In the social media sector, innovation is the name of the game. When Twitter faced challenges, Meta seized the opportunity, launching Threads, its new contender in the social media sphere. Currently, accessing Threads via Threads.net only showcases a digital placeholder, a spinning galaxy. However, change is on the horizon as hinted by CEO Mark Zuckerberg‘s recent tweet. “Search and web coming in the next few weeks,” he declared, praising his team’s quick execution pace.
Threads was the first social media platform to cross 100 million signups in such a short time
Threads’ inception was a bold move by Meta, a swift response to capitalize on Twitter’s dwindling popularity. And their gamble seems to have yielded results. Alex Heath, a notable journalist, recently highlighted Threads’ extraordinary feat of amassing 100 million signups in record time, surpassing any previous consumer software product.
However, success isn’t without its pitfalls. Reuters reports that more than half of these signups didn’t remain active users. Such user retention rates might be expected, especially for a nascent social media app that’s still ironing out its features. Despite this, Zuckerberg remains optimistic about user retention. To boost engagement, Meta released Threads’ Following feed last week, allowing users a break from stringent algorithm-driven content and letting them prioritize posts from their chosen circles.
One glaring absence from Threads is its lack of a desktop web version. This feature is evidently in high demand. Adam Mosseri, who oversees both Threads and Instagram,is frequently peppered with assurances to prominent users about its forthcoming availability. Many, including this writer, eagerly anticipate a version fit for desktop usage.
As Threads aims to further establish its foothold, introducing a comprehensive search function will be game-changing. For professionals, especially journalists, the ability to search within posts is invaluable. Twitter’s search has often been instrumental in sourcing or validating news. With these impending features, Threads might indeed become the next big thing in the world of social media.