Threads is back...with more threads
Threads is back...with more threads
This X (rip, Twitter) rival has finally launched hashtags
Welcome to Gen Z Translator, where I break down trending topics on Fridays. If you’re new, you can subscribe here and follow me on X/Twitter or Threads. Views are my own. Happy reading!
It might be awhile since you heard the word “Threads.” If so, let me refresh you. Instagram launched a Twitter/X competitor in July that they described as “a new, separate space for real-time updates and public conversations.”
Initial complaints at Threads’ launch focused on the inability to search, tag, and categorize packages amid a questionable algorithm. The platform has finally responded, updating to have their own tagging system.
JournalismThreads and BookThreads tags are going around on my feed. I’m a big fan that the hashtag symbol gets removed as you type, but found it annoying that the tag continued when I wanted to add punctuation. I think they’ve fixed the bug since.
I thought this was also a clever idea from USA Today.
Users don’t necessarily have to use “Threads” in their tags, but it’s been customary on social platforms to follow this formula. Think BookTok1, Momstagram2, Journo Twitter3.
It’s a psychological principle that humans want patterns. (Thanks, Gestalt). Like attracts like, as they say. This method of self-sorting cuts out the awkwardness of “finding your niche” online. Hashtags have always been essential for bringing communities together, therefore keeping them together.
The Threads update reminds us of a larger trend, too. Elon Musk’s reign ushered in the “X” era, and not everyone is onboard.
It’s no secret that brands, influencers, and publications alike are scrambling for a Twitter alternative. The New York Times and NPR left the platform after spatting with Musk. Links to other social media platforms (even Substack) are punished by the algorithm in an attempt to prevent people from going off-platform. Musk got rid of Twitter Moments, which used to showcase live coverage of breaking news.
All of these and more opened the door for Meta4 to come up with a similar user interface, but better. In all honesty, we’re still waiting. Adding hashtags is a start, but without the algorithmic packaging power that Twitter had, the platform will have a hard time making it far.
My weekly roundup:
🎶 What I’m Listening To: Lana Del Rey
🎞️ What I’m Watching: Percy Jackson and The Olympians
📱 What I’m Scrolling: Dan and Phil Games
Read the full Gen Z Dictionary here.
BookTok: An unofficial term for the algorithm on TikTok that targets book lovers
Momstagram: An unofficial term for the algorithm on Instagram that targets moms
Journo Twitter: An unofficial term for the algorithm on Twitter that targets journalists
Meta: Instagram and Facebook’s parent company