The battle for social media supremacy is heating up between Threads and Bluesky, as Meta makes strides to rival its up-and-coming competitor. Recently, Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, revealed Threads is introducing its own version of Bluesky's renowned "starter packs" feature. This announcement has sparked quite the discussion online, with varied responses swirling around the effectiveness and utility of this new addition.
For those who may not be familiar, starter packs on Bluesky allow users to curate and recommend lists of accounts to follow, centered around specific interests or themes. The concept quickly gained favor among users eager to streamline their social media experience and easily connect with like-minded individuals. Bluesky, which is seeing significant growth lately, has surpassed 25 million accounts and is becoming a substantial player in the social media space, showing no signs of slowing down.
But what makes Threads’ adaptation of the starter packs feature particularly noteworthy is its initial restrictions. Unlike Bluesky, which allows any user to create these curated collections, Threads is launching the feature with limitations. Currently, only select "community leaders" are permitted to compile and share starter packs, leaving the broader user base waiting for what many hope will be expanded access down the line. The very notion of this exclusivity has drawn criticism from various quarters, with tech pundit Ed Zitron pointing out what he sees as Meta's fundamental misunderstanding of how social networks function and flourish.
Despite the critiques hovering over Threads, the app has managed to capture the attention of approximately 275 million users since its launch, albeit against the backdrop of mixed reviews. The pressure is undoubtedly on for Meta as it endeavors to keep its user base engaged and prevent them from wandering to platforms like Bluesky, which is steadily garnering enthusiasm for its features and user experience.
Bluesky’s starter packs allow users to efficiently build their follower lists around shared interests, such as “basketball,” “style and fashion,” or “pop culture.” Threads is aiming to mimic this by launching collections categorized similarly, visible when new users sign up or through their personalized For You feeds. Meta spokesperson Alec Booker noted the inspiration behind this new Threads feature and stated it's aimed at providing users with rewardingly curated experiences right off the bat.
This isn’t the first time Meta has borrowed elements from rival platforms. The tech industry is rife with instances where major social media players have adopted successful features from their competitors to gain ground. Christianna Silva, culture reporter for Mashable, aptly described this as Meta's tendency to "swallow their enemies," something they've done time and again throughout their history.
While Threads has attempted to put its spin on the starter pack feature, reactions have been less than enthusiastic. Many users are frustrated by the current restrictions, clamoring for open access to create their own starter packs. The prevailing sentiment echoes the desire for greater community interaction and inclusivity within the platform’s feature set.
The irony is not lost on observers of the social media scene. Bluesky has found its footing by encouraging user-generated content and engagement, making its starter packs popular almost overnight. Threads, by comparison, appears to be taking cautious steps, which has led to assorted mixed feelings among its user base.
With the tech world constantly shifting underfoot, what will Threads do next? Meta seems poised to learn from its competitors, keeping its ear to the ground and monitoring user feedback. Whether it will find success with the starter packs adaption remains to be seen. For now, it’s clear the rivalry between Threads and Bluesky is far from over, with each party eyeing the other's features and user engagement strategies. The social media battlefield is ever-evolving, and it promises to be fascinating to watch as two giants squabble for the attention of the online populace.