Introducing Instagram Threads

Written by Julia Giantomasi
Published on July 13, 2023

As Twitter has undergone some changes over the past year, many social media users are looking for alternatives to use for short text-based posts geared toward public conversations. Introducing “Threads” created by Meta (Facebook & Instagram.) The app became available on July 5^th and had over 10 million signups upon its launch. Although social media platforms – much like fashion trends – can come and go, we’ll share the basics of what Threads offers and you can check it out and decide for your library if it’s worth the switch from Twitter.

The app enables users to sign up straight from their Instagram accounts. In the top right corner of your Instagram app are three horizontal lines. Once you open that menu, you’ll see that there is an option for “Threads.” Clicking on that will download the Threads app and setting up a new account is intuitive. You can bring your profile photo, bio, link and followers over from the Instagram app, which eliminates any need to take time to build a new profile.

Threads then opens up to a scrollable feed of short-form text similar to the layout of Twitter. Your feed will consist of content from accounts you already follow plus creators suggested by the platform’s algorithm. Unlike Twitter, which only allows 280 characters and 4 photos or videos, Threads posts allow 500 characters and the ability to add up to 10 photos, and videos up to five minutes in length. Users can engage by liking, commenting, reposting, quoting and sharing each “thread” to their Instagram story or feed. Since Meta created Threads, it’s intended to work smoothly with both Instagram and Facebook for cross-platform sharing. The interface looks very similar to Instagram’s, so users of that app will be familiar with the same heart, comment, and share icons as well as the layout of the different page tabs.

In addition to moving the same username and followers over from Instagram, any accounts that your library has blocked on Instagram will be automatically blocked on Threads. Those who wish to limit interactions can choose in settings whether to allow replies from everyone, accounts they follow or even restrict comments altogether. The security settings will be similar to Instagram where users can report one another for violations and specific words or phrases can be hidden from a feed. Threads will also include features such as direct messaging, trending topics, and an “improved” search function.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg hopes to see the Threads community grow to over one billion members. If your library is looking to move away from Twitter, it doesn’t hurt to give Threads a try and see if it’s the right fit for the content that you’d like to share.