Meta continues to gradually expand the integration of Threads with the fediverse, this constellation of decentralized social networks. A new update now allows users to follow accounts from other fediverse servers, although this functionality is still limited.
Gradual but restricted integration
Mark ZuckerbergCEO of Meta, announced that Threads users can now follow profiles from other fediverse servers like Mastodon, Flipboard or Pixelfed. However, this possibility is only accessible under certain conditions: these accounts must have already interacted with a federated Threads profile via a like, a follow or a reply.
Users can view the profiles and posts of these external accounts directly on Threads and enable notifications for their new posts. Peter Cottle, developer at Threads, said fediverse usernames will also be transformed into clickable links on the web and soon on iOS.
Features still awaited
Despite this progress, several limitations remain. It is still impossible to directly search fediverse profiles or respond to their posts from Threads. The platform also does not allow fediverse posts to be displayed directly in the main news feed.
This update comes as Threads accelerates the development of new features, perhaps in response to the growth of its competitor Bluesky. Meta claims to want to “develop the fediverse responsibly” according to Seine Kim, spokesperson for the company, by prioritizing “the success of a secure, diverse and interoperable community”.
For iPhone users, these new features will be available via an update to the Threads app on the App Store. One more step towards Meta’s goal of total interoperability with the fediverse, even if the road still seems long. Meta, between the fediverse and open-source AI models, has definitely chosen a strategy of openness in the face of its competitors who are doing just the opposite; to see if this choice will pay off.
