Threads Introduces Active Status Indicators to Encourage Engagement 

Threads aims to boost real-time engagement within the app by introducing active status indicators that show when a user is online. 

As shown in the example, a green dot will now appear next to a user’s profile picture when they are active, indicating that they are currently online. This feature may encourage more users to engage, as they might expect quicker responses, potentially sparking more conversations within the app.

Like other similar features, users have the option to disable their active status if they prefer. Additionally, individuals with private accounts will only show their active status to their approved followers.

This move marks another step toward promoting real-time conversations within the app, bringing Threads closer to the experience Twitter once offered. However, its reluctance to engage with political content, along with other topics deemed “political” by the Threads team, continues to limit this aspect. 

The true appeal of Twitter lies in its ability to capture the pulse of current events, allowing users to grasp the essence of issues or happenings through real-time tweets. While spammers often exploited trending hashtags, Twitter remained the go-to platform for staying updated on daily events, maintaining that sense of immediacy that other platforms often lost due to algorithmic prioritization.

X has embraced a more algorithmic strategy, which is logical since it enhances engagement. However, users can still switch to the “Following” feed to stay updated with important posts from those they follow. This feature is also available on the desktop version of Threads, which defaults to the “For You” feed. Nevertheless, Threads lacks that same dynamic feel and connection to a global stream of consciousness that ties users to the day’s trending topics.

This might be attributed to Threads’ reluctance to engage with political news, reflecting Meta’s overall move away from news-related content. Meta aims to avoid the backlash it faced following the 2016 U.S. election and has heard from users that they are weary of the negativity and conflict sparked by divisive political posts. 

Reels tend to retain viewers’ attention and typically feature non-political content, prompting Meta to pivot towards more light-hearted videos. However, I don’t believe this strategy will be effective for Threads. 

I anticipate that Threads will eventually relax its restrictions on topical discussions, likely after the election. The introduction of live status indicators is a significant move toward fostering real-time conversations and engagement within the app. 

This is an essential step for Threads to become a more viable alternative to Twitter and to outpace X in the race for real-time social interaction. While Meta may be avoiding political content for now, I believe it will eventually need to make a greater effort to support a wide range of topical discussions.

Source: Social Media Today

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