TDC Dispatch: Threads app and July social media updates
July has been an exciting month for the digital team at TDC. Within this blog post we will answer all your questions about the new social media app Threads, alongside other exciting updates from Twitter and Instagram
The highly-anticipated Threads launched on 5 July 2023 and we want to take a deep dive into the app
Meta did a great job replicating the Twitter experience and keeping the Threads interface crisp and clean. The super simple sign up process of importing Instagram data to create your Threads account allowed the app to become the fastest growing social media platform in history, with the app hitting over 100M users in five days.
Threads are presented in the main feed and can be up to 500 characters long, and can include links, photos, and videos up to 5 minutes in length.
In terms of algorithm, the app is currently lightly ranking the posts using more of an AI-driven discovery approach while highlighting recommendations from accounts you don’t follow in your Threads feed, as means to kickstart engagement.
Currently, the app is criticised for being released in a rush, which chief Adam Mosseri is not really denying. Threads is missing a lot of critical features and a few days ago the developers finally shed light on what additions can be expected soon. Here’s everything you need to know:
Following feed: users are calling for a more specific feed; something similar to separate “For You” and “Following” feeds on Twitter is expected to come to Threads.
Edit button: this feature is coming to Threads, despite Twitter’s long-standing reluctance to add one due to the alterations being potentially problematic for retweets and embeds.
Post search: currently the app only lets you search for users but this will be updated shortly to a variety of search options that will enable users to find relevant Threads insights on trending topics.
EU access: there’s still no timeline on when the app will be available in Europe due to regulatory checks and balances relating to the new EU Digital Markets Act.
Mosseri also addressed the controversial inability to delete your Threads account without deleting your Instagram account. A Threads account can be deactivated, which means your profile and content will be hidden as well as users can set their profile to private and delete individual threads – all without deleting your Instagram account. Threads is powered by Instagram, so currently it’s just one account, but the developers team is looking into a way to delete your Threads account separately.
Don’t forget to follow TDC on Threads by clicking HERE.
Insights on the new Instagram features and Twitter job listings
Quite a big Instagram update has been overshadowed by the release of Threads. Last week, Instagram made it possible to add up to three collaborators to any feed post or Reel with all contributors being able to access organic insights, including view counts, like counts, etc. Up until now, users have been limited to just a single collaborative account per post. This update will provide more ways for users to engage with each other in-stream.
Twitter is adding a job listing feature. It’s slowly being rolled out to Verified Organisations in the app, with some businesses now able to post job openings direct to their Twitter profile. Elon himself has alluded to creating a LinkedIn competitor, as part of his broader vision for Twitter, which could also eventually include more video elements, in-stream payments and dating profiles.
Contact [email protected] for more information.
