Meta is continuing to double down on making Threads a competitive and dynamic microblogging platform by introducing a robust lineup of new features. From customizable profile topics to tighter control over interactions and smoother video playback, Threads is beginning to feel more like a thoughtfully designed social space—where personalization, privacy, and content discovery go hand-in-hand.
Personalized Profile Topics
One of the most notable updates is the addition of topics to user profiles. These are short, clickable labels that users can add to express their interests—think “coffee lover,” “UX design,” “Apple news,” or “travel enthusiast.” Rather than just telling people who you are, Threads now lets you *show* what you’re into.
These topics do more than decorate your profile. When others tap on a topic, they’re instantly brought to a feed of related posts—creating a frictionless path for finding like-minded users and jumping into conversations you care about. This is a major step toward building *interest-based communities* on Threads.
Threads is also leveraging this system to suggest relevant topics while you’re writing a post, encouraging participation in larger trends and making it easier for users to stay connected with broader conversations.
Advanced Post Interaction Controls
Another significant update is the ability to control who can reply to or quote your posts. You can now set your posts to only be replied to or quoted by people who follow you, effectively reducing unwanted or random engagement. This is a big move for users who want to share thoughts publicly but still maintain a level of interaction safety and quality.
With online discourse often turning toxic, this kind of feature makes Threads feel more like a controlled environment—giving users power over their own digital boundaries without needing to make their entire account private.
A Better Video Experience
Threads also unveiled a smoother media playback experience, refining the video player with features like clear pause/play buttons, skip functionality, and a persistent progress bar. This makes video consumption more intuitive and enjoyable, especially for users who post or consume rich media frequently.
The changes are subtle but important—they bring Threads more in line with user expectations shaped by platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Smooth video experiences are no longer optional in today’s content-heavy digital spaces—they’re a necessity.
Federated Integration: Expanding Beyond Threads
Behind the scenes, Meta is continuing its push toward decentralization. Threads is gradually integrating with the fediverse, the decentralized web of interconnected social platforms like Mastodon.
Thanks to Meta’s work with the ActivityPub protocol, users outside Threads can view public posts and even interact with them. For instance, if you post something on Threads with your profile visible to the fediverse, someone on Mastodon could potentially like or boost it—bridging the gap between walled-garden platforms and open networks.
This move not only positions Threads as a more *inclusive and interoperable platform* but also aligns with the broader internet shift toward decentralized control and data portability.
Custom Feeds for Every Niche
Threads is also experimenting with custom feeds, allowing users to create curated streams of content based on specific interests or creators. Want a feed just for sneaker drops, football news, or Apple updates? You can now build one.
Users can search for a topic, tap on the three-dot menu, and select “create new feed.” You can even include specific profiles. These personalized feeds appear alongside the default “For You” and “Following” tabs, putting users in the driver’s seat when it comes to what they see and engage with.
In an age of algorithm overload, this feature brings back some agency—letting you opt-in to the topics and creators you care about, instead of relying solely on machine suggestions.
Post Scheduling and Visual Markup
In a nod to creators and planners, Threads now supports scheduled posts. You can draft content and set it to publish up to 75 days later. This is especially useful for marketers, content creators, and anyone managing a personal brand or campaign. You simply create the post, hit the three-dot menu, and schedule it. All scheduled content is stored in the drafts section, where it can be edited or canceled before going live.
But that’s not all. Threads has also added a “markup” tool for resharing posts—allowing users to annotate content with highlights, arrows, and other drawing tools. This means you can emphasize specific parts of a post or add visual commentary before sending it out again.
It’s a small feature with big implications, especially for educators, designers, and anyone who wants to remix existing content into something more expressive.
Longer Post Edit Window
Another practical enhancement: the edit window for posts has been expanded from five minutes to 15 minutes. Whether it’s fixing a typo, rewording a sentence, or clarifying a thought, users now have a more generous timeframe to clean up their posts without having to delete and repost.
This feature is especially helpful for creators and professionals who care about presentation but also want to post in the moment without pressure.
Do note: if your account is visible to the fediverse, your posts will be shared to external platforms like Mastodon only after this 15-minute edit window closes. This ensures consistency across networks while still offering some flexibility.
A Platform Evolving With Intention
Collectively, these updates reflect Threads’ evolution from a basic microblogging app into a feature-rich social space built on connection, control, and creativity. Whether it’s helping users discover new communities, manage their online interactions, or schedule thoughtful content, Threads is steadily carving out its identity in the increasingly competitive social media space.
By focusing on features that prioritize user expression and safety—while also embracing open internet principles like federation—Meta is signaling that Threads is more than a Twitter clone. It’s a platform built for the future of social networking.
