Instagram’s Threads Will Not Prioritize News Content, Says Head of Instagram
In a recent announcement, Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, revealed that Threads, the messaging app affiliated with the popular social media platform, will not prioritize news content. This decision comes as a disappointment to many users who seek up-to-date information on significant global events such as the Israel-Hamas conflict, the Ukraine war, and the 2024 election.
Mosseri clarified that Threads is not against news altogether but will refrain from amplifying it due to the associated risks of over-promising and the platform’s mature nature. Instead, Threads will focus on creating a more peaceful and less angry environment for users to engage in conversations. Users can still follow accounts that share news content, but the platform will not make it easier to find.
Interestingly, Mosseri’s announcement followed a decision by X, formerly known as Twitter, to remove headlines from its platform, which has resulted in a muddled news space. Moreover, researchers recently exposed a propaganda network on X that disseminated misinformation about the ongoing conflict in Israel.
Threads, initially experiencing a strong start with 100 million sign-ups within its first week, faced a significant decline of 80% in daily active users just a month later. Some speculate that the absence of news content, which was central to X and Twitter’s appeal, could have contributed to this decline. By positioning itself as a brand-safe and dull platform, Threads may attract advertiser revenue away from X, potentially challenging Elon Musk’s social media company.
While X continues its efforts to address the news portion of social media, the impact of these measures remains uncertain. Musk aims to attract more journalists to the platform by sharing ad revenue with creators. However, there is a limited amount of ad revenue available on X, raising doubts about the feasibility of this strategy.
The question that lingers is whether it is better for a platform to be dull or inflammatory in order to retain users. As Instagram’s Threads takes a stance against news content, it remains to be seen how this decision will impact the platform’s future and its position in the ever-evolving realm of social media.
