Instagram Threads to Get X-Like Hype with New "Trends" Feature?

On July 6 2023 after much anticipation Threads, an Instagram app took the world by storm after it was finally launched in many countries apart from Europe. The app is a direct rival to X(formerly Twitter).

The launch occurred during a period of multiple changes in X. Many people were unhappy with the reinstatement of banned accounts and the revamped verification process. It was chaotic.

Threads now aim to take the competition to a higher notch. Instagram head, Adam Moseri hinted at the surfacing of trends feature which has been the key feature on X where people can follow their trending searches depending on what they are into. When Adam Mosseri was asked whether users can see what his current top pages are and if they could be useful, he replied by saying no but they are working on surfacing trends.

Decoding the Trend Whisperer

As of publishing this article, we still don’t have any information about the feature because it was just a mention and nothing more was added to it.

However, I think that the trend feature will be more or the same as X’s trending feature maybe even better, who knows, but as I went through the comment section on Threads many people were so happy with the feature even others claiming to ditch  X in favor of X.

The feature of tracking trends won’t concentrate on just one particular trend. Instead, it will cover a wide range of topics from around the globe, tailored to your interests. We will just have to wait and see how it unfolds

Trendsetting for the Inner Circle

If the trend feature is launched, it will improve the user experience in various ways, such as aiding content discovery, building new connections, and staying up to date with the latest trends and discussions.

It will also help build engagement, encouraging users to participate in popular conversations by joining relevant threads and sharing thoughts on the latest topic.

The Trend feature in Threads provides real-time updates similar to X. For example if M-Pesa is not functioning properly, you can quickly access the Trending section in Threads and search for M-Pesa to see if it is trending. This might give you an idea of what the issue is with M-Pesa.

Finally, on the personalization of features, one can be able to see personalized recommendations tailored to them based on their interests and the content they engage with creating a more personalized experience.

If the trending feature is well adopted by users I think it would influence content creation. Just like X, a lot of content creators use a hashtag together with what is trending to get recognition.

The Algorithm in the Room

Recently there were some inappropriately ai AI-generated images of Taylor Swift making rounds on a certain platform which raised a lot of people's eyebrows, we certainly don’t want to see such behavior on Threads.

Additionally, this new feature Thread can aim to avoid any potential biases. For example, sometimes systems might favor content with more likes and shares even if it’s sensational rather than accurate overshadowing less popular but meaningful discussions.

I am confident that the new feature will help combat misinformation and harmful trends. Last year, Meta announced that they intended to bring fact-checkers on board this year to completely eliminate misinformation, particularly at a time when Indian and United States elections are around the corner, and misinformation could spread very quickly.

Beyond the Close Friends bubble

Brands and Businesses

Brands and businesses can take advantage of this feature to boost their visibility on the social network through sponsored threads which will create their own branded Threads to directly reach the target audience.

Partnering with influencers who are already involved in trending topics can amplify brand reach and connect with their established audience.

The feature could further introduce promotional offers. Many brands use promotions for price reductions, free samples, and giveaways.

Conclusion

I am particularly very excited about this new trending feature which is in the works. This upcoming enhancement is set to improve the user's experience by helping the user discover new content, engage more, and receive real-time updates. I am sure it will not only bring more creators on board but also maintain a well-functioning system.