: Within the settings menu, tap on “Accounts Center” and then choose “Meta Verified” under the Account Settings section.

Step 4: You will see the phrase “Meta Verified available” displayed beneath your name and profile picture if it is available for your account.

Step 5: Review the list of benefits provided and tap “Continue” to proceed.

Step 6: Confirm your payment details and tap “Pay now” to complete the transaction.

Step 7: You will be prompted to undergo the verification process and upload your identification document.

Also Read | How To Edit Facebook Photos Via Mobile, Desktop App Directly

Step 8: Select the profile you wish to verify and tap “Confirm your identity.”

Step 9: Update your name if necessary, and then save the changes by tapping “Save.”

Step 10: Select the next step in the process and tap “Next” to continue.

Step 11: Choose the type of identification you will be using and tap “Next.”

Step 12: Read the recommendations for ID confirmation and tap “Take photo.”

Step 13: Verify that the information on your ID is clearly visible and tap “Next.” If the information is unclear, retake the photo by tapping “Retake.”

Step 14: Capture a photo of the back of your ID and tap “Take photo.”

Step 15: Ensure that the information on the back of your ID is clearly visible, and then tap “Submit.” If needed, retake the photo by selecting “Retake.”

Step 16: Wait for your ID to upload, which may take some time, and then tap “Finish.”

By following these steps, Facebook users in India can now obtain the highly sought-after blue tick verification badge through Meta Verified. Stay connected and enjoy the benefits of verified status on the platform.

Also Read | How To Get Blue Tick/Verified on Twitter – Step By Step Process and Eligibility Criteria Explained

Key Highlights

• WhatsApp Channels message broadcast feature released
• Similar to Telegram broadcast feature
• Channels isn’t end-to-end encrypted

WhatsApp is consistently working on providing a superior messaging experience to the masses. After launching multiple chat-centric features, the brand has now released a new broadcast feature that will definitely elevate the messaging experience on Android and iOS devices. What is the new broadcast feature introduced by WhatsApp and how does it work? Below are the details:

Also Read: WhatsApp Chat Lock Privacy Feature Released For Android, iOS: How To Lock WhatsApp Chats Using This New Feature?

WhatsApp Channels Message Broadcast Feature: What Is It? How To Use?

WhatsApp Channels is a one-way broadcast tool that will allow users to get important updates from organizations, groups, or users. The latest message broadcast feature introduced by WhatsApp has been already available with Telegram and is quite popular amongst the masses.

With the WhatsApp Channels, group admins will be able to share different types of content easily. Admins will be allowed to broadcast media files including images and videos. Also, Channels will allow users to broadcast or share stickers and polls.

WhatsApp is creating a new tab called Updates where this Channels tool can be accessed. A searchable directory is also in the works where users will be able to find channels based on their interests including sports and others.

Channel admins can send invite links via e-mails or chats so that interested users can join the Channel. Also, the Status updates of the channels will be shown separately from the contacts status window.  Additionally, WhatsApp has revealed that the channel’s history will be stored on the brand’s servers for up to 30 days. Going forward, WhatsApp plans to make the Channel updates disappear faster for the users.

Also Read: WhatsApp Edit Message Feature Is Now Available For Android And iOS: How To Correct WhatsApp Message Spelling Errors And More

Who All Can Use WhatsApp Channels?

The WhatsApp Channels message broadcast feature is currently released in limited markets only. WhatsApp users in Colombia and Singapore can use the Channels features. The company is expected to roll out Channels messaging services to the remaining regions including India in the coming months.

Also Read: WhatsApp Screen Sharing Feature For Video Calls In Works: How To Share WhatSApp Screen on Android?

