Head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, has emphasized that Threads, Instagram's offshoot, will not be a hub for news consumption, despite growing user interest in real-time updates on major events.
The IG boss clarifies that Threads is not "anti-news" in his latest post.
Threads' Role in Keeping Journalism Alive
While Threads does host content related to news and encourages users to follow accounts that share news stories, it remains steadfast in its commitment to steer clear of the "breaking news" scene.
According to Gizmodo, Mosseri underlines that Threads aims to foster a more positive and less divisive environment for discussions, rather than competing with platforms like Twitter.
Mosseri highlights that users can share news and even follow accounts that share them. However, the platform won't amplify news since it will be a "risky" move that might bring "over-promising" results to the people.
Retreat from Hard News
Threads' decision to avoid news-related content comes in the wake of significant changes within the social media landscape.
"The goal isn't to replace Twitter", but to create a less angry place for conversation," Mosseri said in his reply to a Threads user.
Just recently, X (formerly Twitter) removed headlines from its platform after Elon Musk's acquisition, resulting in increased ambiguity in the news space. NPR, for instance, exited the platform due to its misclassification as 'state-affiliated media.' Additionally, researchers uncovered a network of 67 accounts on X, actively promoting misinformation about the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Did the Israel Attack Change Meta's Perspective With Threads?
As we have seen on Twitter, misinformation about the Hamas-Israel war became infectious and people were forced only to rely on "reliable" sources of information.
The platform, being a target of fake news, is also the same platform informing the people what to read based on hashtags and trending topics.
With the way the Hamas attack is ruling the headlines of today's news, Meta might have an idea what to do so users can stay on Threads for a long time.
According to The Verge, it's notable that misinformation does not yet exist on Threads. Since it is a smaller platform, the online trolls will be inclined to not target it since there are bigger fishes.
What Meta can do to help the viewers stay updated about the news is to add more features such as journalist verification, headlines on article links, and more.
Of course, Threads can still keep the news at a considerable distance. At the same time, they can bring the important news the world needs to know without sacrificing its reputation as "anti-news."
Speaking of the Hamas conflict, Tech Times reported that the terrorist group from Palestine is using commercial drones to wreak havoc across Israel.
In defense, Israel relies on its border barrier to ward off the explosives dropped by the drones.
