Tech News

Threads Tests Advanced Search Features, Rolls Out Landscape Video Mode on App

Highlights

Threads is testing advanced search tools and AI-powered summaries for trending topics.
Features aim to improve user experience by making it easier to find content.
Threads has also added support for landscape videos on the app.

Meta’s Threads testing advanced search feature. – (Photo by Julio Lopez on Unsplash)

The Threads development team is in active mode these days as we regularly hear about new feature updates and tests.

The app is in the middle of a series of updates rolled out recently. After announcing the Custom Feeds feature last week, Meta officially launched it just a few days later.

The platform also tweaked its algorithmic feeds to improve user experience. And now the app is finally addressing long-standing user complaints with several updates including improved search functionality and enhanced trending topics.

The Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri announced the Advanced Search feature recently in a post on Threads. He called the changes “long-overdue improvements.”

View on Threads

Advanced Search Features

Threads is testing advanced search tools including the ability to search for posts within specific date ranges and account-specific searches. These features are similar to the advanced search options on X (formerly Twitter) and aim to make it easier for users to find specific posts.

Previously, the lack of advanced search on Threads meant users often relied on Google to locate specific content.

Trending Now on Threads

Mosseri announced that the app is also experimenting with AI-powered summaries for its “trending now” section, which currently displays a handful of popular topics.

The update will expand the list to show up to 15 trends, up from the current five. These AI summaries are reminiscent of X’s “Grok” feature, though it’s unclear how Meta plans to implement its summaries. Meta already uses AI to summarize discussions on Facebook, so this approach could carry over to Threads.

Landscape Videos Now Supported

Apart from Mosseri announcing the search and trending updates, the Threads Team also confirmed that the app has added the long-requested feature of support for landscape videos.

Previously, users couldn’t properly view horizontal videos on the app even in full-screen mode. Threads now allow users to watch videos and view photos in landscape mode with the latest update to the iOS app.

The Threads team confirmed the feature after users noticed the change, with the official Threads account responding, “You found it.”

View on Threads

These updates reflect Threads’ effort to stay competitive by addressing user feedback and introducing features that rival platforms already offer.

These updates also come at a time when reports of Threads facing competition from Bluesky have been making rounds. Bluesky is a rival decentralised platform that has grown to over 20 million users.

FAQs

Q1. What advanced search features is Threads testing?

Answer. Threads is testing advanced search tools including the ability to search for posts within specific date ranges and account-specific searches making it easier to find specific posts.

Q2. What new feature has Threads introduced for video content?

Answer. Threads has added support for landscape videos allowing users to properly view horizontal videos and photos in full-screen mode on the app.

Q3. What updates have Threads recently introduced to enhance user experience?

Answer. Threads is continuously updating its platform by introducing advanced search features, AI-powered trending summaries, and landscape video mode to address user feedback and compete with other platforms like Bluesky.