What Is Instagram Threads App and How to Use It
Last year, Instagram launched the feature of close friends. To recap, close friends on Instagram have privileged access to your stories. In other words, you can share your stories with a small number of people. All things are not meant to be shared with all the followers, as was the case before introducing close friends. Close friends have made Instagram more private.
In an attempt to bring close friends together, Instagram has launched the new Threads app. Let’s see what it is and how to use the application.
What is the son of Instagram?
If close friends of Instagram and Facebook Messenger had a baby, he would call Threads. This is because Threads is a dedicated messaging app for Instagram. However, the entire application revolves around a list of close friends with a user interface similar to that of Facebook Messenger.
This means that you will not see all your subscribers or people with whom you have interacted with Instagram Direct. Instead, it’s your private space to interact with close friends. You can choose who you want to interact in the application.
In addition to being a messaging platform, it is also a camera-centric application. The focus is on capturing photos and videos and sending them immediately to close friends. Instagram does not want you to waste time looking for your close friends. As a result, the social network is launching this real-time image sharing application.
The application differs from the main Instagram application in many ways. For starters, there is no stream in this application. You can only send messages, view stories (can not create stories), and add real-time status (see below). In addition, it does not offer filters and effects. You can, however, create doodles and add text to your photos. You can not even watch IGTV videos here.
The application is available on Android and iOS.
Do you need to create a new account on the Threads app
No, you do not need to create a new Threads account or something similar. The Threads app only works with your Instagram account. If you have the Instagram app on your phone, you do not even need to log in.
The app will suggest you to sign in from the currently connected account on Instagram. For example, if you use multiple accounts on Instagram, move to the one you want to use with Threads. Then open the Threads application and you will see the account. If you want to use another account, tap the Change Account option, then sign in with your Instagram account.
How to create a thread
Once connected, the application will welcome you with the camera screen – the very essence of the application. Here you will find the capture button at the bottom left. The right space is reserved for shortcuts where you can add up to 7 close friends. By pressing a shortcut, you can capture a photo or video and send it quickly to that person in his thread.
The wires are not different in this application. These are your typical discussions. The only difference is that you can select here the people you want to include in the application.
How to use the discussions of the Instagram application
If you are on the screen of the camera’s application, swipe down to access the home screen of the application or press the home button located at the top. You will be redirected to the online chat screen.
Here you will see the history of conversations that you had with close friends.
The history will include both the previous messages sent via the Instagram application and the messages that will be sent later with the help of the Instagram or Threads application. Tap a thread to open the conversation.
You can send text messages, stickers, capture new photos, or send an existing multimedia file from your gallery using the options provided. You can even initiate a video call with your friend from this screen. Slide the home screen down to access the camera’s screen.
Add or remove friends near the Threads app
Now, I bet you must have understood that the Threads application is only dedicated to the list of close friends. If you have already added your friends to the list of close friends on Instagram, they will automatically appear in this app. But if you have not done it, do not worry.
On the Threads application’s home screen, tap the three-bar icon in the upper-left corner and select Close friends.
The application will show you the list of people you follow on Instagram. Tap the people you want to include in the Threads app. To delete a person, tap their name. Use search to find other people on Instagram. Press the Done button to confirm your selection. Once added, their conversation will appear in the app.
Note: Instagram does not notify people when you add or remove them from your list of close friends.
Pro Tip: Swipe right on the discussion thread on the home screen of the app to remove the person from your list of close friends.
Is the discussion Close the list of friends independent of the Instagram list
No. If you add or delete people in the list of close friends of the Threads application, this will also change on Instagram. Similarly, if you edit the list of close friends on Instagram, the changes will also appear in the Threads application.
Hide the threads
To hide an individual chat or to remove a person from the Threads app, you need to remove it from your list of close friends. Deleting them from your list of close friends will not remove them from your following list on Instagram. In addition, messages will not be deleted. You can still access it through the Instagram app.
What are the shortcuts in Threads application?
The overall process of sending a photo or video to your friends on Instagram is complex. First, you need to go to the story section or Instagram DM. Then capture a photo, find the friend, and finally, you can share the photo.
Instagram has eliminated these steps in the Threads application. Now you have to capture the photo and swipe up to send it to the selected close friend. This is possible using shortcuts in the application located next to the capture button.
Note: You can add up to 7 shortcuts.
Add, delete, and rearrange friends in shortcuts
To add or delete people from shortcuts, go to the home screen of the app and tap the three-bar icon. Tap Customize Camera.
You will see people from your list of close friends here. Tap the plus icon next to the person’s name to add it as a shortcut. To delete someone, tap the cross-shaped icon. To rearrange the shortcuts, hold them down and drag them to the desired position.
