Threads — Instagram’s microblogging platform and a competitor to X (formerly Twitter) — is rolling out a new feature that lets users see if others are online. Similar functionality is already present on Meta’s other social media apps such as Instagram, WhatsApp and Facebook, and Threads is the latest in line to add it. Like its availability on other apps, only users who have turned on this feature will be able to see the activity status of other users.
Activity Status Indicator on Threads
In a post on Threads, platform head Adam Mosseri shared the rollout of this feature on the microblogging platform. The official says it has been introduced as a “way to find others to engage with” in real-time. It was suggested that the activity indicator feature could help in engaging in conversations by knowing when others are online.
The feature is turned on by default on Threads and users will be able to see the online status of others. Furthermore, it is not linked to the existing activity status indicator on Instagram, as per Threads. Both features work independently of each other; turning it off on Instagram won’t do the same on Threads, and vice versa.
Once enabled, a green dot will appear next to the user’s profile picture, signalling that they are online. To turn it on:
- Head over to the profile section on Threads
- Select the hamburger icon from the top-right corner of the screen
- Tap on Privacy and the Online Status option
- Choose between the following options: Anyone, Followers, Followers you follow back, and No one
The feature can be turned off by following the aforementioned steps and selecting the last option. Gadgets 360 staff members were able to verify its availability on Threads for iOS.
While Threads may have introduced this feature to benefit users, the comment section below Mosseri’s post was filled with requests for other features. Some of the most frequently requested features included a chronological feed, breaking events in real-time, and the ability to send direct messages (DMs) to other users.
