Meta’s Threads is working on a new feature that takes inspiration from the well-known “Starter Packs” of Bluesky. The new feature will help users to find and follow suggested profiles easily. As per leaked screenshots, the feature will comprise lists of profiles “handpicked by people on Threads.
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Bluesky introduced “Starter Packs” as curated lists for new users to discover exciting accounts. Packs focus on topics, industries, fan groups, or other shared interests. Many users have shared them across the platform and created searchable databases.
Threads, which relies on the social graph of Instagram to suggest connections, does not necessarily require that feature. Though the success of Bluesky Starter Packs forced Meta to go for similar functionalities, Threads could be more appealing and community-oriented.
Tech expert Chris Messina recently uncovered Threads’ test version called “Recommended Follow Lists.” One example showed a list titled “NBA Threads,” created by a Threads user. This indicates that these curated lists will likely be user-generated rather than controlled by Meta. While still in development, this feature shows Meta’s intent to compete with Bluesky’s community-building efforts.
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Meta is paying close attention to the rapid growth of Bluesky. Threads recently added features inspired by Bluesky, including custom feeds and the option to modify default feed settings. In addition, Meta updated its algorithm to favor content from accounts users follow based on feedback from users.
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Bluesky has picked up pace considerably, with 9 million users in September, increasing to almost 23 million by November. Threads reported adding 35 million new users in the same period, showing that competition is now building between the two services.
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Meta’s Instagram head, Adam Mosseri, admitted to the competition, saying that Threads has been in a rush to roll out features in response to the success of Bluesky. It is still unknown whether Threads’ take on Starter Packs will roll out publicly, but this move shows Meta’s determination to strengthen Threads and stay competitive in the social media landscape.
