Threads begins rollout of highly-anticipated search feature

Just one week after launching the initial version of its web platform, Instagram’s Threads is beginning to roll out another long-awaited functionality – search. The newly launched search feature mirrors the minimalism of the web version and currently only allows users to search for other Threads profiles by username.

As with previous early-stage releases, advanced search filters or options are not available in this initial version. The announcement was made via a Threads post from CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who stated “Get excited – search is coming to Threads.”

According to a report, the search page is currently undergoing testing in Australia and New Zealand, with plans to expand the rollout to additional English-speaking markets.

Read Also: Instagram Threads finally gets web version, here’s how to use it on your PC web browser

Mark Zuckerberg to boost Threads user engagement with different features

The most requested features, like a following tab, a place to view your likes, a reposts tab, a web version, and now a full-text search, have been rapidly added to Threads during the past several weeks.

This could be because the platform has seen user engagement decline sharply since its hype-filled debut, and the company has been aggressively introducing new features in hopes of reigniting growth.

However, in a Threads post, Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram said:

The goal isn’t to replace Twitter. The goal is to create a public square for communities on Instagram that never really embraced Twitter and for communities on Twitter (and other platforms) that are interested in a less angry place for conversations, but not all of Twitter.

One factor that kept Twitter thriving amid Threads’ launch was the established search functionality – allowing users to easily explore topics, events, and discussions. When it launched, Threads only facilitated interaction within personal circles imported from Instagram. However, users quickly noted the need for a search feature to connect with those beyond their networks.

In terms of its competitors, the decentralized social platform Mastodon in the Q2 of this year, upgraded its in-app search with improved filters for media posts and timestamps. As Threads grapples with plummeting active user numbers despite a lightning-fast rollout, incorporating basic search may help address engagement issues.

The company will look to search as an opportunity to increase interaction on the platform. Although, as regards the other feature that has been highly requested by users, the Hashtags, it is still unclear when this feature will become available to general users.

However, in response to this big announcement by Mark Zuckerberg, users have spammed the comment section asking for a hashtag feature but it could just be that Meta is looking to do things differently.

It might not launch a hashtag feature anytime soon, especially with the introduction of a search feature because users can now just search keywords and terms instead.