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Threads are no longer a comfortable place to share thoughts. Photo: Unsplash . |
Over a year ago, Threads was a pioneering social network in creating new trends. From unique Gen Z slang terms like "ní" and "bảng," to recruitment trends, and posts showcasing high incomes that were both stressful and still shared knowledge and experience with interested people, everything flourished on this platform.
However, recently, the content on Threads has become increasingly chaotic, unsubstantiated, and no longer serves the simple purpose of sharing as before. The platform has become a battleground for misleading and divisive posts simply to attract user attention.
Do everything you can to attract attention.
With 320 million users logging in at least once a month, Threads is considered a public forum, but more civilized and controlled. Over 20% of its users are aged 18-24, contributing to the platform's youthful energy and potential for cultural development.
Meta had previously stated that it didn't want Threads to be focused on news and scandal like Elon Musk's X. However, the social network has been flooded with posts in the form of silly, shocking questions, known as "engagement bait posts," to attract fake engagement.
In an experiment conducted by Business Insiders reporters, posts deliberately designed to elicit responses were prioritized by the algorithm over those that were simply liked and shared. These posts continued to receive numerous comments, even a week after being published.
Meta stated that they have adjusted the algorithm, prioritizing posts from acquaintances or followers, reducing the risk of bait posts spreading. “We’ve noticed an increase in ‘bait’ posts on Threads and are working to control it,” said Adam Mosseri, Instagram’s director.
However, negative posts show no signs of abating. Recently, on the Vietnamese Threads marketplace, a series of posts targeting the notoriety of KOLs/KOCs have been shared publicly. Some people even proactively ask questions about KOLs and TikTokers with a lot of negative publicity, and receive continuous comments from the online community below.
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A series of posts exposing the scam received strong interaction. Photo: Threads. |
Those posts received a large amount of interaction, showing no signs of slowing down. In particular, the content of these posts was screenshotted and reposted on platforms with better viral potential, such as Facebook.
A discussion on Reddit suggests that if you don't filter content carefully, you're likely to be suggested bait posts, often mass-produced by chatbots. Not only Threads, but the algorithms of platforms in general will somewhat prioritize these posts to attract attention.
Changes in content format
When it first launched, Threads attracted users, mostly young people, because of its novelty and lack of the noise of other social networks. "I found the content very wholesome and funny, but it seemed like everyone was experimenting and nobody really knew what they wanted to say on there," said a 21-year-old interviewed by Business Insider about their experience.
A post on Threads garnered high engagement for claiming that the platform's previous content was fun, friendly, and harmonious. The post received agreement from many who identified themselves as having been on the platform since its early days. They argued that, in contrast to the past, Threads is now the most toxic social network.
According to a Zlab survey of Threads' Gen Z users, the most common reason for deleting the app is unengaging content (52%). The poster stated that she didn't dare write anything there for fear of people scrutinizing and finding fault, as well as sharing her posts to gain engagement on other platforms.
Many accounts have used fake profile pictures to freely post shocking and sensational content. Meanwhile, real users lack the confidence to share their thoughts, becoming primarily a consumer group.
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Users are nostalgic for the platform's early days. Photo: Threads. |
Currently, the age distribution of users on Threads is undergoing a new shift. According to data from Decision Lab, the number of Millennial users has increased significantly compared to Q1 2024. This has also somewhat changed the nature of content on the platform.
Another reason users uninstall the app is its difficult-to-use interface and lack of interesting features (15%). Threads has also added tools such as sorting posts by topic and integrating a separate dialogue box, instead of having to share via Instagram as before, but it doesn't seem to have achieved the desired results.
Despite being touted as the "new Twitter" with its minimalist interface and friendly atmosphere, Threads is now gradually losing its role as a trend-setting platform. Instead of initiating new trends, the platform has become a place to record crowd reactions, becoming increasingly noisy and uncontrolled.
Source: https://znews.vn/threads-khong-con-tao-trend-post1574998.html
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