Instagram co-founders’ news app, Artifact, has introduced a new feature that enables users to flag clickbait articles. The flagging system will be used as a feedback signal to decide which articles are helpful and which are misleading. Artifact will monitor the most reported articles and decide how to respond, including options such as reducing an article’s distribution in feeds or modifying the headline to be less misleading. The company is actively experimenting with different approaches and gathering user feedback to determine the best course of action.
It remains to be seen what changes Artifact’s modifications will bring. If the company changes a headline, it will be responsible for ensuring it is accurate. However, if a changed headline is not clearly marked, readers may unfairly blame any inaccuracies on the writer. Users can flag an article in the three dots menu in an article or by pressing and holding an article in their feed.
In addition to the clickbait flagging feature, Artifact also announced two other features. Firstly, users can save an article as an image, which is a useful way to pass along something interesting to a friend who never clicks through the links shared with them. Secondly, users can now add emoji reactions to articles, including 
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, or 
. These reactions show up under headlines in the feed, giving an idea at a glance of how people are feeling about the article.
Artifact’s new features are available for both Android and iOS users. The image-saving feature will start rolling out on Android later in the week. Instagram co-founders’ app continues to improve its features and services to users and is a perfect example of how companies can adapt to the changing landscape of the digital world.
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