Instagram head Adam Mosseri recently addressed the need for certain features in Threads, the highly anticipated Twitter competitor developed by Meta. Mosseri acknowledged that a “Following” feed, which exclusively displays posts from followed users, is among the features on the platform’s roadmap. This response came after YouTuber Marques Brownlee raised the issue.
It is reasonable to expect Threads to incorporate a “Following” feed, as Instagram already offers this feature alongside its default algorithmic feed. Mosseri also mentioned other features that are being considered for implementation, such as the ability to switch between different Threads accounts and the option to edit posts. Additionally, he acknowledged that some basic functionalities are currently missing, including the ability to search hashtags.
Notably, while users have expressed a desire for a double-tap gesture to like posts, Mosseri explained that implementing this feature poses challenges. Tapping on a thread is necessary to open the full thread, and having an element that can be both tapped and double-tapped would be problematic.
Threads allows Instagram users to log in with their existing credentials to share concise updates, including text (up to 500 characters), links, photos, and videos (up to 5 minutes in length). The app was launched on iOS and Android in 100 countries, excluding the EU, reportedly due to concerns regarding compliance with local data privacy regulations.
While Bluesky, a Twitter alternative supported by Jack Dorsey, has been gaining popularity by leveraging its decentralized protocol called the AT Protocol, Instagram’s Threads app will soon support ActivityPub. This social networking protocol is also used by Mastodon, an open-source Twitter rival, and other federated applications.
To utilize Threads, users must first authenticate using their existing Instagram login credentials. The app will then sync with their Instagram account, importing details such as name, username, photo, and followers. Account verification will carry over to the new app.
