Threads, the new app from Meta, has entered the social media arena with a bang, aiming to revolutionize the way we engage in public conversations.
While Threads offers a unique platform for threaded discussions, there are certain features that users have been eagerly anticipating but have not yet materialized.
In this comprehensive review, we will explore the missing features in Threads, highlighting their significance and discussing potential future updates.
Editable Alt Text: Accessibility Concerns
One notable missing feature in Threads is the ability to add user-generated alt text to posts. Alt text plays a crucial role in making content accessible to users who rely on screen reading devices.
Without this feature, users with visual impairments may face difficulties in understanding the content shared on the app. Including editable alt text would greatly enhance the platform’s accessibility and inclusivity, ensuring that all users can fully participate in the conversations.
Emoji Support: Expressive Conversations
Emojis have become an integral part of online communication, allowing users to convey emotions and add visual flair to their messages. However, Threads currently lacks support for emojis.
Adding emoji functionality would enable users to enhance their conversations, inject personality into their posts, and align conversations with the emoji-rich communication style prevalent across social media platforms.
Hashtags: Organizing and Discovering Content
Hashtags have transformed the way we organize and discover content on platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Surprisingly, Threads does not yet support hashtags in posts.
Incorporating hashtags would enable users to categorize their threaded conversations and make them more discoverable to others with shared interests. Furthermore, hashtags facilitate the exploration of trending topics and enable users to join relevant discussions.
Implementing hashtags would undoubtedly enhance the organization and discoverability of content on Threads.
Trending Topics: Real-Time Conversations
Threads currently lacks a dedicated Trending page, similar to Twitter’s Explore tab, where users can discover popular topics and join ongoing conversations. However, Meta has expressed plans to introduce features for discovering threads and creators in the future.
The inclusion of a trending section would not only allow users to stay up-to-date with the latest discussions but also provide an avenue for discovering new threads and engaging with a broader audience.
Chronological Feed: Balancing Algorithmic and Chronological
Threads, like its sibling platform Instagram, employs an algorithmic timeline that determines the order of posts based on user preferences and engagement. However, many users appreciate the option to switch to a chronological feed, where posts are displayed in the order they were shared.
Meta has hinted at the possibility of introducing a chronological feed option in Threads, which would offer users more control over their content consumption and allow for a more real-time experience.
Following Page: Transparency in Connections
Currently, Threads does not display information about who you’re following or who others are following. A “Following” page or similar feature would provide users with transparency and insights into their connections.
Being able to see who you follow and who follows you on Threads would foster a sense of community and facilitate the discovery of new accounts to engage with.
Embed Codes: Sharing Beyond the Platform
One missing feature in Threads is the absence of embed codes for thread posts. Currently, users can only share a URL to direct others to their threads.
The inclusion of embed codes would allow users to seamlessly integrate Threads content into external websites, blogs, or articles, expanding the reach and impact of the discussions beyond the Threads platform itself.
Account Deletion: Flexibility in User Management
Threads lacks the option to delete your account independently of your Instagram account. While deleting the Instagram account may be an option for some users, others may desire the flexibility to remove their account while keeping their presence on other platforms.
Providing users with the ability to delete their Threads account separately would offer greater control over their social media presence and align with user preferences.
