Barbara
**INSTAGRAM THREADS WILL NOT FOCUS ON POLITICS OR HARD NEWS, SAYS CEO**
Instagram’s new app, Threads, will not prioritize politics or hard news, according to Adam Mosseri, the CEO of Instagram. In a conversation with The Verge’s Alex Heath, Mosseri stated that the app is not designed to encourage engagement in these areas. He believes that the additional scrutiny, negativity, and integrity risks associated with politics and hard news are not worth the potential increase in engagement or revenue. Mosseri argues that Instagram has a vibrant platform already, with amazing communities in sports, music, fashion, beauty, and entertainment. He emphasizes that it is not necessary for Instagram to venture into politics or hard news to provide an engaging experience.
META’S DETACHMENT FROM NEWS AND POLITICS
In recent years, Meta, the parent company of Instagram, has distanced itself from news and politics. It has taken steps to reduce the amount of political content shown to users on Facebook and even removed “News” from the name of the Facebook Feed. The company has also expressed its opposition to a new Canadian law that would require payment for local news, stating that it will remove news from Facebook and Instagram in the country.
INSTAGRAM THREADS AS A PUBLIC SQUARE FOR COMMUNITIES
According to Mosseri, the goal of Instagram Threads is not to replace Twitter but rather to create a public square for communities that have not fully embraced Twitter. It aims to provide a space for conversations that are less angry compared to other platforms, appealing to those who seek a more positive environment. However, despite the emphasis on creating a distinct experience, it is likely that politics and news will gradually find their way onto Threads, particularly during the 2024 presidential election cycle.
IMPROVEMENTS TO THREADS AND ITS POTENTIAL FOR NEWS
Instagram is actively working on enhancing Threads by developing a feed exclusively for the accounts users follow. Additionally, they are considering implementing a chronological feed, which would make it easier for users to find news. However, Instagram does not appear to be actively trying to compete with Twitter or replicate its features. Therefore, the expectation should not be set for Threads to become a replacement for Twitter’s “Thread-Deck” feature.
*Sources:
– https://www.threads.net/t/CuZ3LjhNl0m/
– https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/1/17902926/new-instagram-head-adam-mosseri-facebook-kevin-systrom-mike-krieger-departure
– https://about.fb.com/news/2021/02/reducing-political-content-in-news-feed/
– https://www.theverge.com/2022/2/15/22935080/facebook-meta-news-feed-renaming-branding-political-content-misinformation
– https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/22/23770620/meta-news-facebook-instagram-canada-online-news-act
– https://www.theverge.com/2023/7/6/23785493/threads-home-feed-following-algorithmic-recommendations-adam-mosseri
– https://twitter.com/mosseri/status/1677325470759632896?s=20
– https://www.theverge.com/2023/7/3/23783092/twitter-tweetdeck-new-preview-force-legacy-apis*
