Threads is making its way to the fediverse, and a sneak peek of how this may function was revealed by Meta at the FediForum conference. Peter Cottle from Meta showcased a brief demo illustrating how users will soon connect their accounts and posts to the fediverse. This integration will empower users to share their content across various platforms via Threads, enabling them to reach multiple audiences simultaneously. Meta is just one of the many platforms looking to join the fediverse, a collection of decentralized social networks working towards interoperability.
In a video shared with HindiStatus.in by FediForum, Cottle can be seen navigating to his Threads account settings and activating an option called “fediverse sharing.” Meta will then present a pop-up detailing what the fediverse entails, along with certain disclaimers to ensure users understand the implications.
Meta emphasizes that users must have a public profile to enable the feature, as previously mentioned by Instagram head Adam Mosseri. Presently, users in the alpha test phase can’t view replies to their posts and can only see their likes. Cottle mentions that Meta is diligently working towards rectifying this limitation.
Furthermore, Meta cautions that Threads cannot guarantee the complete deletion of a post on linked platforms if a user deletes it on Threads. In essence, a post may still be visible on a linked Mastodon server even after deletion on Threads.
Cottle explains, “I think this is a downside of the protocol that we use today, but I think it’s important to let people know that if you post something and another server grabs a copy, we can’t necessarily enforce it.”
Upon enabling fediverse sharing, users can post to other services that interact via ActivityPub. Threads will wait five minutes before disseminating posts into the fediverse, allowing users a window to edit or remove their content. If a Threads user has fediverse sharing enabled, their profiles will feature a “pill” icon for others to click and copy their fediverse usernames.
Cottle demonstrated the process of using Threads to post to the fediverse, showcasing how his post federated out to Mastodon.
Addressing the skepticism surrounding Meta’s entry into the fediverse, Cottle states, “I do want to kind of make a plea that I think everyone on the team has really good intentions. We really want to be a good member of the community and give people the ability to experience what the fediverse is.”
FediForum provides developers with a platform to showcase their work in the fediverse. Co-founder of FediForum, Johannes Ernst, mentions, “It’s good for them, and it’s good for the rest of us to see what they’re up to. They’re being transparent about what they’re building and why.”
Threads began testing an ActivityPub integration last year, with Mosseri hinting that the plans for the fediverse could take some time to materialize. Threads recently granted Evan Prodromou, one of the creators of the ActivityPub protocol, the ability to post on both Threads and Mastodon. The platform also intends to allow users to follow non-Threads fediverse accounts and transfer their followers to another platform.
