Threads Bulks Up Sharing and Discovery Features

Threads is rolling out a few feature upgrades this week intended to boost engagement as Meta’s Twitter competitor works to recover some of its initial buzz.

First, Threads users will be able to send posts directly to a contact via Instagram DM, according to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Tap the share button and the option will appear.

Zuckerberg also teased a new mention button that will make it easier to @ someone else’s account. And you can now see all the Threads you’ve liked under “Your likes” on your profile page.

Send Threads via Instagram and sort followers (Credit: PCMag/Threads)

Plus, if you need to make sense of those you follow, navigate to your profile, tap your followers, and a Sort button will appear. Tap it to sort followers by Latest first, Earliest first, or the Default view. (You can also search for a specific person in the search box.)

Threads also now supports custom alt-text for images you share on the service, which lets you explain the contents of an image for visually impaired people using screen readers. To access, that, you’ll tap “Alt Text” after attaching an image or video to a post.

Last week, Zuckerberg said search and web access are coming to the platform soon.

The new features may be what Meta needs to retain active users on the platform. While the service attracted 100 million users on July 10, just a few days after its launch—thanks in large part to its connection to Instagram—the app’s user numbers have dropped dramatically since. Earlier this month, internet traffic tracker Similarseb said the app’s daily active users on Android were just 12.6 million.

Zuckerberg has said that he believes the platform has the potential to reach 1 billion users.