When visiting Threads to access Meta’s well-received counterpart to Twitter, you will currently encounter a spinning placeholder galaxy. However, this situation is anticipated to evolve within the upcoming weeks, as indicated by a recent tweet from CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
Mark Zuckerberg tweeted that both the search functionality and the web version are set to be introduced in the following weeks. He expressed enthusiasm about the rapid rate at which the team is delivering these updates.
Meta decided to take a bold risk by swiftly introducing a simplified alternative to Twitter. This calculated move might have yielded positive results. In a recent article by my colleague Alex Heath, it was highlighted that Threads achieved the remarkable feat of amassing 100 million sign ups at an unprecedented pace, outpacing the adoption rate of any previous consumer software product.
Nevertheless, it appears that Meta is actively striving to accelerate the implementation of additional features. Just recently, Threads introduced its Following feed, which means users are no longer solely reliant on the company’s algorithms to prioritize content from those they truly wish to engage with.
A desktop web version is evidently a priority. Adam Mosseri, who oversees Threads and Instagram, has been actively responding to high-profile users, repeatedly reassuring them that progress is being made in this direction. Speaking for myself, I won’t be dedicating much time to Threads until I can conveniently access it from my work PC.
If Threads gains momentum, which seems plausible given its current trajectory, the addition of a search feature capable of scouring tweet content (not restricted to individual user profiles) would prove immensely valuable, particularly for professionals in journalism like myself. The potential is significant; in my experience, Twitter’s search function has been instrumental in uncovering numerous story leads and verifying stories in the past.
Meta Set to Launch Web Version of Threads
According to a report, Meta is set to introduce the web version of Threads, its competitor to X (formerly known as Twitter), early this week. The absence of a web version has been a notable gap since the inception of this short-form posting service.
In a recent statement, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg mentioned that the company is actively working on incorporating this feature along with significant improvements to its search functionality. As of now, the platform’s search capabilities are limited to usernames. These enhancements are expected to be rolled out within the coming weeks.
Nevertheless, indicate that the precise details of the feature’s launch are still under consideration and subject to change. Mosseri posted on Threads last week, revealing that Meta has been internally testing an early version of the feature for a brief period. However, he acknowledged that further refinement is required before a broader release can take place.
Just around six weeks ago, Threads made its debut as a rather minimalist rendition of Twitter. In an astonishingly short span, it managed to surpass the milestone of 100 million users, attracting numerous celebrities and brands. Despite this rapid growth, the platform has lacked a number of essential features, which Meta has been gradually introducing over time.
Among the recent updates, the company included a follow feed feature and the option to validate a link through your Mastodon profile. This move suggests that Meta might be adopting a somewhat serious approach towards integrating with the decentralized social network protocol Activity Pub.
Conclusion
In the meantime, when accessing Threads.net, you’ll find a placeholder galaxy. CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s tweet indicates this will change soon. He plans to introduce search and web features. Meta’s fast-paced enhancements are evident. Threads has already launched a Following feed, granting more user control. Desktop access is a priority, and Meta aims for a significant impact like Twitter’s search for journalists.
