ThreadsDeck: Instagram’s Answer to Real-Time News and Information
In a move that positions Threads as a serious rival to X, Instagram has unveiled its new user interface option dubbed “ThreadsDeck.” This innovative layout resembles Twitter’s old app TweetDeck, allowing users to pin columns to their home screen on the desktop web app. The timing couldn’t be better, as it coincides with the hottest political news of the year: the Trump verdict.
The introduction of ThreadsDeck is particularly significant because it provides an alternative view for real-time news and information. This comes in response to Meta’s decision to distance itself from political discussions on Instagram’s platforms. In February, Meta announced that it would no longer proactively recommend political content on both Instagram and Threads. However, this decision seemed contradictory for a platform aiming to compete with Twitter/X, especially during an election year.
It’s not surprising that Meta made this choice, given its history of being dragged into the political fray. Accusations of censoring free speech from Republicans and being too lenient on misinformation and disinformation from Democrats have plagued the company. When Meta entered the real-time social networking space and positioned Threads as a public forum alternative to X, it caught the attention of House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-OH).
Threads initially diverted from politics to avoid dealing with the headache of content moderation policies. The company announced that it would not proactively insert political content or recommend it across various surfaces on Instagram. However, users had other ideas.
Even after the policy change, political content continued to dominate Threads’ trends. Discussion topics related to President Biden’s State of the Union address and the Trump verdict have been prevalent on the platform. The previous user interface made it challenging to follow these discussions in real-time, as users had to navigate between different feeds. ThreadsDeck solves this problem by allowing users to pin the For You and Following feeds side by side, ensuring a seamless and real-time experience.
Additionally, users can now search for any topic they’re interested in and add it as a separate column. This feature, along with automatic updates, makes ThreadsDeck comparable to TweetDeck’s functionality. Notably, this feature is not exclusive to subscribers like X Pro, adding to the appeal of ThreadsDeck.
Despite Meta’s ban on political content, users are confused about how the company determines what to block. One user questioned whether a photo of Taylor Swift holding “Biden-Harris” cookies would be recommended. Instagram head Adam Mosseri clarified that the ban primarily operates at the account level, not the post level, but users remain dissatisfied with Meta’s approach.
Users have expressed their disagreement with Meta’s position on political news, arguing that a real-time social media platform cannot avoid being a news platform. Tech journalist Lance Ulanoff urged Meta to embrace this reality and find a way to support all types of news without repeating the mistakes of other platforms.
ThreadsDeck gives users the power to personalize their app and cater to their demand for real-time, automatically updated information on various topics, including politics. If Threads succeeds in becoming a news platform, it will be despite its misguided policies around political content. ThreadsDeck has finally given users the tools they need to create the app they want for themselves.