Meta adds new features to Threads; update brings mention button, custom alt-text & more

In a bid to establish Threads as a long-term micro-blogging platform, Meta has unveiled a series of significant new updates for its Twitter-rival social media app.

The company's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, announced these updates, which encompass features such as streamlined Instagram Direct Message (DM) sharing, customizable alt-text for media files, and a new mention button to facilitate smoother interactions within Threads' ecosystem.

Zuckerberg's announcement on Threads read, "New updates to Threads this week: Directly share a post to your Instagram DMs, Custom alt-text for photo/video, New mention button to easily mention someone’s account in your Thread."



This step is a direct response to the feedback received from the Threads community since its launch back in July.

The standout features of this update is the ability to seamlessly share Threads' posts within Instagram DMs.

By simply tapping the share button, users can now opt to 'Send on Instagram', thereby extending the reach of their content.

Further, the inclusion of custom alt-text for photos and videos allows users to refine auto-generated descriptions to suit their content's context.

Threads users can now effortlessly mention other accounts within their threads through the newly introduced mention button. This feature streamlines interactions and fosters engagement within the platform's micro-blogging environment.

Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram, also announced an array of enhancements on Threads, unveiling the 'Yours likes' feature that helps users to review their liked posts and sort accounts they follow.

Zuckerberg had previously unveiled Meta's plans to introduce search functionality and web experiences to Threads.