What Threads Can Learn From Other Social Networks After Its First Year

Threads, Meta’s social media platform and alternative to Twitter, recently marked its first anniversary. Launched on July 5 last year, Threads has amassed 175 million monthly active users, a significant milestone.

As Threads navigates its second year, it aims to differentiate itself from Twitter by being less news-centric and from platforms like Mastodon and Bluesky by maintaining a unique user experience.

Rapid Feature Development and User Feedback

Over the past year, Threads has introduced numerous features, including support for multiple profiles, a web app, a desktop interface similar to Tweetdeck, trending topics in the U.S., and custom controls for muting and quote replies. The development team has actively gathered user feedback to refine these features.

Integration with the Fediverse

Threads has made strides in integrating with the Fediverse, allowing users to connect their accounts to the ActivityPub protocol. This integration enables users to share posts and view interactions from the wider Fediverse. However, full functionality, such as following users from other servers, is still in progress.

Lessons from Other Social Networks

Topic Following

Bluesky excels at custom feeds, which aggregate posts related to specific topics beyond just hashtags. Threads, which implemented tags last year, could benefit from a similar approach. Users often share posts with varying tags for the same event, making it challenging to find consistent content.

A more sophisticated tagging system or custom lists could enhance the user experience.

API and Third-Party Apps

Threads recently made its API available to developers, allowing for content creation and display within apps. However, this does not support the creation of third-party apps for consuming Threads.

In contrast, Bluesky and Mastodon foster environments where third-party developers can build custom clients. Ensuring Threads remains open to third-party apps could promote a richer ecosystem.

Independence from Instagram

Threads initially built its user base through Instagram integration, but with its substantial growth, it might be time to allow for more independence. Currently, Threads profiles are tied to Instagram accounts, limiting account management options.. Meta is considering more independent Threads accounts and data separation, as indicated by Instagram head Adam Mosseri.

Handlin News and Politics

Threads has taken a stance against actively promoting news and political content. However, political topics do emerge, particularly in trending sections. As Threads expands, it will need to balance political content without suppressing news. Learning from X’s (formerly Twitter) community notes and Mastodon’s recent byline feature could help provide context and manage political discussions.

Improving the “For You” Algorithm

Threads’ “For You” feed has room for improvement. Users have reported seeing unrelated or odd posts. Threads needs to refine its algorithm to deliver more relevant content, similar to the success seen on platforms like TikTok.

Enhancing Local Content

Local content is crucial for user engagement. Threads can leverage Instagram’s established local partnerships to surface relevant local content. Threads has made some strides, like providing live sports scores, but missed opportunities such as engaging cricket fans during major tournaments. Expanding local content efforts could significantly boost user engagement.

While Threads has made impressive progress in its first year, there are several areas for potential growth. By learning from other social networks and continuing its rapid feature development, Threads can refine its unique identity and enhance the user experience.

The ultimate goal, as hinted by Mosseri, is to provide a robust alternative to Twitter while carving out its own space in the social media landscape.