The Top Threads Features + How to Use Them

Here’s a roundup of the top new features they’ve added since launch — and how each one can help you show up and connect with your audience.

These days, it feels like Threads is dropping new features every week.

Whether it's small quality-of-life improvements or game-changing updates (we see you, Trending Topics), the Threads team has been busy since their rocketship launch in 2023.

The only potential downside to all that fun new stuff for its 400 million monthly active users to play with? It's not easy to keep track!

Which is where this guide comes in. Here, I’ll unpack some of the top new features on Threads by Instagram — plus how to use them to grow your following.

Let's make sure you're getting the most out of Threads, shall we?

Jump to a section:

1. Topics, not hashtags
2. Trending Topics
3. Better post insights
4. Simple polls
5. Edit posts
6. The Following feed
7. The fediverse
8. Threads ads
9. New controls
10. Threads Communities
11. Ghost posts
12. Group chats
13. Saved quotes
Threads keeps evolving — watch this space
FAQs about new Threads features

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1. Topics, not hashtags

Threads launched without hashtags — a feature most social platforms have from day one — which felt like an odd choice at the time. But now it's clear why. Threads was setting the stage for something bigger.

Although you can type in free-form hashtags, it's topics that form the backbone of discovery and community on the platform. Instead of serving purely as a way to sort posts, Threads’ tags act more like interest-based markers that help people connect around what matters to them.

Unlike surface-level hashtags, Threads’ topic tags work alongside enhanced search and recommendation systems to surface relevant content and communities you might not otherwise see.

For creators and brands looking to grow their audience, leaning into trending and relevant tags remains one of the most effective ways to be found.

Pro tip: Threads says posts that include a topic typically rack up more views than those without.