Threads

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Threads (threads.com) is a Twitter-like social media service with partial ActivityPub support, launched by Meta Platforms on 2023-07-06 at www.threads.net and a user base which mostly started as users of Instagram. The team is working on expanding to full ActivityPub server-to-server support.

Features

• rel-me support added 2023-08-09, see rel-me#Threads
• ...

Criticism

Accessibility

• 2023-07-07 Camryn Manker: A few accessibility and feature misses with the Threads launch (archived)

Kelsey Lindell criticized Threads for the accessibility issues in a post on LinkedIn, then her Instagram account was suspended:

• 2023-07-06 Kelsey Lindell: Kelsey Lindell’s LinkedIn post (archived)
• 2023-07-07 Kelsey Lindell: Kelsey Lindell’s follow-up post (archived)

Moderation

• 2024-12-01 Threads Won't Take You South of Market

Despite the fact that Threads users can’t follow or see mentions from people on other instances, Threads has already opted to block a slew of instances where gay & leather people congregate.

• 2024-10-09 Instagram and Threads moderation is out of control

On Threads, the topic of “Threads Moderation Failures” is trending. Some users complain their accounts are being deleted or restricted for linking to articles with controversial topics. Instagram and Threads boss Adam Mosseri is directly replying to some complaints and said he’s “looking into it.” And I’m one of many people who’s had their account deleted for allegedly being a child — which I am not.

• 2024-03-29 Sean Tilley: Fedi Garden to Instance Admins: “Block Threads to Remain Listed”

“I don’t think it’s nice to federate with a company that has been cited in multiple independent reports of massacres/genocides,” FediGarden’s operator tells us, “That’s why I’m adding the rule about not federating with such companies. If servers want to do that it’s their decision, but it doesn’t seem a nice thing to do. I can’t honestly recommend such servers.”

Aside from the fact that Threads is a Meta product, it also appears to have policy issues that stand in stark contrast with the rest of the network: a recent report by GLAAD reveals that homophobia and transphobia have largely flourished within networks stewarded by Meta, and transphobic content still seems to flow freely from accounts like Libs of Tiktok on the platform. Similarly, Facebook’s own moderation practices have exacerbated cultural tensions to the point of promoting violence and genocide.

• 2023-12-21 Erin Kissane: Untangling Threads

See Also

• Requires sign-in with Instagram identity, and re-use of Instagram username/handle.
• Criticism: 2023-07-06 Zuck’s New Threads Are Lame
• Feature: re-uses block list from Instagram: e.g. in IG prefs UI for list of blocked accounts:

  Blocked Accounts
  
  Accounts are blocked on both Instagram and Threads.

• Criticism: 2023-07-06 Facebook's Threads is so depressing / Like a $19 turkey sandwich at an airport
• Criticism: 2023-07-17 We Don’t Need Threads. We Need a Break / It’s the fastest-growing app in history. Its success proves we’re addicted to something we know is bad for us
• 2024-03-21 Engineering at Meta Corporation: Threads has entered the fediverse

  … in a few countries, including the US, Threads users aged 18+ with public profiles can now choose to federate their profiles.

• Export info: https://www.threads.net/@hober/post/C_Oi4l9SpCu

  A thread about threads on Threads. Specifically, on what's included (and not included) in the your_instagram_activity/threads/threads_and_replies.json file in the "download/export all of my instagram/threads data" zip file.

• https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/21/threads-rolls-out-ads-to-all-users-worldwide/