Threads, the newest platform owned by Meta, has launched a long-awaited feature that allows users to opt out of having their posts shared on Instagram and Facebook, according to a report that The Verge initially published. This change was made in response to user complaints and worries about privacy.
This decision comes at a time when Threads continues to gather momentum and, just over four months into its inception, claims approximately 100 million monthly users, as stated by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg in a recent earnings call.
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Threads’ New Opt-Out Feature
Many of the users of Threads view the ability to restrict the appearance of their postings on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook as an important step towards protecting their online presence.
Here’s the step-by-step process to access Threads’ new opt-out feature:
- Launch the Threads app on the mobile device you are using.
- Find the top right corner of the app’s user interface and tap the icon that looks like two horizontal lines. This icon is also referred to as the hamburger menu.
- Move your cursor down the list of available menu items, and then click “Privacy.”
- Find the option labeled “Suggesting posts on other apps” inside the Privacy settings, and then make sure that it is selected.
- Within the confines of this section, you will discover two toggle switches. To turn off the recommendations that appear on Instagram, you must first set the first switch to the “off” position. To turn off the suggestions that Facebook provides, you need to turn off the second switch. In order to turn off suggestion functionality across both platforms, you will need to turn off both switches.
It is crucial to note that Meta will be gradually rolling out this new feature, so if you don’t see the new toggles right immediately, don’t worry about it; they should be available to you within a short amount of time.
This upgrade marks a significant shift for Threads. Previously, posts were automatically shared across Meta’s other platforms to boost user interaction and visibility. However, this version will no longer do that.
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User Complaints and Concerns
The implementation of this opt-out functionality is a direct response from Threads to user complaints and represents a favorable reaction from the company to user comments and suggestions.
According to PCMAG’s report, in October, Threads stated that it was “listening to feedback” and began testing for the opt-out choice, which is now becoming more readily available to users.
The platform’s desire to solve the problems raised by its customers is evidence of its dedication to delivering an experience that is both more tailored and more user-friendly.
More Features Coming to Threads
Even while the addition of the opt-out function is a noteworthy improvement for Threads, there is a possibility that even more substantial alterations are on the way.
The Verge has also discovered that a software engineer notorious for discovering new features prior to their official release, Alessandro Paluzzi, has uploaded a screenshot that gives the impression that Meta may soon make Threads available to users located in European Union countries.
This would be a very important growth, considering that Threads has been kept out of the EU as a result of the constraints that the Digital Markets Act of that region imposes on the management of cross-platform data.
Those who place high importance on maintaining their privacy and having control over their social network profile will be pleased to learn that Threads now offers an opt-out tool.
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