Meta Unveils Significant Update for Threads by Instagram: Enhancing User Experience and Feature Set

Meta has recently launched a significant software update for its Threads app, which was introduced not long ago with a basic user interface. The latest update brings some new features that enhance the user experience, aiming to catch up with its main competitor, Twitter. Interestingly, these new features have been available on Twitter for a few years already.

All about the new update of Threads by Instagram

One of the noteworthy additions is the introduction of a Follows tab in the activity feed, making it easier for users to keep track of their recent followers and simplifying the process of following them back. Additionally, the iOS app now includes post-text translations, which is particularly useful for cross-posting in different regions.

The update also enables users to subscribe to unfollowed users through a notification feature, ensuring they receive updates without cluttering their timelines. Moreover, there are subtle interface tweaks, such as accessible reposter labels that users can tap easily.

Cameron Roth, a spokesperson for Meta, confirmed that some features may take some time to become available to all users, as they will be enabled server-side before being fully rolled out.

However, despite these improvements, Threads still lacks some essential features that users expect from social media platforms, including a chronological feed, direct messages, and hashtags. Concerns have been raised by users regarding the inability to disengage from Threads without having to delete their entire Instagram account. Additionally, the absence of a full-fledged web version makes it inconvenient for users to access Threads on their computers.

In response to a decline in Threads usage following its initial surge, Meta is taking swift action to sustain user interest by introducing new features and fostering a dedicated community. This effort is especially critical as Meta considers expanding into the European Union market.

According to a report by Sensor Tower, Threads’ user engagement has dropped significantly, with a 50% decrease in the time spent by users (reducing from 20 minutes to around 10 minutes). Additionally, data from Similarweb shows a decline of more than 25% in daily active users on Android phones worldwide.