Not reading the names of Threads, Instagram, or X in your daily news? Then, my friends, you are not quite getting the news. Threads and Instagram, two significant platforms in the ever-changing world of social media, have just launched new features to improve user experiences. Let's take a look at these changes and see how they might affect your online interactions.
Threads' web version has also been updated, allowing users to quote postings, a capability previously reserved for the mobile edition. This improvement makes the Threads experience more consistent across platforms.
Additionally, Threads users can now enjoy an updated post activity display, which allows them to easily view individual post metrics such as Likes, reports, and quotes. While not groundbreaking, these improvements signify Threads' commitment to enhancing its offering.
On the other hand, Threads faces competition from other platforms like X and has a smaller user base. The program makes recommendations based on Instagram's graph, which may or may not correspond to users' interests on other platforms. Despite these obstacles, Threads is committed to enhancing its offerings.
Moderation has also become a focus, with the app temporarily restricting search results for certain keywords like "COVID," "sex," "nude," and more. Meta has clarified that these restrictions are temporary and intended to ensure the quality of search results. Users can still access relevant accounts related to these terms but with some limitations on the search functionality.
While Threads continues to evolve, it must solve various shortcomings, such as the lack of an API, a separate algorithm, and improved display of multi-Threads and hashtags. These changes are said to be in the works, and Threads continues to deliver regular upgrades to improve its usefulness.
Threads' recent increase in usage following a public dispute involving Elon Musk highlights the potential influence of high-profile users on the platform. Whether Threads can establish itself as a long-term competitor to Twitter and X remains uncertain.
Previously, Instagram's Reels tab displayed a mix of content from followed accounts and recommended clips. With the introduction of the "Following" feed, users can now opt to see only the latest videos from accounts they've chosen to follow.
While this upgrade aligns Instagram's Reels with TikTok's "For You" and "Following" streams, it may be less effective on Instagram, given users' various interests. Instagram users follow diverse accounts, and their Reels tastes may differ from their main feed interests.
The critical distinction may lie in the types of accounts users follow on TikTok versus Instagram, potentially making the Reels "Following" feed less engaging than the primary Reels display.
Nonetheless, switching to the "Following" feed provides flexibility for individuals who like curated material from their preferred accounts. This function may be accessed by touching the "Reels" title and selecting "Following" from the dropdown menu.
In summary, Threads, and Instagram are improving their platforms to cater to user preferences and enhance overall experiences. These updates reflect the ever-changing nature of social media, where platforms strive to adapt and evolve to meet the diverse needs of their user base.
Read next: WordPress Sheds Its Shyness as It's Now Accepting Followers from the Wild World of Fediverse
Threads Introduces Enhanced Functionality
Meta's Threads continues its journey of updates, aiming to provide users with more control and convenience. One notable addition is the ability to follow specific conversations within the app without the need to follow the entire user. This feature allows users to stay informed about key discussions with alerts for thread replies, active for 24 hours after tapping the bell icon.Threads' web version has also been updated, allowing users to quote postings, a capability previously reserved for the mobile edition. This improvement makes the Threads experience more consistent across platforms.
Additionally, Threads users can now enjoy an updated post activity display, which allows them to easily view individual post metrics such as Likes, reports, and quotes. While not groundbreaking, these improvements signify Threads' commitment to enhancing its offering.
On the other hand, Threads faces competition from other platforms like X and has a smaller user base. The program makes recommendations based on Instagram's graph, which may or may not correspond to users' interests on other platforms. Despite these obstacles, Threads is committed to enhancing its offerings.
Moderation has also become a focus, with the app temporarily restricting search results for certain keywords like "COVID," "sex," "nude," and more. Meta has clarified that these restrictions are temporary and intended to ensure the quality of search results. Users can still access relevant accounts related to these terms but with some limitations on the search functionality.
While Threads continues to evolve, it must solve various shortcomings, such as the lack of an API, a separate algorithm, and improved display of multi-Threads and hashtags. These changes are said to be in the works, and Threads continues to deliver regular upgrades to improve its usefulness.
Threads' recent increase in usage following a public dispute involving Elon Musk highlights the potential influence of high-profile users on the platform. Whether Threads can establish itself as a long-term competitor to Twitter and X remains uncertain.
Instagram Refines Reels with New "Following" Feed
Instagram is making minor modifications to its Reels feature to better align it with TikTok's functionality. The "Following" feed within the Reels tab is the most recent addition, allowing users to only see Reels from accounts they follow.Previously, Instagram's Reels tab displayed a mix of content from followed accounts and recommended clips. With the introduction of the "Following" feed, users can now opt to see only the latest videos from accounts they've chosen to follow.
While this upgrade aligns Instagram's Reels with TikTok's "For You" and "Following" streams, it may be less effective on Instagram, given users' various interests. Instagram users follow diverse accounts, and their Reels tastes may differ from their main feed interests.
The critical distinction may lie in the types of accounts users follow on TikTok versus Instagram, potentially making the Reels "Following" feed less engaging than the primary Reels display.
Nonetheless, switching to the "Following" feed provides flexibility for individuals who like curated material from their preferred accounts. This function may be accessed by touching the "Reels" title and selecting "Following" from the dropdown menu.
In summary, Threads, and Instagram are improving their platforms to cater to user preferences and enhance overall experiences. These updates reflect the ever-changing nature of social media, where platforms strive to adapt and evolve to meet the diverse needs of their user base.
Read next: WordPress Sheds Its Shyness as It's Now Accepting Followers from the Wild World of Fediverse
