Threads is outpacing Twitter after finally getting a Following feed

This could finally put Threads on top

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Threads, the Instagram-based social media app, is finally getting a long-awaited new feature that’s sure to make it much more inviting to current and new users.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg confirmed the news on hisInstagram broadcast channel: “Threads started rolling out an option for a chronological feed of only people you’re following and added translations too.” This means that you’ll finally have a feed showing posts from people you follow, versus a feed featuring random verified users.

You’ll need to haveThreadsinstalled on your phoneand update to the latest version, which is version 293 on eitherGoogle Playor the App Store, to see the new tab. Once you update, check the app and you’ll see “For You” and “Following.” Click on the latter and now you only see posts from followed accounts.

Threads needs to get a few things right first

Adding a Following feed is one of the best and most important moves that Threads could have made, as users are near guaranteed to use and stay on the app longer if they can actually keep tabs on the people they follow and care about. Not to mention that the closer it gets to Twitter in functionality, the better chance it has totruly compete with and eventually take the place of Twitter.

It doesn’t hurt that Twitter has been constantly rolling out perplexing and terrible updates, making it nigh unusable at times, with the latest being a bizarre and ridiculousrenaming of Twitter to simply ‘X.’

While this is one of the most requested features that’s finally gotten implemented, there are stillplenty of tools that Threads needsto be properly fleshed out. First, it needs Direct Messages, as there’s no way to privately contact other users on the app. Users will go to other sites for the feature and limit time spent on Threads.

Second, Threads needs a Trending tab, as it allows users to stay informed about the latest news, world events, social issues, and popular discussions. And while this feature can often cause arguments across the Twitter platform, it also vastly increases engagement and site retention, which are right nowvery much neededfor it to survive long-term.

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It also needs proper search, as right now you can only look up other accounts and not general topics, making it harder to curate timelines. And finally, Threadsbadly needs a desktop modein order to boost its dwindling engagement, as the mobile-only strategy that worked well for Instagram doesn’t seem to be working nearly as well for Threads.

Named by the CTA as a CES 2023 Media Trailblazer, Allisa is a Computing Staff Writer who covers breaking news and rumors in the computing industry, as well as reviews, hands-on previews, featured articles, and the latest deals and trends. In her spare time you can find her chatting it up on her two podcasts, Megaten Marathon and Combo Chain, as well as playing any JRPGs she can get her hands on.

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