Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, has ambitious goals for Threads. He envisions Threads as the leading platform for public online discussions, as he expressed on its one-year anniversary, coincidentally just after Elon Musk took over Twitter. This vision was shared during an Ask Me Anything (AMA) session where Mosseri was asked about his definition of success for Threads in a year.
In response, Mosseri revealed that Meta’s internal discussions are ongoing regarding what success means for Threads. He emphasized that their long-term goal is to establish Threads as the go-to platform for online public conversations. This goal is not just about achieving a large user base but also about cultural relevance.
Mosseri acknowledged that Threads is currently not the largest platform for public conversations, as X (formerly Twitter) holds that distinction. Nevertheless, he expressed optimism about Threads’ potential to surpass its competitors, despite the head start others may have. Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, recently announced that Threads has nearly 100 million monthly active users.
Mosseri’s current focus is on continuously enhancing Threads’ core user experience, with regular updates like polls, GIFs, and a free edit feature. He believes that incremental improvements will help Threads gain momentum and reach its long-term objectives.
During the AMA, Mosseri also addressed the potential addition of hashtags or tags for easier topic-based content discovery but suggested that this might not significantly alter the app’s trajectory. He acknowledged the need for improvements in the Threads web app but highlighted the platform’s primary focus on iOS and Android usage.
Mosseri is actively exploring opportunities to better integrate the Instagram and Threads teams to enhance collaboration and synergy between the two platforms. This effort is why users may begin to see Threads recommendations on Instagram, as Meta is attentive to user feedback.
While Threads has its ambitions, X (Twitter) is also pursuing significant goals, including the introduction of new subscription tiers and ventures into the financial sector. The future of these platforms, particularly under Elon Musk’s leadership, remains uncertain as they continue to evolve and adapt to changing landscapes.