Meta, the parent company of popular social media platforms Facebook and Instagram, appears to be revisiting its strategy for Threads, one of its newer ventures. Recent reports suggest that the company is working on introducing a new privacy setting to allow Threads users to opt out of having their posts cross-posted to their Facebook and Instagram feeds, a move that comes in response to widespread user dissatisfaction with the existing approach.
The company’s cross-posting strategy, seen by many as a growth-hacking tactic, came under intense criticism from Threads users when it was revealed that their posts were being promoted in Facebook feeds to boost Threads’ popularity. While Meta has employed similar tactics to promote its other applications in the past, this particular move did not sit well with the Threads community. Many users are not active on Facebook and Instagram, and they perceive these promotions as intrusive and unwelcome.
Last week, Meta acknowledged the backlash and user complaints, stating that they were “listening to feedback.” It’s now clear that the company is taking this feedback seriously with the introduction of the new privacy setting.
New Privacy Setting Unveiled
The new privacy setting was discovered by Alessandro Paluzzi, a reverse engineer known for uncovering early versions of social media features before their official launch. Paluzzi shared screenshots of the upcoming feature, showcasing a toggle labeled “suggesting posts on other apps” within Threads’ privacy settings. This toggle will offer users the ability to control whether their Threads posts can be shared on Facebook and Instagram.
However, it’s worth noting that Meta’s default setting will still have cross-posting enabled for users with public profiles. According to the opt-out screen, “If your profile is public, your posts may be suggested on other apps so people can discover and follow you.” This suggests that while users can choose to opt-out, they may need to be proactive in adjusting their privacy settings if they wish to keep their Threads posts exclusive to the Threads platform.
Meta’s Ongoing Quest for Threads Growth
The ongoing debate surrounding this feature change comes at a time when Meta is actively striving to boost Threads’ growth. The platform, often dubbed a Twitter clone, has been experiencing renewed growth in recent weeks and currently boasts around 100 million monthly users.
In a notable statement, Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, expressed his vision of Threads becoming the next billion-user service within the Meta ecosystem. However, achieving such ambitious growth targets will likely depend on the successful integration of Threads with Meta’s other apps, which will help attract new sign-ups.
As Meta navigates the delicate balance between cross-promotion and user privacy, it is clear that the company recognizes the importance of aligning its strategies with user preferences. The forthcoming privacy setting for Threads reflects Meta’s responsiveness to user feedback and their commitment to making the platform more user-friendly.
The outcome of this development will undoubtedly impact the trajectory of Threads’ growth and its potential to become the next major player in the social media landscape. Users, especially those who prefer a more private and isolated experience on Threads, will now have the choice to opt out of cross-posting, ensuring a more personalized and controlled online presence.
Also read: Meta’s Threads Crosses 100 Million Users In Just 5 Days
