Meta’s Threads, a direct rival to X (formerly known as Twitter), has introduced a slew of new features to mark the first anniversary of its web version launch in August 2023. Among the latest updates are the ability to store multiple drafts, insights into audience demographics, and the option to rearrange columns on the desktop view. These enhancements aim to elevate the user experience, giving more control to content creators and general users alike. CEO Mark Zuckerberg also teased the introduction of post-scheduling, a much-anticipated feature that is expected to be added soon.
One of the standout features is the ability to save multiple drafts, a functionality that began testing in February and was rolled out to all users by March 2024. Threads app users can now store up to 100 drafts per account, offering more flexibility when crafting posts and planning content in advance. This feature aligns with Meta’s broader goal of making Threads a more creator-friendly platform that supports multiple post versions.
As the debate between Threads vs. Twitter (now X) continues, Threads is also rolling out a new user Insights screen, which allows users to gain a deeper understanding of their audience. The Insights feature provides demographic data, such as the age, gender, and location of users who engage with posts. Additionally, it breaks down post performance by showing the total views and interactions, separated by followers and non-followers. This tool offers creators a clearer picture of who their audience is, potentially guiding them in tailoring their content to better engage with their followers.
In another update, Meta is enhancing its desktop experience by allowing users to rearrange columns in its multi-column view. Threads introduced this TweetDeck-like interface back in May, giving users the ability to pin searches, liked posts, saved posts, activity, and their profile page. The latest update now allows for the rearrangement of these columns, except for the “For You” column, which remains fixed as the first column on the left side. This addition adds another layer of personalization to the platform, letting users prioritize the information that matters most to them.
Some of these features, including the Insights screen and column-rearranging, had been available to select users for a few weeks before this broader rollout. Additionally, Threads has been testing a multi-feed experience on iOS with a small group of users. However, Meta has yet to confirm whether users will be able to reorder these feeds.
As Threads continues to evolve, the conversation around Threads user data has become increasingly important. Meta’s handling of user information is under scrutiny as the platform competes with X, which has also faced its share of privacy concerns. With a focus on transparency and user control, Threads aims to position itself as a safer and more user-centric alternative.
The platform has seen steady growth since its launch, crossing the 200 million monthly active user milestone earlier this month, just over a year since its initial debut. This puts Threads in closer competition with X, which reportedly had over 600 million monthly active users as of May 2024, according to Elon Musk. As the battle of X users vs. Threads users heats up, both platforms are racing to innovate and capture the attention of the social media landscape.
Threads’ continued development of user-friendly features shows Meta’s commitment to building a robust alternative to X, offering a richer experience for both casual users and content creators. As we approach the latter half of 2024, the competition between these two platforms is expected to intensify, with user counts and feature updates being key metrics to watch.
