The new feature is currently being tested on the pages of a few public figures.
Sometimes, people need more than a post or tweet to express themselves, primarily due to the character limit imposed on the post by certain platforms. To overcome this problem, Twitter introduced a ‘threads’ feature in 2017, allowing people to post connected tweets. Now, Facebook has started testing a feature similar to Twitter’s ‘threads’ for its Feed posts on the pages of a few public figures, as per its confirmation to TechCrunchOpens a new window .
A public figure is a particular type of category on a Facebook page aimed at high-profile individuals or someone who likes to establish a more public presence on the platform. The new feature comes after a few more recent features like the support for Live Audio Rooms (inspired by Clubhouse) and the launch of the newsletter platformOpens a new window .
Also read: Facebook’s New AI Tool Mimics an Unexpected Human Behavior: Forgetfulness
The New Feature Explained
The new feature allows public figures to create new posts connected to their previous post on a related subject. The feature ties the posts more visually so that fans and followers of these people can more easily follow their updates over time. This means that when a follower sees a new post from the person on their News Feed, they will possibly see it as being connected to a previous post in a thread. The feature was first posted by Valon KerolliOpens a new window , social media strategist and co-founder, itshqip.comOpens a new window , and shared by social media consultant Matt NavarraOpens a new window .
This is how the option may look like for creating a post thread.
From what is available from the screenshots, it is possible that all the posts in the thread may have the same privacy settings as the original post.
According to Facebook, the new feature will have a “View Post Thread†button. This option allows followers to navigate and see all the posts in the thread easily. On clicking the button, followers will be shown where they can see the threaded posts connected together in a single place.
Use Cases for Facebook Post Threads
As mentioned earlier, post threads are helpful when a person cannot post an entire piece of text in one go due to the character limit. For Twitter, the character limit is 280 characters. However, for Facebook, it is significantly higher (63,206 charactersOpens a new window ). So, the question is, “does a post thread make sense for Facebook?â€
The answer to this question is that instead of creating a series of long posts, public figures may actually use this feature to run live commentary. For example, a sports analyst could post a series of connected posts on a sporting event like the Euro Cup or the Olympics. Or someone could run a live commentary on an award show. Alternatively, users can use the feature to post an update to their existing post in a thread instead of updating their original post.
If extended to Page categories other than public figures, this could be a valuable feature for various institutions. For example, the platform has witnessed massive misinformation over the last couple of years. For government officials and journalists, it could prove a useful way to share information about developing trends.
Also read: Facebook Offers the Best Social ROI: Singular’s 2021 ROI Index Finds
The Flip Side
While Facebook’s post thread feature may have practical applications, the way these posts are displayed in an expanded stream may become a problem, especially if every user is able to share ongoing updates of their daily happenings. But it really depends on how the platform chooses to display them.
Interestingly enough, many professionals in the marketing industry do not seem to be much enthusiastic about the new future. A follower of Navarra replied to his tweet, saying, “It’s a pass.†Another called it “more clutter.†Yet, another follower believed that social networks should not bring in features from other platforms.
Responses to Matt Navarra’s tweet
Source: TwitterOpens a new window
Facebook has not yet confirmed if the test will be rolled out more broadly to other public figures, expanded to other Page categories like Brand/Product, Local Business, and Company Organization, or even made available to the public. The platform has also not announced when it will complete the testing of this feature. It seems that we may have to wait for an official announcement from Facebook in this respect in the coming weeks.
What do you think of the new thread feature for Facebook posts? Do let us know on FacebookOpens a new window , TwitterOpens a new window , and LinkedInOpens a new window .