Instagram launched Threads to compete with X, formerly known as Twitter, and now the company adds new features to keep the application relevant and up to date. Despite failing to keep its initial hype, Meta continuously work on enhancing the application. According to recent reports by 9to5Mac and Mashable, Meta is working on bringing Twitter’s “trending topic” feature to the app!
This expected feature was accidentally revealed over the weekend when a Threads employee “accidentally” published a screenshot. The snapshot showed a numbered list of popular subjects as well as the number of “threads” that were actively discussing each of these topics. Willian Max, an alert user, saw this development and suspected that the message was intended for internal use within Meta, the parent firm. You can see the screenshot below:
The leaked image featured a variety of hot trends, including Drake’s new album, as well as other current events like as Billboard’s Latin Music Week and the premiere of Loki Season 2 on Disney+. While Instagram, Threads’ parent company, has kept mute on these claims, it’s worth noting that Threads’ Trends list appears to differ from X’s since it lacks other trend categories like as News, Sports, and Entertainment, as well as customized trends created “For You.”
Threads’ ongoing efforts to compete with X
The implementation of the Trends feature is a huge step forward in Threads’ continuing battle with X. Threads, which quickly grew to 100 million users following its July 5 start, has witnessed a drop in usage over time. To address this, the Threads team has been working hard to introduce additional functionality to the platform. These include a chronological feed, the launch of a web app, simple profile switching, the option to examine favorite posts, and, most importantly, search capabilities.
Threads, on the other hand, realizes the need to integrate search and trends in order to fully challenge X and mimic its appeal as a hub for breaking news and relevant conversations. This collaboration is critical for establishing Threads as a destination for keeping informed and engaging in meaningful conversations—an area in which it can improve.
According to recent reports, there have been internal arguments within Threads over how much news information the platform should welcome. Some top authorities have raised doubts, concerned about the possible risks of spreading news, such as the dissemination of inflammatory and bogus news. This problem is not specific to Threads; Meta, the parent firm, has previously had similar issues on its Facebook platform.
Threads is driven to evolve and adapt as it seeks to carve out its own distinct market niche. It remains to be seen if Trends will be the game-changer that propels Threads to the forefront of the social media world and allows it to compete head-to-head with X.
