Threads gets Insights & keyboard shortcuts on desktop; Instagram Stories-like disappearing posts in the works too

Threads, Meta’s X competitor, is rolling out new features to enhance user experience and attract more users to the platform. The latest updates include desktop analytics, keyboard shortcuts, and potentially disappearing posts.

Desktop users are now getting access to a new analytics dashboard, offering valuable insights into their Threads performance. The dashboard displays metrics such as “Views,” “Interactions” from followers and non-followers, and follower growth statistics. This addition is particularly useful for content creators and brands looking to build their presence on the platform.

New Feature: Threads Insights on web showing follower counts, interactions, demographics
byu/gman1023 inThreadsApp

Interestingly, the insights may reveal a shift in social media dynamics, with more engagement coming from non-followers due to algorithm-driven “For You” feeds. This aligns with Meta’s emphasis on content discovery over follower count, a strategy that’s proving successful for overall engagement.

In another user-friendly move, Threads has introduced keyboard shortcuts for desktop users. These shortcuts allow for quicker navigation and interaction within the app. Some notable shortcuts include ‘p’ for creating a new thread, ‘l’ for liking/unliking posts, ‘j’ for next post, and ‘k’ for previous post. However, a moderator on the ThreadsApp subreddit notes that this feature is “still rolling out, not everyone has it yet!”

But perhaps the most intriguing development is the potential introduction of disappearing posts. Similar to Instagram Stories or the now-defunct Twitter Fleets, this feature would allow users to create posts that vanish after 24 hours. This ephemeral content option could encourage more casual posting and help users avoid the pitfalls of permanent social media history.

The potentially upcoming feature was spotted by Chris Messina, who claimed that these temporary posts wouldn’t be shared to the fediverse – the decentralized social network that includes Mastodon and other ActivityPub-powered platforms. While Meta has confirmed this is currently just an internal prototype, the feature could give Threads an edge over competitors if implemented. Chris also posted a follow-up noting that users can “expect a clock to countdown how long the post will remain visible.”

As Threads continues to gain momentum, reaching 200 million monthly active users and potentially over 100 million daily active users, these new features could further fuel its growth. With X holding steady at 250 million daily active users since November 2022, Threads seems to be quickly closing the gap, although, it’s still far from taking X’s spot.