Threads, Instagram’s microblogging service and a rival to X (previously known as Twitter), is introducing a new feature that allows users to check if others are currently online. This capability is similar to functionality already available on other Meta platforms, including Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook, making Threads the latest platform to adopt it. Only users who have opted in to this feature will have visibility into the online status of others.
Activity Status Feature on Threads
Platform head Adam Mosseri announced the launch of this feature in a post on Threads. Mosseri described it as a “way to find others to engage with” in real-time, suggesting that knowing when users are online could facilitate more dynamic conversations.
By default, the feature is activated on Threads, enabling users to view the online status of others at a glance. Importantly, this new activity status indicator operates separately from the one on Instagram; disabling it on one platform does not affect the other.
Once activated, a green dot will appear next to a user’s profile picture to indicate they are online. To enable or adjust this feature:
- Go to the profile section on Threads.
- Tap the hamburger menu icon in the top-right corner.
- Select Privacy and then Online Status.
- Choose from these options: Anyone, Followers, Followers you follow back, or No one.
The feature can be deactivated by following the same steps and selecting the last option. Staff members at Gadgets 360 confirmed the feature’s availability on the iOS version of Threads.
Although the introduction of this feature aims to enhance user interaction, Mosseri’s post garnered numerous requests for additional functionalities. Popular suggestions from users included a chronological feed, real-time updates on significant events, and the ability to send direct messages to other users.
