Threads Starts Testing Multi-Column Interface on the Web

Threads, Meta’s alternative to Twitter/X has started testing a new multi-column interface that lets users keep track of different things in real time. The new experience looks very similar to TweetDeck, the social media dashboard for Twitter power users that has now been made a paid feature named “X Pro.”

As of today, Threads is probably the most serious alternative to X/Twitter, but it still lacks many of the features that made Twitter the best platform to keep up with breaking news. While Meta is still working on a Threads public API that will allow developers to create better experiences than the current Thread web and mobile apps, this new multi-column interface seems to be a step in the right direction.

“If you’re in the test, you can choose to keep things simple with a single feed, or add separate columns for your favorite searches, tags, accounts, saved posts, and notifications,” Meta spokesperson Seine Kim said in a statement shared with The Verge. “You can choose to have specific columns auto-update in real time.”

During Meta’s Q1 2024 results conference call, Mark Zuckerberg said that Threads was “growing well” with more than 150 million monthly active users. The app benefits from its close ties with Instagram, and it has yet to face the same bot problem that continues to plague X/Twitter.

What may eventually help Threads to stand out is its support for the Fediverse. This is currently only available in beta in the US, Canada, and Japan, but it lets Threads users communicate with people on Mastodon and other servers on the Fediverse.