Meta is currently experimenting with a new feature that has the potential to enhance interactions between its services. The microblogging service Threads, developed by Meta to rival X (formerly Twitter), is considering the integration of cross-posting with Instagram. This new feature would allow users to simultaneously post images to both Instagram and Threads. TechCrunch reported that some Instagram users have already spotted a new option in their account settings that enables cross-posting to Threads through a toggle switch in the menu. However, this feature is still in the testing phase and not available to all users.
Initially, the cross-posting feature will be launched globally for a limited number of users before being gradually rolled out to everyone. It will be limited to sharing images, and Instagram Reels or vertical videos are not yet supported. This means that users will need to manually upload their videos to Threads, even if cross-posting is activated on their Instagram account. An interesting aspect of this feature is that when posting an image from Instagram to Threads, the caption will automatically be used as the post’s text on Threads. Nevertheless, Threads does not currently support hashtags like those used on Instagram, so any hashtags in the cross-posted caption will likely be removed automatically.
In addition to testing cross-posting, Threads is also experimenting with other new features such as automatically archiving old posts and introducing real-time search results for select users. A new tool has been introduced that allows users to save drafts, take photos directly within the app, and share content and stories on Facebook, utilizing a functionality similar to the existing cross-posting tool for Facebook. These new features aim to enhance the user experience and offer more convenience within the Threads platform.