Threads is launching another test that could resolve a major longstanding complaint about the service. The company is experimenting with allowing users to set a non-algorithmic “following” feed as the default, Mark Zuckerberg said in a post.
According to Zuckerberg, this change will allow users to choose any default feed, including the recently announced custom feeds. But longtime Threads users will likely be relieved to finally have the option to “follow” their default feed. Until now, Meta has been pushing users toward its algorithmic “for you” feed, which has long been criticized for its bait-and-switch engagement issues and its strange ability to push a mix of bizarre posts from complete strangers to the top of users’ feeds.
As part of the test, Meta will also make the ability to change your feed “more visible” in the app. Zuckerberg did not say how many users would take part in the test or how long it might take for the feature to become official. “It’s interesting to see how and if people use this,” he wrote.
This update is the latest in a series of changes that Meta has implemented over the past few weeks as it has faced rapid growth from rival Bluesky. Bluesky, which has seen an influx of new users since the election, defaults to using the content feed from the accounts you follow and has no centralized algorithmic feed, although it has had custom feeds for over a year.
