By Threads, the new social media app owned by Meta (formerly Facebook), is set to introduce a series of updates in response to user complaints. Instagram boss Adam Mosseri has acknowledged users’ desire for a chronological home feed of posts from accounts they follow, rather than relying on Threads’ algorithm to curate content. Mosseri confirmed that a feed displaying posts in chronological order is currently in development. Since its launch last week, Threads has attracted over 100 million users.
Mosseri revealed that Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO, has given the go-ahead for an alternative feed, acknowledging the frustration expressed by users who want to see posts from people they follow in the order they were posted. In addition to the chronological feed, Mosseri outlined several other changes on Threads’ agenda. These include the ability to edit posts, translate into different languages, and facilitate easy switching between different Threads accounts.
While Threads can be accessed via Threads.net on the web, there is currently no desktop interface for posting content, a limitation that the company aims to address. Furthermore, a more robust search function and improvements to the selection of recommended posts are also planned. Deleting a Threads profile is currently only possible by deleting the associated Instagram account, and the company intends to rectify this inconvenience.
Meta initially announced plans to enable Threads to interact with other social media platforms, such as Mastodon, through a concept called the fediverse. The diverse operates similarly to email, allowing communication between different platforms. Meta intends to implement ActivityPub, a programming protocol, to facilitate Threads’ interaction with platforms like Mastodon, WordPress, and Lemmy. However, concerns have been raised that Threads could jeopardize the principles of the diverse, with some fearing a potential “embrace, extend, and extinguish” scenario where Meta’s influence could dominate the decentralized social media movement.
Mastodon CEO Eugen Rochko dismissed these fears, stating that Meta’s involvement with Threads validates the push towards decentralized social media and is seen as a victory for their cause. Nevertheless, apprehension among users has led over a hundred Mastodon communities to join the “fedipact” agreement, effectively blocking Meta from accessing their communities under any circumstances. This means that even when Threads supports ActivityPub, users will be unable to access the entire fediverse.
Another forthcoming feature on Threads that may elicit mixed reactions is the absence of advertising on the platform, at least for now. It remains to be seen how Meta will incorporate advertisements into Threads in the future.
