Meta is testing a new feature that will allow Threads users to see what types of conversations are trending on the platform. The app has started testing “Today's Top Topics” in the US, Mark Zuckerberg shared in a thread.
Meta said the feature will show “timely topics that others are discussing” and will appear in searches and interspersed among posts in the app's For You feed. Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, said specific trends are “determined by our AI system based on what people are currently engaging with in the thread.”
Interestingly, the thread intention Superficial trends regarding politics and elections. The company announced last week that it would no longer provide recommendations unless users choose to opt-in. However, Meta confirmed that the restrictions do not apply to its trending feature. “Political content may also be discussed,” a Meta spokesperson told Engadget. “Political topics will only be removed if they violate our Community Guidelines or other applicable integrity policies.”
The addition of Trends is a long-requested update for many Threads users who want to make the service even easier to use as a source of real-time information and updates. The feature has previously been spotted within the app, but given Mosseri's desire to avoid “encouraging” conversations about “politics and difficult news,” Meta is rolling it out more widely. It was unclear whether he would.
Much of what is surfaced will be determined by the AI, but Meta seems to be planning to do some curation of what it deems to be “top topics.” Our team of “content experts” will ensure that “the topics do not violate our community guidelines or other applicable integrity guidelines, and that the topics are redundant, nonsensical, or misleading. We guarantee that this is not the case,” a Meta spokesperson said.
For now, “Today's Top Topics” is just a “small test,” but Zuckerberg said the feature will be available in more countries and languages ”once adjustments are complete.” Ta.
