A Guide to Instagram Threads: What It Is and How It Works
What is Instagram Threads?
Threads is a new app developed by Meta, the company behind Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Created by the Instagram team, this app serves as a platform for sharing text updates and engaging in public conversations. It aims to offer a microblogging social network similar to Twitter, addressing some of the challenges faced byInstagram Threads, Meta’s new networking app that aims to offer an alternative to Twitter, has sparked interest among tech enthusiasts. In this article, we will delve into the details of what Threads is, how it functions, and how you can access it. the popular platform. It’s worth noting that an app named Threads was announced in 2021, but it has recently undergone significant revamping and relaunching.
Features of Threads
Threads allows users to post messages with up to 500 characters, surpassing Twitter’s 280-character limit (unless using Twitter Blue) and aligning with Mastodon’s default character limit. Alongside text, users can include photos, videos up to five minutes long, and web links in their posts.
Functionality of Threads
Upon downloading Threads, users can sign in using their existing Instagram accounts. This ensures a seamless transition of their username and verification status, with the option to customize their profile for the Threads account. Users can choose to automatically follow the same accounts they follow on Instagram, as well as discover and add new accounts within the Threads app. The feed consists of posts from followed accounts and recommended content. Users can engage with posts by replying, reposting, or quoting them, similar to other rival apps.
Notable Personalities on Threads
While it takes time for any new social networking app to gain momentum, Threads is expected to quickly attract significant user numbers due to its integration with Instagram. Some early adopters on Threads include Shakira, F1 driver Lando Norris, NBA player Seth Curry, soccer star Kingsley Coman, and renowned chef Gordon Ramsay, known for his vibrant language.
Unique Aspects of Threads
Threads shares similarities with existing platforms, but it has an ambitious plan for the future. Although not currently implemented, the goal is to make Threads compatible with ActivityPub—a decentralized social networking protocol that allows interaction between apps using the same protocol. This functionality would enable Threads users to engage with accounts on various social media platforms. For example, someone using Mastodon could request to follow a Threads account, and the request could be accepted or declined within Threads itself. This would allow users to follow Mastodon posts in their Threads feed without needing a Mastodon account. While this feature is still under development, it presents an exciting prospect.
Privacy and Safety
Threads incorporates several features from Instagram to help users filter out unwanted content. Users have control over who can reply to their posts or mention them, and they can employ a word filter to block posts containing specific words from appearing in their feed or replies. Blocking an account on Instagram also automatically blocks it on Threads. Additionally, Threads adheres to Instagram’s Community Guidelines, ensuring that only appropriate content for diverse audiences is allowed. Hate speech, degrading posts, and shaming of individuals are strictly prohibited. Meta highlights its substantial investments in teams and technology to enforce these guidelines on Instagram, and similar resources will be dedicated to maintaining positive and productive conversations on Threads.
Privacy Considerations
As an app owned by Meta, privacy concerns naturally arise with Threads. However, the app prioritizes privacy from the outset. Users under 18 (or under 16 in certain countries) are assigned a private profile by default upon signing in. They have the authority to approve or decline follow requests on Threads, mirroring Instagram’s functionality. Additionally, many privacy features found on Instagram, such as the ability to block or report other users, are also included in Threads.