The last time we checked in on Meta’s newest platform, Threads, it was early in its development. Now that it’s past its first birthday and has more than 200 million active users, we’re going over some of the new (and upcoming) features built to help creators get the best experience out of the app.
- Insights & Post Scheduling
One perk of using Threads is the accessibility of its developers and leadership. Adam Mosseri, Head of Product at Instagram, often replies to feedback from users and asks what features they would like to see next. Early in Threads’ development, creators asked for ways to track engagement and the ability to schedule posts—and Threads delivered.
Threads launched Insights in October for the mobile app, and it’s now available for desktop as well. The offered data includes profile views (by followers and non-followers), interactions with content (views, likes, comments, reposts, and quotes), and follower demographic information (such as location, age, and gender). The data can also be viewed by date range to help creators observe their growth over time.
In a recent unveiling of product updates, Meta also announced that post scheduling was coming soon to the mobile app, allowing users to queue drafts to post on a specific date and time.
- Threads for Creators
A frequently asked question about Threads is how to get started, especially in terms of what kind of content to post and how to build community. Recently, Threads answered by launching their new hub, Threads for Creators.
Threads for Creators is full of best practices, answers to FAQs, and tips for how to use the app’s new features to grow your reach. While there is still not much insight into just what the algorithm responds to, this resource is a helpful first step if you are looking for Meta’s recommendations.
- Trending Topics
A critique of Threads when the platform launched was that many users transitioning onto the app were unsure what kind of conversations would become the norm. It seems that in an effort to help drive conversation, Meta has prioritized topical, trend-based discussion.
If you’ve ever asked yourself, “What are people even talking about on Threads?” one way to answer is “Trending Topics.” This feature highlights frequently searched and used keywords in blue at the top of a post. When clicked, they bring users to a page where all ongoing conversations on the topic come into view, making it simpler to track what’s trending in the world right now and adding to the visibility of the creators talking about those topics. A ranked list of trending topics is available in the Search Tab as well.
- Resharing Content
Some new developments on Threads were introduced to help users keep track of ongoing conversations. For example, users can follow not just other profiles but specific threads themselves by opting in to notifications of new replies.
Also, one feature not mentioned in our last article is the ability to “quote” posts. Quotes can be excellent for engagement and visibility, as they can expose one person’s content to another person’s following. A new extension of this capability (coming soon) is the ability to reshare photos and videos. This is great for sharing memes and other content, and it ensures that the image or video is attributed to the original poster.
The exposure that these features provide can be highly beneficial to creators, but as a precaution, Threads has added a safety feature so creators can decide who is able to reuse the media they share. Now users can limit who can quote their threads or delete a quote involving their content.
Threads for Authors
Threads’ audience seems to still be taking shape, but active bookish and author communities are emerging. Many authors are turning to Threads to chat about publishing news and the writing process, to connect with each other, and to celebrate achievements in their careers. The Threads algorithm also seems to consider location, so many authors use it to connect with other authors in their area. The reader community on Threads is active; many book influencers are looking to connect with authors to find their next read or get access to advance reader copies. The tag “Bookthreads” is a great place to locate these communities.
