Meta’s social networking platform, Threads, received a significant update on Thursday with the introduction of tags, marking a departure from the conventional hashtag approach. The platform now allows users to tag a single topic per post to discourage tag spam.
After testing the tag feature in Australia last month, Meta has initiated a global rollout of tags. In contrast to hashtags, users can employ phrases with spaces and special characters. Clicking on a tag within a post opens all related posts in the search view.
To explore posts associated with a particular tag, users can enter the tag directly into the search bar. However, some posts may not use tags, even if they include the associated phrase. Users still have the option to manually add hashtags to their posts in the composer.
Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, explained in a post that Meta aims to reduce engagement hacking through this new design. Notably, Threads currently lacks a trending section, but users can discover popular tags by tapping on the tag button.
To maintain a positive user experience, the platform allows users to report topics deemed insensitive. Reporting categories encompass spam, bullying or harassment, scam or fraud, eating disorders, and hate speech and symbols. Some users have reported receiving warnings about sensitive tags, though the criteria for triggering these warnings remains unclear.
As noted by Sarah Perez in a previous report, there is a potential issue with similar hashtags generating confusion. With the one-tag-per-post limit, posts may not reach audiences searching for alternate tags. For instance, there are multiple tags for NBA, such as NBAThread, NBA Threads, and NBA.
Last month, Threads expanded its search feature to include “all languages” across all countries where the app is available. Additionally, the platform is expected to launch in the European Union to comply with regional regulations.
According to app analytics firm Apptopia, Threads’ daily downloads rebounded after a recent decline, signaling a positive trajectory for the platform in the coming months.
