Instagram Badges is a new feature on the social media app that’s aimed at helping creators earn money through the app. Badges will let people show support to their favorite creator during a Live Video and allow creators to engage with their followers. The company first announced Badges in 2020, but it was only available for a select user base at the time.
Instagram Badges are now available in select regions, including the U.S., for users aged 18 and older. If you want to use the feature, you must have at least 10,000 followers. If a follower purchases a Badge, heart(s) will be displayed next to their username in the Live Video. In the U.S., you can purchase multiple Badges, which range from $1 (one heart) to $5 (three hearts), with a $2 (two hearts) option in the middle.
If you support a creator by buying a Badge, you will get more visibility on their Live Video. Moreover, if you ask a question during a Live Stream, your question will be highlighted to the creator. As a creator, you will be able to see your supporters’ names on a particular Live Video for up to 90 days.
To enable Instagram Badges on your profile, you need to go to Profile > Professional dashboard > Grow your business > Badges. Instagram Badges are currently live in Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain, Turkey, the U.K., and the U.S. Instagram’s various policies, including Partner Monetization Policies and Community Guidelines, apply to Badges as well.
Are you tired of paying for streaming services you never watch just to get a phone plan feature you actually want? T-Mobile has good news for you! The carrier is rolling out new plans, called T-Mix, in early November to replace its old Experience lineup with a build-your-own perks system called Picks.
The benefits you choose vary from streaming and gaming to food delivery, AI, satellite service, and phone discounts. But if you are satisfied with your existing plan, you can keep it.
Merely days after the iPhone Duo hit the shelves, images of broken screens on the phone started popping up across social media. Until now, it’s been unclear what’s causing the line of defective pixels that appears vertically along the crease, as well as horizontally, on the phone’s inner display.
Apple has finally acknowledged the issue, which has shown up on iPhone Duo units owned by customers as well as demo units in stores. In a statement shared with Bloomberg, Apple says that not all iPhone Duo units are affected and that those that are tend to show the display fault early on. The company added that users who experience problems with their iPhone Duo display should contact AppleCare for a replacement.
Not long ago, Apple treated independent repair like an act of outright hostility. The Cupertino giant locked down parts with serial-number pairing, while repair tools remained firmly out of reach of anyone outside its authorized repair network. More importantly, the company waged a legal and lobbying battle against right-to-repair legislation.
I've covered enough of these fights over the years to know what a shift looks like. That's why what happened in October 2026 genuinely caught me off guard. The day the iPhone Duo went on sale, what may be the most mechanically complex iPhone to date, Apple pulled off a surprising about-face. It published teardown-style repair manuals for a handful of major components.