Meta’s Threads App Tests New Search Feature For Real-Time Information
Meta's Threads app, often seen as a competitor to platforms like Twitter, is undergoing a significant test to address user concerns about its lack of real-time information.
Users, particularly those migrating from Twitter, have voiced frustrations over the app's algorithm, which often surfaces days-old posts alongside fresh ones. In response to these concerns, Meta is testing a new search feature that allows users to filter results by recency.
The test was revealed through a screenshot shared by Threads user Daniel Rodriguez, showcasing the new search functionality. Adam Mosseri, the top executive at Threads, confirmed the change, stating that the company is starting to test it with a small number of users. Mosseri stressed that the aim is to make it easier for users to find relevant search results in real time.
The addition of a recency filter in the search feature is expected to address a long-standing frustration among Threads users who rely on the platform for news or commentary about current events. While the new feature might not provide a full chronological search, sorting by "recent" posts should help surface content related to breaking news or other timely topics.
However, the effectiveness of the new feature will hinge on whether Meta decides to make it available across all topics on the platform. The screenshot shared by Rodriguez showed the recency option for "NBA Threads," a community that Mosseri has actively supported within the app. Yet, Meta's approach to other timely topics, such as politics or potentially sensitive subjects like vaccines and COVID-19, has been met with criticism from some users.
Meta's selective approach to content moderation has stirred debate within the Threads community regarding the platform's direction and its handling of various types of content. While the introduction of the recency filter in the search feature is seen as a positive step, questions remain about how Meta will balance content moderation policies with user expectations for timely and relevant information.
