“Threads app is not for news and politics,” says Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri

As per Mosseri, the inclusion of such content invites excessive scrutiny, negativity, and compromises the integrity of the app. This surprising stance has sparked interest and discussion among users and observers.

According to the CEO of Instagram, the Threads app will not actively endorse or prioritize politics and hard news. Mosseri emphasizes that Instagram already hosts thriving communities centered around sports, music, fashion, beauty, and entertainment, which do not necessitate engagement with political or news-related content.

It is likely that Mosseri’s viewpoint has been shaped by his prior role overseeing Facebook’s News Feed. By distancing Threads from politics and hard news, Mosseri aims to maintain the app’s focus on other vibrant interests and preserve a positive user experience.

Recently, Meta, the parent company of Instagram, has made efforts to distance itself from news and politics, as well as address concerns regarding the promotion of controversial content. One of these measures includes reducing the visibility of political content on Facebook and even renaming the Facebook Feed to exclude the term “News.” 

Furthermore, in response to a new Canadian law mandating payment for local news, Meta announced its intention to remove news from both Facebook and Instagram in the country. These actions demonstrate Meta’s commitment to reevaluating its role in disseminating news and political information, as well as its willingness to make significant changes to align with evolving regulations and user expectations.

Following his initial statement, Adam Mosseri provided further clarification on his stance regarding Threads. He explained that Threads will not actively discourage or downplay news and politics, but it won’t prioritize or actively seek out such content as Facebook has done in the past. 

Mosseri acknowledged that Facebook had made hasty promises to the industry in the early 2010s and expressed his desire to avoid repeating those mistakes.

While Threads may be perceived as Instagram’s response to Twitter, Mosseri has grander ambitions. Aligned with the vision set by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to reach 1 billion users, Mosseri aims to create a public square within Instagram. This public square would cater to communities that may not be drawn to Twitter and provide a more positive space for conversations, attracting users from Twitter and other platforms who are seeking a more constructive and uplifting environment.

Updated: 08 Jul 2023, 03:13 PM IST