Point: You can also change the position of the capture button.
How to use shortcuts
The shortcuts are magic in the Threads application. Just tap your friend’s name (shortcut icon) on the camera screen so that the photo is captured. You do not even need to use the separate capture button. Likewise, hold the shortcut to capture a video.
To send the captured media to the person, tap the picture in their profile or swipe up, then tap the Send button. The whole process takes two taps. If you do not like the captured photo, swipe down to delete the message.
The Threads application offers the existing visualization limits as they are present in the Instagram application. Choose to see once, replay, and stay in discussion. Use the doodle and text functions to edit your photos.
Point: Upload the captured photo to your phone with the help of the download icon located next to doodle.
How to use groups with the Threads application
Suppose you are attending a wedding and want to share real-time photos with your close friends. Now, instead of sending them to each separately, you can create a group on the Threads application. Everything you send will be seen by all members of this group.
Create a group
To create a group, open Threads application settings by pressing the three-bar icon. Then tap Create Group. Select the people you want to add to the group and tap Create. Once created, it will appear as a thread in the application. Groups also appear as shortcuts on the camera screen.
NOTtakes away: The group can only have people from your list of close friends.
Hide groups
You can hide individual discussions in the app by removing people from the list of close friends. But what about groups? How can we hide them? For this, Instagram has provided a dedicated section called Hidden Groups. Groups that you no longer want to use can be added under Hidden Groups.
To hide a group, swipe right on the group thread on the home screen of the application, and then tap Hide.
To view and view hidden groups, open the application settings and go to Hidden Groups. Tap the Add (+) icon next to the group name to hide it. If you hide a group, it will appear in the discussion list.
What is the status in Threads application
Status is a unique feature of the Threads application that is not available in any of the Facebook applications. No, it’s not the story or something similar to the WhatsApp status. In fact, it lives up to its name – status.
In other words, you inform people of your current action or activity with the help of this status. For example, if you are in a gym or watching something, you can set it as a status for a specific duration or let the application perform the automatic status itself.
How to see the status of others
The status is visible under the name of the person in the discussion list. If you open a thread, you will also see the status at the top.
Note: The status is also visible in the Instagram app in messages intended only for your close friends.
How to define your status
To set and view your status, tap the icon of your profile picture in the Home screen.
Otherwise, go to Threads application settings and press Status.
Il existe trois façons de définir un statut:
- Choisissez parmi le statut donné
- Définir un statut manuel
- Automatic status
1. Sélectionnez un statut
Une fois sur l'écran d'état, vous verrez une foule d'activités telles que manger, étudier, être occupé, etc. Appuyez sur celle que vous souhaitez définir comme statut. Il restera votre statut jusqu'à ce que vous le changiez manuellement.
2. Set a Manual Status for Certain Time
If you want the status to remain for a specific amount of time, use this option. Tap on the New button on the status screen. Then enter your status in the given box. Tap on the smiley icon to add a smiley. Select the time for which you want to set the status. Once the given time is over, your old status will play.
3. How to Use Auto Status
With the help of auto status, the app will automatically change the status depending on your current activity. For instance, if your battery is low, the app will automatically keep 'low battery' as your status. Similarly, if you are driving or in a café, the same will reflect in the app. However, details like the exact location will not be shared. Yes, a number of permissions are required, such as location, physical activity, etc.
Ne t'inquiète pas. The auto status feature is off by default. You need to enable it manually to use it. While it may sound creepy at first, the real-time status has its benefits. Take the case of charging. Typically, when you are charging your phone, it’s away from you. Hence, you won’t reply immediately. The status informs your close friends about the same.
To enable auto status, turn on the toggle present next to Auto Status. To view the auto status modes and the time when they will be activated, tap on the Learn more text present under Auto Status.
On Android phones, you will see your auto status mode in the notification panel too.
Create Stories in Threads App
Unfortunately, you cannot create stories from this app. However, you can view the stories added by your close friends. When a story is available on your friend’s profile, you will see the regular story circle around their profile picture. While the green circle reflects that the story is visible to their close friends only, the reddish-pink means it’s available to everyone.
Who Should Use It
The Threads app is made for everyone who loves to update their close friends about all the teeny-weeny details of their lives. For them, it would be a godsend gift as it would reduce a lot of time. However, some may not like the fact that it's a separate app. One will have to constantly switch between the two apps to use other features of the app.
What are your views about the app? Let us know in the comments below.
Next up: Scrolling to the first message on Instagram can be a tedious job. Know how to go to the start of chat on Instagram.