Threads has faced criticism for not prioritizing real-time content in its recommendations, prompting Meta to introduce status indicators to show when a user is online. The new optional feature, called “activity status,” will display a green bubble next to a profile photo when a user is online, aiding in finding others for real-time engagement, as mentioned by Instagram boss Adam Mosseri. Despite lacking direct messaging capabilities, Threads will now provide indicators akin to chat apps like Discord as Meta continues to avoid adding in-app messaging. While the status indicators may facilitate timely conversations, the feature may not fully address users’ desire for more real-time content. It remains uncertain how easy it will be to connect with active users utilizing these indicators.
