If you were expecting Threads by Instagram to take X (formerly Twitter)’s spot as your news feed, think again. The company’s plan currently is to keep threads as a private space for users to communicate with their close friends and family, without being bombarded with news and politics.
This position was confirmed by Instagram Head, Adam Mosseri, multiple times on the platform. Most recently, Mosseri attended a creator event where he shared his thoughts on shifting the platform into a more news-centric place, drawing upon his experience having worked for Facebook and leaning heavily into news during his time there.
This may be disappointing news to those that have fled X and were hoping that Threads would fill that gap. The simple fact is that X, with all its faults, remains one of the best ways to keep up with what’s happening in the world.
Additionally, businesses such as news publications and the like, might be inclined to not pursue growth within the platform. Fear that they will have less opportunity to reach users with their news and announcements may become a major factor in their marketing decisions.
We’re not anti-news. News is clearly already on Threads. People can share news; people can follow accounts that share news. We’re not going to get in the way of any either. But, we’re also not going go to amplify news on the platform. To do so would be too risky given the maturity of the platform, the downsides of over-promising, and the stakes. – Mosseri
Reactions to that latest statement were mixed. Some celebrated and encouraged the decision to keep the platform “drama-free” and a non-controversial place they can escape to. Others instead, accused the company of taking a middle-of-the-road and safe approach in an attempt to remain non-controversial, when all their users want is a way to track real-time news.
It remains to be seen if the current position on amplifying news changes. Threads is a relatively new player to the social media space, and the company appears to be currently putting all their efforts into adding more user-requested features, except real-time news that is.
