Physical Address

304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124

Threads Experiments with Custom Display Names, Cover Images for Profiles


Threads’ first update of 2025 could be one of its most popular yet, and the Threads team is currently developing a new option that would let you add a display name to be used specifically within the threadinstead of having to replicate your IG handle in the app.

Thread display name

As you can see in this examplepublished by application researcher Alessandro PaluzziIt looks like Threads will add its own “Display Name” option, so you can choose an alternate name to display on your profile and Threads posts.

You’ll be able to change your display name once a week (or more precisely, twice in a 14-day period), and any changes will only be reflected on Threads, separate from your Instagram username.

The relationship between Thread and IG was a blessing and a curse, and Meta could do it increase your user base in record time due to the improved connection between the two applications. It can also cross-promote Threads on Instagram and Facebook and use your established interests and connection graph.

However, at the same time, some users have found that Threads recommendations, based on their Instagram activity, are not always a relevant indicator of interest in the newer app.

There’s also the username issue, with many Threads users updating their IG handle to make their Threads moniker more meaningful. Many Twitter expats have also changed their name to match their previous Twitter name, to help others reconnect, but because of the connection between Threads and IG, this also means updating your Instagram bio.

So you lose that name recognition on one of the other, which obviously isn’t ideal for those with a large following.

Really, Threads is now probably at the stage where it can establish its own interest graph for each user based on their Threads-specific activity in each case, reducing the need for IG signals. Threads has actually already started moving in that direction, and Instagram boss Adam Mosseri announced back in November that Threads no longer uses your IG activity to drive its “Who to Follow” recommendations for new users.

And given that the way people use each app is likely to be very different, it makes sense for Threads to go it alone where it can, even eliminating the IG connection altogether at some stage for those who’d rather keep them separate.

But until then, alternative user handlers on Threads are a good step, and it seems like a logical and easy way for Meta to move towards Threads independence.

On a related front, Threads is also experimenting cover images for Thread profiles:

Profile theme cover image

This will provide another way to customize and personalize your presence in Threads.

Which, again, seems like a necessary step, and on 300 million active usersand growing, Threads appears to be on its way to becoming a major player in its own right in the social media space.

As such, both can be valuable and important updates.



Source link

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *