Mark Zuckerberg has unveiled Meta’s new tagging feature for Threads, resembling hashtags but with a twist. Users can utilize a hashtag to initiate or contribute to a topic’s conversation, but instead of displaying as a hashtagged term, Threads transforms it into a blue-text hyperlink. This feature is currently undergoing a “limited test” with Australian users before a broader release.
To use the tagging feature, users type “#” in the post text field, prompting a card to appear with the tagged topic or related ones. Each topic on the card includes a post count, similar to Instagram. However, users can only add a single topic to a post at a time, discouraging potential spamming for increased visibility. This limitation might appeal to users who appreciate Threads’ clean appearance or those who dislike in-line hashtags. Meta has committed to refining the feature over time, suggesting that this initial version is not its final iteration.
The announcement follows a series of updates for Threads. Meta introduced options to prevent Threads posts from appearing on Instagram and Facebook, allowed independent deletion of Threads accounts, and introduced pinned posts for all users. Additionally, there have been ongoing speculations about the integration of direct messages (DMs) into Threads, adding to the platform’s recent developments.
