Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri has hinted that Threads may not be poised to go completely head-to-head with Elon Musk's X (formerly Twitter), by saying that the firm does not seek to "amplify" news on its platform in response to inquiries about Threads' approach to news, which may dissatisfy people searching for a substitute for X.
The issues that Instagram and Facebook, both under Meta's ownership, have faced over time include false news, sensationalism, and political prejudice. Although Threads has the potential to draw X users who are fed up with Elon Musk's platform modifications, like the recent removal of news headlines, its reluctance to embrace news may make it difficult for it to function as a straight alternative for X.
Promoting More Positive Discussions
Mosseri stressed the platform's goal of empowering artists during an Instagram creator event. He said that while news material would always be available on Instagram, the firm was careful not to overpromise and underdeliver because of their experience with Facebook.
"We're not anti-news. News is clearly already on Threads. People can share news; people can follow accounts that share news. We're not going to get in the way of any either. But, we're also not going to amplify news on the platform. To do so would be too risky given the maturity of the platform, the downsides of overpromising, and the stakes," the Instagram top executive noted, as quoted by TechCrunch.
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Meta Chairman and CEO Mark Zuckerberg remarked that the lack of news on Threads could be a good thing. He remarked that while X is good at sparking lively discussions, it frequently promotes a critical and unfavorable environment. The Facebook founder said that with a focus on a different experience than having discussions based on the news, Threads strives to provide a more welcoming and uplifting space for discussions.
"I always just thought you could create a discussion experience that wasn't quite so negative or toxic. I think in doing so, it would actually be more accessible to a lot of people," Mark Zuckerberg said in an interview with The Verge.
Threads Still Trailing Behind Elon Musk's X
Meta's Threads has had difficulty gaining momentum and currently ranks among the least-used social networking sites in the United States. It trails industry leaders on social media like X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. According to a CNBC report, Threads faces stiff competition in the saturated social media market; Insider Intelligence projects the site will have 23.7 million US users by 2023.
TechTimes recently reported that Instagram's Threads is set to launch its Trends feature as part of the new social media platform's attempts to increase engagements and attract more users. Through a leaked screenshot shared by a Threads staff member, visitors to the forum recently learned about the impending Threads feature.
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