Key Highlights

• Google began rolling out passkeys for personal Google Accounts
• Users of Google Workspace can now permit users to log in using passkeys
• Passkeys are two times faster than passwords, according to Google data

Google has recently extended its passkey feature from personal Google Accounts to include Google Workspace and Google Cloud accounts. Given the increasing vulnerability of passwords to theft and phishing attacks, passkeys offer a secure and simpler alternative for users. Passkeys can be authenticated using fingerprints, face recognition, or other screen locks, ensuring convenient access across various devices such as phones, laptops, and desktops. Also Read | Struggling With Message Composition? Let Google Magic Compose’s AI Assist You! Here’s How

Passkeys adhere to a common standard and are compatible with numerous browsers and operating systems, including Android, MacOS, iOS, and Windows. By eliminating the need to memorize passwords, passkeys significantly reduce the risk of theft. According to Google’s data, compared to traditional passwords, passkeys prove to be twice as fast and four times less error-prone. Recognizing their benefits, Google has expanded the availability of passkeys to businesses, schools, and governments.

Passkeys For Google Workspace Users

Google has commenced the rollout of passkeys for Google Workspace users, along with providing controls for Workspace administrators. This deployment will be completed over the coming weeks, ensuring all users gain access to this new feature. Once enabled, Workspace admins can authorize users within their organization to sign in using passkeys.

How To Enable Passkey For Workspace Account Users

By default, the passkey feature is not activated for Workspace users, requiring them to continue using passwords. However, Workspace admins have the option to enable passkeys as a two-step verification method. To allow users in your organization to skip passwords and adopt passkeys for sign-in, follow the step-by-step guide outlined below:

Step 1: Sign in to your Google Admin console.

Step 2: Navigate to the Menu in the Admin console and select Security.

Step 3: Choose Authentication and then Passwordless.

Step 4: Opt for Skip passwords.

Step 5: To enable users to bypass password challenges, select the “Allow users to skip passwords at sign-in by using passkeys” checkbox.

Step 6: Save your changes. That’s all!

Also Read | Running Low On Google Storage? Five Best Techniques To Clear Your Gmail Space

Key Highlights

• Google Play country settings are must for payment and other services
• Correct country settings are required to view apps of the same region
• Changing country settings is required if your relocate to a new location

If you own a smartphone that is powered by Android OS, you get access to a wide range of Google services and tools. One of the primary reasons for the Android phone’s popularity amongst consumers is the option to download a variety of third-party apps from the Play Store. Be it games, OTT apps, health, and lifestyle, Google Play Store is the hub to download and install such required apps.

When you set up any Android smartphone, you get the option to set the country and language. Once you setup the designated country and language settings, the apps will be shown depending on the region on the Play Store. Just for reference, Google Play country settings remain the same even if you move to a new country.

Google always advises its users to change the Google Play country settings if they are relocating to a new country. This will keep any issues related to payment apps at bay. Only after the country settings have been changed, one will be able to use the apps including payment and others. If you wish to change the country settings of your location then the following are the steps you need to follow:

Also Read: Google Pay Expands Payment Options In India With UPI Payments Using RuPay Credit Cards

How To Change Google Play Country Settings Manually

Step 1: Launch Google Play Store application on your Android handsets

Step 2: Tap the profile option that is located on the top right corner

Step 3: Click on the Settings menu

Step 4: Select the “General” option

Step 5: Now, tap on the Account and device preferences

Also Read: Gmail Tips And Tricks: How To Secure Your Google Account With Two-Factor Authentication

Step 6: Click on the Country and profiles menu

Step 7: You will now need to select the country settings that you wish to add to your Google account

Step 8: Complete the on-screen instructions. This will let you add a payment method for the required country.

Step 9: It could take up to 48 hours for the country settings to update on your Google Play account

It is worth mentioning that once the country has been added to your Google Play settings, you can easily toggle between the options when you revisit the countries. Also, only once in a year, a country can be added to the Google Play Settings.

