**Threads Improves Fediverse Integration: A New Chapter in Cross-Platform Connectivity**
Following a year of steady and at times baffling progress regarding fediverse support, Threads has made noteworthy advancements to enhance user interaction with content from numerous platforms. This article describes the recent features launched by Threads, designed to boost the discovery and engagement with federated accounts.
**Fresh Features for Fediverse Users**
Starting today, individuals who activate fediverse sharing in Threads will have access to an innovative reverse-chronological feed. This feed displays posts from federated accounts that users follow on platforms like Mastodon, WordPress, Flipboard, and other services employing the ActivityPub protocol. This improvement signifies a crucial shift for Threads, as it permits users to effortlessly incorporate content from external sources into their routine social media activities.
Alongside the new feed, Threads is introducing a search feature that allows users to locate fediverse users by their handles. This functionality streamlines the process of finding and following people who share posts from different federated platforms, thus enhancing the variety of content available to Threads users.
**Grasping the Fediverse Feed**
The inclusion of a specific fediverse feed is a significant progression. In the past, tracking a Mastodon user through Threads was a laborious task. As noted by Mark Zuckerberg, users could only follow individuals from other fediverse servers if those users had previously interacted with federated profiles on Threads. The recent update alters this situation by adding a distinct section in the Following tab designated for fediverse posts.
This new feed presents posts in reverse chronological order, reflecting the layout of the main Following feed. Although separating the fediverse feed from the primary feeds may appear inconvenient, it is a strategic decision intended to reduce confusion about moderation, identity, and user expectations, as highlighted by engineer Peter Cottle.
**User Experience Improvements**
The update also features visual markers for users posting from outside Threads. A fediverse badge will now be visible next to profiles that are not inherent to the platform, enabling users to quickly recognize and engage with content from federated accounts.
In conclusion, Threads is achieving meaningful progress in bridging the divide between its platform and the wider fediverse. With the rollout of a dedicated feed for federated content and improved search functionalities, users can now experience a more interconnected social media landscape. As Threads continues to develop, these features signify a hopeful advancement towards nurturing a more inclusive and diverse online community.
