Threads, an Instagram app, launched early last month with blockbuster numbers, though active user figures plummeted shortly after. This may have something to do with its barebones state, lacking many features that would be considered basic for a social media platform. Two of these are finally becoming available “in the next few weeks”. These are a web version of the platform, as well as a search function.
The announcement of these features being incoming was made by Mark Zuckerberg on Threads. Prior to the announcement was some preamble about the community being “on the trajectory I expect to build a vibrant long term app”. Though what exactly that means is unclear, considering the aforementioned drastic drop in active user numbers.
For now, most attempts to use Threads on a browser will just direct you to the app version instead, be it a button to download it, or a QR code to do the same. The only way around this for now is to type in the URL of a user’s account or their post, and you’ll have to navigate from there if you want more. So both a web version and a search feature are very welcome, for those who are still on the platform anyway. For others, it may be a case of too little, too late.
For what it’s worth, the past few weeks has seen Threads getting other features like translations and a feed that goes in chronological order, rather than what the algorithm dictates. If the platform wishes to regain users who lost interest, or even gain new ones, it will need to pick up the pace and at least achieve parity with the incumbent platform it is trying to compete with.
(Source: Threads [1], [2])
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