Meta is testing a new feature that will allow Threads users to see what types of conversations are trending on the platform. The app has begun testing “today's top topics” in the United States, Mark Zuckerberg shared on in Threads.
The feature will display “current topics that others are discussing” and appear in search and sandwiched between posts in the app's For You feed, according to Meta. Specific trends will be “determined by our ai systems based on what people are interacting with right now on Threads,” Instagram head Adam Mosseri said. saying.
Curiously, Threads willpower superficial trends related to politics and elections. The company said last week that it would no longer suggest in its recommendations unless users decided to subscribe. But Meta has confirmed that the restriction will not apply to its trend function. “Political content can be an issue,” a Meta spokesperson told Engadget. “We will only remove political topics if they violate our Community Standards or other applicable integrity policies.”
The addition of trends has been a long-requested update by many Threads users who hope to make the service more usable as a source of real-time information and updates. The feature was previously spotted in one of the apps, but it was unclear if Meta would roll it out more widely considering Mosseri's strategy. to avoid “encouraging” conversations about “politics and hard news.”
Although the ai will determine much of what emerges, it appears that Meta plans to select what appears as a “main theme.” A team of “content specialists” will “ensure that topics do not violate our Community Guidelines or other applicable integrity guidelines, and that topics are not duplicative, absurd, or misleading,” a Meta spokesperson said.
For now, “today's top topics” is just a “small test,” but Zuckerberg said the feature would come to more countries and languages ”once we get it up and running.”
