Instagram CEO Reveals What Threads App is Not Intended For

In a surprising statement, Adam Mosseri, the CEO of Instagram, has made it clear that the newly launched Threads app is not intended for news and politics. During a discussion with The Verge, Mosseri emphasized that the inclusion of political content and hard news could potentially expose the app to excessive scrutiny, negativity, and risks that may compromise its integrity.

According to Mosser, Threads does not actively promote or encourage politics and hard news. He believes that there are already many vibrant communities on Instagram, such as those focused on sports, music, fashion, beauty and entertainment, that do not require participation in politics or hard news. Mosser’s perspective is likely influenced by his experience policing Facebook’s news feed.

Instagram’s parent company Meta has recently tried to distance itself from news and politics and its role as a promoter of questionable content. They have reduced the amount of political content users see on Facebook and even removed the word “News” from the name of the Facebook feed. Also, when faced with a new Canadian law requiring payment for local news, Meta announced it would remove news from Facebook and Instagram in the country.

Mosseri later clarified his position by stating that Threads does not discourage or discount news and politics, but they do not actively seek them out, as Facebook has done in the past. He admitted that Facebook promised the industry too quickly in the early 2010s and doesn’t want to repeat those mistakes.

While Threads can be seen as Instagram’s answer to Twitter, Mosser has bigger plans. In keeping with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s goal of reaching one billion users, Mosseri aims to create a public square for Instagram communities that haven’t been drawn to Twitter, as well as those on Twitter and other platforms looking for a more positive space for conversations.

Threads was recently launched and already has over 70 million signups. However, the feel of the app is different from Twitter as it only offers an algorithmic feed full of celebrities and brands.

In short, Mosseri wants Threads to be a platform focused on community and discussion, but without the emphasis on news and politics that can create negativity and risk.