There are a lot of things that Threads, Meta’s Twitter (X?) replacement, cannot do. Users can’t DM on Threads. Users can’t edit alt text on Threads. While users can technically include hashtags in a Threads post, they are useless because they’re not clickable. Threads does not have a threading topic section. Until recently, users couldn’t use Threads on desktop.
But slowly, Meta is moving to change that. They recently launched Threads on desktop, so users aren’t sequestered to posting from their phones. Meta added a “following” feed which made the app remarkably more user-friendly, and also added a new Reposts tab. And, now, it is starting to test keyword search in Australia and New Zealand.
Meta is testing out keyword search on Threads.
Credit: Meta
According to head of Instagram Adam Mosseri, the test began on Thursday, Aug. 31 and will expand to other English-speaking countries including the U.S. soon. Meta did not respond to a request for comment on how soon “soon” might be.
Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, posted about the new update on Threads, saying “Get excited — search is coming to Threads.” Weirdly, he also included a GIF of Vin Diesel from the Fast and Furious franchise saying “I bet you gonna enjoy this.”
Credit: Meta
Notably, Diesel does not have a Threads account. He does have an X account, although he hasn’t posted there since promoting a film in May.
While this is perhaps the first Fast and Furious GIF from Zuckerberg on Threads, this isn’t the only new update to hit the platform in recent weeks — in fact, updates have been flooding the app after it was launched just last month. When the app was announced, it was couched in language promising users that it would be updated soon. Earlier this month, Zuckerberg announced the ability to add custom alt text, a new mention button, and the ability to share Threads posts to Instagram DMs.
