Meta-owned Instagram Threads is experiencing renewed momentum, bouncing back from a stagnant phase last year that led to premature assumptions of its demise, the media has reported. As per recent data, there is a significant growth as its downloads, which tripled month-over-month (MoM) in December. This surge propelled Instagram Threads into the top 10 most downloaded apps for the month on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, says a report by TechCrunch, quoting data from app intelligence firm Appfigures.
According to Appfigures, Instagram Threads recorded 12 million new downloads in December 2023, securing the No. 4 position in the Top Charts for downloads on Apple's App Store. Additionally, it garnered 16 million downloads on Google Play Store, earning the No. 8 spot. When considering both platforms, Threads claimed the No. 6 position for new installs. In other words, it's far from being considered obsolete.
Instagram Threads, the rival of to X (formerly Twitter) got a new feature named called 'Tags' a month ago. Tags will function like hashtags, as announced by Instagram head, Adam Mosseri. Tags categorise and group similar posts under the same topic. Despite the similarity to hashtags, certain functionalities of Instagram Threads Tags set them apart. This means, Tags on Threads are different and come with a twist. Mosseri made the announcement via a Threads post and had also invited feedback.
The function of tags on Instagram Threads aligns with that of hashtags. According to Mosseri, when you share on Threads, tags serve as an excellent means to connect with individuals interested in the topics you discuss. Additionally, for everyone, they provide a valuable avenue to delve deeper into their interests.
In addition to this, according to the official Threads post, a notable distinction between Instagram Threads Tags and hashtags is evident. When adding tags, you use # inline with the text, but they don't visibly appear in the published post.
Threads from Instagram also strengthened its competitiveness by extending the keyword search feature to all markets where the app is accessible.
The ability was initially trialed in English-speaking markets such as Australia and New Zealand in August. It was later expanded to various English and Spanish-speaking countries, including the US in September, previous reports suggested.