Threads ‘Following’ feed now available

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced adding the new Following feed for Threads. The function enables users to view their favorite accounts in an organized list. It has been a long-time Twitter feature, but it may help Threads overtake the Elon platform.

Like them or not, social media platforms significantly impact daily life. They have transformed the way we communicate with each other worldwide. Nowadays, new websites like Threads may overtake long-standing ones like Twitter, potentially impacting our lives again.

This issue may help you decide whether to transfer to new social media networks. Let’s explore it further by discussing how the new Threads Following feed works. Also, I will compare Threads and Twitter to help you choose and discuss some of the Twitter functions the Threads app lacks.

How does the Threads Following feed work?

Photo Credit: theverge.com

On July 25, 2023, Mark Zuckerberg added the Following feed to his new Threads app. You can access it by tapping the Threads logo or the home icon to choose that feed.

Previously, the app would revert to the For You feed after shutting down. Consequently, users had to keep switching to that setting every time they used the app.

Fortunately, a recent update enabled the mobile app to save your preferences. Engadget said the Meta CeO also added other features to his new mobile application.

For example, Zuckerberg enabled the app to translate messages to help understand text from countries. Moreover, he added filters for follows, replies, quoted posts, reposts, mentions, and interactions from verified accounts.

The Threads team also introduced a new follow button to make it easier to follow other users. Also, the function helps private accounts approve follow requests conveniently.

Threads may need more features to entice more users. For example, it could add direct messaging, improve accessibility, and improve online search.

Threads vs. X (formerly Twitter)

Photo Credit: toppng.com

Meta specifically designed Threads as a direct competitor to Twitter. Surprisingly, many users quickly noticed how similar the platform’s functions and layout are to Elon Musk’s app.

However, Threads lost nearly half its users after gaining 100 million in two weeks. Perhaps people lost interest once they realized it lacked the following standard Twitter features:

• Threads has no hashtags, which enable users to join specific trends with their posts. Also, these facilitate finding messages.
• Also, the new social media app has no web version. In other words, Threads does not have a website at the time of writing.
• Twitter Blue members may miss being able to edit Tweets.
• Moreover, you can’t share DMs (direct messages) with fellow users.
• Threads don’t let users edit the alternative text to describe their photos and videos. Instead, it uses computer-generated statements.
• The new social media doesn’t show trending topics. However, the Instagram CEO told The Verge Threads is not for “hard news.”
• Also, you can’t embed Threads posts on other websites, limiting its functionality for online businesses.
• The program doesn’t have ads but will likely accept them once it gains many users.

Anthony Bartolacci, managing director of Sensor Tower, said, “These early returns signal that despite the hoopla during its launch, it will still be an uphill climb for Threads to carve out space in most users’ social network routine.”

On the other hand, Twitter lost half its advertising revenue on July 15, 2023. Yet, the Chief Twit said he would enable more users to earn money on the platform.

He also announced Twitter would let users publish articles, allowing authors and publishers to earn income. More importantly, he changed the platform’s name to “X” yesterday.

Conclusion

The Threads Following feed is now available, letting you easily navigate this new social media app. Activate it to have a chronological list of the people you follow on the app.

Meta also improved the feature by keeping the feed after restarting the app. However, it must attract more users by competing against social media with more features.

Regardless, their competition ultimately provides everyone with more choices and convenience. Keep up with the latest apps, gadgets, and more by following Inquirer Tech.