A new text-based microblogging platform develop by Facebook parent Meta, Threads was launch as new platform will compete with Twitter and is link to its popular photo and video sharing platform, Instagram, and users have begun receiving prompts to sign up and create a profile.
Threads is currently unavailable in the EU, but access could be roll out to users in the region in the coming months.
Meta says that users will have access to safety tools and features offer on Instagram, and accessibility features are already available for all users.
In less than 7 hours of the app going live, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a Threads post that over 10 million users had already sign up to use the app.
Post by @zuckView on Threads
That’s because Instagram has over 2.35 billion monthly users.
How to Sign up for Threads on Instagram?
You can sign up for Threads by downloading the app from the Google Play store or App Store.
After you open the app, you will be prompt to sign in using your Instagram account, your username and verification status will be preserve when you do this, which means that Meta intends to keep Threads tightly integrate with Instagram.
If you don’t have the Instagram app install then you’ll need to enter your username and password to proceed.
You can then view a list of the people you follow on Instagram and follow them.
If you click the follow button for a user that hasn’t created a profile, it will save the request to follow the user until they join Threads.
Posting Instagram Threads
As you start following people on Threads, you might notice that the feed also shows posts from unknown users.
Instagram head Adam Mosseri said these are recommend posts that are display by Instagram’s algorithm, and will help you discover new accounts to follow on the platform.
Post by @mosseriView on Threads
This service is also working on adding support for a followers-only feed that is expect to only display posts from users you follow.
As per Meta, you can post up to 500 characters on the app.
This is much higher than the default 280 characters available to users who haven’t subscribe to Twitter Blue.
These can be cross-post to your Instagram story.
You can also add links, photos, and videos, as per Meta.
The Threads feed displays images in a carousel format, which works well when sharing multiple images that scroll horizontally.
Following and Unfollowing on Threads
You can follow and unfollow users on Threads, and the app will only notify you when someone follows you.
Same as Instagram, the new app lets you set your profile to “Private“, which means that people will have to send you a request to follow you on the platform.
And if you’re an Instagram user under the age of 16 or under 18 in some regions then you will only be able to use a private account.
Lastly, you can only delete individual posts, but you can’t delete your Threads profile without deleting your Instagram account.
Blocking and Controlling on Threads
Users and accounts that you have block on Instagram, will remain blocked on Threads.
The app will also let you hide specific replies from users on your posts, these will disappear for all users on the platform.
The ability to hide replies could come in handy for users facing targeting trolling or harassment on the platform.
Threads also allows you to limit replies and mentions to people you follow, or disable them completely.
Also to the blocking and mention controls, you will also be able to automatically filter out certain words from showing up in your feed and any replies that contain those words will also be hidden for all users on the platform.
Meta also says that the Instagram Community Guidelines governing the photo and video sharing service will also apply to Threads.
Threads on the Fediverse
Before Meta said that Threads would be compatible with the ActivityPub protocol that is used for interoperable networks like Mastodon and WordPress, which means that you can expect to see some sort of integration between these services in the future that will allow users on threads to talk to users on other Mastodon servers.
This is a decentralise social networking feature enjoy by Mastodon users call as federation.
It’s important to note that many Mastodon instances or servers are considering defederating Threads, which means access to the “fediverse” in interconnected network of independent servers design to communicate with each other in a decentralised fashion, may not be fully available for Threads users.
Tumblr has also revealed it is working on support for the ActivityPub protocol.
How to Configure and Mute Threads Notifications on Your Android Smartphone?
Threads will be alerted when your posts on Threads receive likes, replies, reposts, and mentions.
These constant notifications can be frustated but there are a few ways to manage them to ensure a better experience on the new app.
As we mention that Threads uses Instagram’s account system and you can keep your username, followers and verification status on Threads.
As of now, the app sends out 10 different types of notifications for likes, replies, mentions, reposts, quotes, first threads, new followers, follow request acceptance, account suggestions and pre-follow user join Threads.
How to Manage Threads Notifications on Android?
You can remove notifications from Threads that spam you with too many messages or aren’t useful anymore on Android.
Follow These Steps :
- Go to your profile page on Threads.
- Tap the Menu button at the top-right corner.
- Tap on Notifications.
- Tap Pause all or make singular adjustments in Threads and replies or Following and followers.
- You can choose from 5 options, 15 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, 8 hours to mute notifications.
- In section Threads and replies you can pick from 3 options, everyone, people you follow or turn it off completely.
- In section Following and followers, you can either turn off every single notification or turn it on.
These steps come in handy when you’d like to use Threads but don’t want to constantly receive ongoing notifications from the app.
The new platform is expected to add new features in the coming days.
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