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Lanon Wee

Meta Outlines Upcoming Thread Features

Threads may be exploring the possibility of introducing a different home feed, which would only consist of posts from the persons a certain user is following, appearing in time sequence, as per Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram. It displays a combination of recommended content and posts from the accounts being followed. Threads was presented as an "initial version" at its launch, and the company has pointed out that further features will be added in the future. However, efforts to create a system that will allow Threads to be used with certain other apps, for example Mastodon, have not been well-received. Meta's Instagram created the Threads app. Mr Mosseri reported that an alternative feed for Threads was "on the list" of possibilities, as Mark Zuckerberg had offered a "thumbs up" after a few users voiced their dissatisfaction with not being presented with posts from people they followed, ordered chronologically. Additional features that the Instagram head mentioned include: Threads.net can be accessed online, however, there is presently no desktop platform for the service - posts can only be published from the app - with Mr Mosseri indicating the business is "developing" one. The app does not have a search capability. At the time of its launch, the company declared that it would be incorporating a more developed search tool, as well as ameliorations to the selection of posts being recommended. The only way to presently delete a Threads profile entirely is to delete its related Instagram account, something which many people would be disinclined to do; this is another situation which the firm is attempting to address. At the time of Threads' launching, Meta declared their intent to give it the capacity to link up with other social networks, such as Mastodon, by making use of the fediverse. Many have been receptive to the notion, although others have voiced disagreement. The concept of the fediverse is comparable to that of email. For instance, a person using Gmail can send and receive emails with someone using Hotmail, which is analogous to the fediverse, where the same applies to social media. Meta hopes that in the future, users will be able to use their Threads account to communicate with other social media sites that utilize ActivityPub - a programming code protocol - such as Mastodon, WordPress, or the Reddit alternative, Lemmy. However, some people express concerns that Threads could ultimately threaten the concept of this system, due to a course of action that big tech firms have taken in the past known as "embrace, extend and extinguish". This is where a tech giant leverages its hefty resources to enhance what is feasible with a new technology to the point where it becomes the new benchmark, leaving those affected no other option but to make use of its service. Eugen Rochko, the CEO of Mastodon, put to rest any worries by proclaiming that Meta joining Threads was a sign of "the shift towards decentralised social media" and "an obvious triumph for our mission". Anxieties have been escalating amongst users, due to more than one hundred Mastodon communities joining forces in a "fedipact". This involves banning Meta from any access to their collective, under any circumstances. Consequently, when Threads starts supporting ActivityPub, users will be unable to access the entirety of the fediverse. Threads may have another characteristic which elicits mixed feelings. There are presently no adverts on the service.

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