Meta, the parent company of Instagram, announced on Thursday that it will be introducing new features to its messaging app, Threads. Users will now have the ability to create polls and insert GIFs directly from the post composer in Threads.
The polls feature allows users to create a poll with up to three options (four options are allowed in certain cases) and includes a real-time timer that counts down the remaining time for users to vote. In order to see the results of the poll, users are required to vote. Additionally, Threads will send a notification to users once the poll concludes.
To enhance the sharing of GIFs, a new GIF icon will be available in Threads, which will allow users to search for trending GIFs from Giphy. Users can also utilize the search bar to find specific GIFs and easily share them.
Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, revealed that the company is testing view counts on Threads posts. View counts are a popular feature on the X platform, where they were launched for all users in December. Mosseri expressed his support for view counts, highlighting that they provide users with a better understanding of their reach and offer valuable feedback.
Furthermore, Threads is innovating the concept of pinned posts by enabling users to pin a reply to a post. This feature is currently being tested along with the view counts on a small number of users.
These new features aim to enhance the overall user experience on Threads and provide more interactive tools for communication. Meta is continuously working to improve its platforms and cater to the evolving needs of its users.
UPDATE: As of October 26th, Meta has rolled out additional tests for Threads, including view counts and pinned posts. These features are currently being tested among a select group of users.