
Will This Update Help or Harm Threads?
By Movieguide® Contributor
An update coming to Threads may take away some of the distinctness of the platform by allowing photos and videos onto the site.
Threads was released as a direct competitor to X, formerly Twitter, by offering a social media platform that was text-focused rather than photo or video-based. While both platforms have remained text-based, a new update may change the value of photos and videos on Threads. The update, which will soon roll out globally, will create a dedicated tab for “media” promoting posts with a visual element.
Another part of the update will also allow users to annotate text directly on the platform, streamlining users’ ability to highlight and make notes on other users’ posts.
“A few Threads updates rolling out globally,” said Instagram head Adam Mosseri. “The markup feature lets you easily add your take on someone else’s post (highlighting text is a great way to show what resonates with you), and the ability to tag people in the photos you share. We’re also introducing a ‘media’ tab where others can quickly see all photos and videos you share, a long overdue request from the community.”
While Mosseri is promoting the update as a long-needed addition, many users are worried about the way it will change the site’s identity.
This change comes as Thread’s parent company Meta has rolled out major updates on its other platforms as well. These updates have revolved around policy, removing the fact-checking feature from Facebook and Instagram. Instead, these platforms will now include a feature that will operate similarly to X’s “Community Notes.”
READ MORE: LOVE IT OR HATE IT, META DITCHED FACT-CHECKING. WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU
Meta as a whole is undergoing significant changes, largely based on appeasing President Donald Trump. In January CEO Mark Zuckerberg attended Trump’s inauguration while his company donated $1 million to the President’s inauguration fund. Zuckerberg also recently said his company would benefit from more masculine energy.
READ MORE: IS MARK ZUCKERBERG RIGHT ABOUT MASCULINE ENERGY?