Also Read: Running Low On Google Storage? Five Best Techniques To Clear Your Gmail Space

Key Highlights

• Gmail is one of the widely used emailing services
• One can set up Vacation replies on Gmail
• Vacation reply messages can be set using Gmail on PC and laptops

Gmail is offering several user-friendly features that is enhancing the emailing experience for both professional as well as general users. For users going offline or a vacation, Gmail has one dedicated feature that allows them to reply to emails even without accessing the internet. With the Gmail vacation feature, one can easily set replies that will notify the sender that the user is unreachable and will be able to send a response once back in the network zone.

How To Setup Vacation Reply On Gmail

Step 1: Launch the Gmail application on your laptop or PC

Step 2: Select the Settings (gear icon) which you can locate on the top right corner

Step 3: From the list of options select the “Vacation responder” tab

Step 4: Click on the “Vacation responder on” option

Step 5: Now, select the date range for which you are going on vacation and won’t be available for replies

Step 6: You will also need to add the subject along with the message that the sender will receive as a respond

Step 7: You can select the checkbox if you wish only your contacts to see the vacation reply

Step 8: Tap on Save Changes option at the bottom of the homepage

It is worth mentioning that once a vacation reply is set, the receiver will also get the Gmail signature at the bottom of the message. Also, once the vacation mode is on a banner will float across the top of the inbox which will show the subject of the response set for vacation. Additionally, the vacation replies will be active once the timer is set. The responses will be sent starting at 12:00 AM on the beginning date and the last reply will be sent at 11:59 PM on the end date.

Steps To End Vacation Response On Gmail

In order to turn off the vacation response feature, all you need to do is select the End now option. You will need to visit the Gmail settings and head to the Vacation mode option similar to the setup up process.

Key Highlights

• Google rolling out Viewer Mode in Meet
• Meet users will benefit from having an easier time organizing lengthy meetings
• To watch their video, hosts, and co-hosts can convert viewers into contributors

Google Meet is set to launch an exciting new feature called Viewer Mode. This recent announcement by Google aims to create a more focused environment during large meetings by minimizing distractions. In the upcoming update, participants can be designated as “viewers” when creating Calendar invites. Viewers are meeting participants who are unable to share their audio or video throughout the session, according to a blog post on Google Workspace Updates. Also Read | Google Meet Hacks: How To Change/ Update Google Meet Name Using A Laptop Or PC?

Maintaining Focus In Large Meetings

One of the primary goals of introducing the viewer mode in Google Meet is to reduce disruptive audio interruptions and help participants concentrate on the speaker and the meeting’s content. By designating participants as viewers, Google hopes to create a more engaging and distraction-free meeting experience.

Transitioning Viewers To Contributors

Google understands the need for collaboration, even in larger group settings. To accommodate this, hosts have the flexibility to transition viewers into contributors when it’s time for them to actively participate. Once designated as contributors, viewers gain access to Meet features like Q&As and polls. However, it’s important to note that support for in-meeting chat and emoji reactions for viewers will be added in the future.

Also Read | How To Download Google Meet On Laptop: Here’s The Step-By-Step Guide

Step-by-Step Guide To Set Up Viewer Mode

To use the viewer mode feature in Google Meet, follow these simple steps during the setup of your video call:

Step 1: Access the video call options while setting up a Google Meet session.

Step 2: Locate the ‘Guests’ section and select the ‘Everyone is a viewer by default’ option.

Step 3: Once chosen, Google Meet automatically turns viewers into contributors, enabling them to actively engage in the meeting.

Step 4: From the same section, you can also assign co-hosts and contributors by selecting them accordingly.

With the upcoming launch of viewer mode, Google Meet aims to enhance focus, reduce distractions, and promote collaboration during video meetings. By utilizing the simple setup process and taking advantage of the viewer and contributor roles, users can create engaging and productive virtual gatherings. Whether it’s a large team meeting, a training session, or a conference, Google Meet’s viewer mode empowers hosts to control the meeting environment while ensuring everyone can actively participate.

Also Read | Want To Create A New Group For Google Meet Calls? Here’s How To Do It