Facebook introduces Threads app for ‘close Instagram friends’

Facebook has announced Threads, a new instant messaging app designed to make it easier to share photos and videos in particular with a select group of friends. The app works in conjunction with Instagram’s Close Friends feature.

In addition to photos and videos, Threads users can share posts and Stories with the friends they’ve marked as close friends via Instagram, Facebook reports. However, Threads is not part of the Instagram app but a standalone application and users can also create a list of friends in Threads.

When opening the app, the front camera image is activated by default and users can create shortcuts to share images as quickly as possible. In addition, users can exchange messages, including through group chats. Finally, users can indicate their status, where Threads can provide suggestions, users can create their own statuses or users can activate Auto Status.

The latter option automatically shares “little bits of context of where you are, without giving away your coordinates,” according to Facebook. As an example, Facebook gives the status ‘in cafe’ without the app mentioning which cafe or at which address. The company emphasizes that this is an opt-in function.

Threads queries the location, motion, battery status and network connection of smartphones for Auto Status. “Precise location data” is not used to show relevant advertisements, but Facebook does use data via the social network and Instagram to target advertising, the company reports in an explanation of the privacy impact of Threads.