Threads has updated its algorithm so you may see less recommended content
Threads – Meta’s microblogging platform that competes with X (formerly Twitter) – has announced changes to its algorithm that will result in users seeing more posts from people they follow. Starting Thursday, Threads will show users fewer recommended posts, or posts published by accounts they don’t follow. The service already allows users to see a feed that only contains posts from people they follow, but the algorithm-based feed is shown to users when they open the app.
In a post on Threads, Instagram head Adam Mosseri shared details of the latest update to the algorithm that determines which posts are shown to users. “We’re rebalancing rankings to prioritize content from people you follow, which means starting today there will be less recommended content from accounts you don’t follow and more posts from accounts you do follow” , he said.
One group of users that will definitely be affected by the latest update to the Threads algorithm is content creators. They rely on the algorithm to show their posts to users who don’t follow them, and the updated algorithm will result in their existing followers seeing more of their posts.
“For you creators, you should see unconnected reach go down and connected reach go up. This is definitely a work in progress – balancing the ability to reach followers and overall engagement is tricky – thank you for your patience and keep the feedback coming,” he explained.
Gadgets 360 employees found that Threads was already showing fewer suggested posts from unknown accounts on the mobile apps. Users who want to see a feed with only posts from people they follow can also pull down the feed and tap Next tab.
While Mosseri didn’t specify why the platform made the change, it’s worth noting that Threads, which had over 175 million monthly active users (MAU) as of July, has a bot issue, just like X. It’s not uncommon to bots are seen reposting popular content on services like Threads and Twitter, especially posts that can get a lot of engagement. With the latest update to the algorithm, users will see fewer posts from accounts they don’t follow.
