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Threads Now Supports Fediverse Follows

Threads Now Supports Fediverse Follows
Credit: Threads/Meta Platforms, Inc.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has announced that you can now follow fediverse accounts directly on Threads. While the feature is limited in scope, it marks another step in Threads’ journey toward full interoperability with the fediverse, a decentralized social network ecosystem.

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How It Works

The integration allows Threads users to follow fediverse accounts under specific conditions. You can follow a fediverse account if it has interacted with a post on Threads by liking, replying, or following. Additionally, on Android and the web (and soon on iOS), fediverse usernames will be clickable links, making it easier to find and interact with these accounts. Threads developer Peter Cottle demonstrated tagging fediverse accounts, using George Takei’s Mastodon account as an example.

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Limited Visibility

While you can follow fediverse accounts, their posts won’t appear in your Threads feed. Instead, you’ll have to visit their profiles on Threads to view their posts. However, you can choose to receive notifications when they publish new content. Instagram head Adam Mosseri provided a video walkthrough of how this process works.

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Meta’s Vision for the Fediverse

Meta spokesperson Seine Kim emphasized that the company’s goal is to support the growth of the fediverse responsibly, focusing on safety, diversity, rich content, and interoperability. This update is a significant step in Threads’ evolution, aligning with its long-term plans to become fully interoperable with the fediverse.

Why Now?

The timing of this update is noteworthy, as Meta appears to be ramping up Threads’ features to stay competitive with other platforms like Bluesky, which has been attracting significant attention recently.

A Move Toward Decentralization

By enabling connections with the fediverse, Threads is positioning itself as a bridge between centralized and decentralized social networks. This could pave the way for a more integrated and open social media landscape, offering users more options for engagement.

Whether Threads’ new fediverse features will attract more users remains to be seen, but the move signals Meta’s commitment to adapting to the changing digital ecosystem.

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