Newly launched Twitter-like app by Meta, Threads, has begun the rollout of new features to improve the app functionality and enhance users’ experience.
In a bid to maintain the momentum that has seen millions of users sign up two weeks after launch, Software Engineer for Instagram Cameron Roth shared a post on Threads, announcing the addition of new features to the app as part of an update to Apple’s iOS.
Threads has introduced a follows tab that will make it easier for users to see who is following them. Users will also be able to access a translate button to read text in other languages and more easily read posts from people they don’t follow.
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Also, Threads has rolled out a feature that enable users to subscribe and receive notifications from accounts a user doesn’t follow, and a “+” button that lets users follow new accounts from the replies on a post, as well as bug fixes and other improvements.
Instagram head Adam Mosseri has also hinted at plans to introduce a desktop version of the app as well as a feed of only accounts a user follows and an edit button.
The introduction of new features on the Threads app is coming ideally for the app to improve functionality, and also as users have been clamoring for updates since its launch. The app attracted mind-blowing sign-ups of 100 million users in less than a week but still lacks many of the features on Twitter, its major rival.
Threads saw a decline in user engagement in the first week, according to data from web traffic analysis firms. While the number of daily active users has since fallen, it still has millions of users less than two weeks after it debuted.
This has spurred Meta executives to announce plans to improve the app in the hopes of retaining users and getting more users.
Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg disclosed that 10s of millions of people now come back daily and for the rest of the year, the company plans to focus on improving the basics and retention.
In response to decline of users, Meta is focusing on stabilizing the app’s performance, improving the basics, and enhancing user retention. Zuckerberg reassured users that this playbook has been successful for other Meta platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Stories, and Reels. Once these foundational aspects are optimized, the company will shift its attention toward further growing the Threads community.
In his words,
“I’m very optimistic about how the Threads community is coming together. Early growth was off the charts, but more importantly, 10s of millions of people now come back daily. That’s way ahead of what we expected. The focus for the rest of the year is improving the basics and retention. It’ll take time to stabilize, but once we nail that then we’ll focus on growing the community. We’ve run this playbook many times (FB, IG, Stories, Reels, etc) and I’m confident Threads is on a good path too.”
The launch of Threads has intensified competition in the microblogging space, as the app aims to challenge the dominance of Twitter, as users search for alternative platform following Musk changes.
Meanwhile, Twitter has also been striving to maintain its user base and increase engagement, which has seen the platform roll out new features to ensure users retention.