The fediverse is seeing increased accessibility as Meta’s Threads continues to introduce new features. In late March, Threads launched a beta feature enabling users from the United States, Canada, and Japan to cross-post and view likes from Mastodon and other federated social networks. By June, this functionality was extended to over 100 countries.
Users can activate these features through the mobile app or web version of Threads. To enable this, users should look for the “Fediverse sharing” option in their Settings. Upon selection, users are guided through explanatory screens that provide details about the fediverse, the sharing process, and the necessity of maintaining a public profile. The screens also warn that once a post is shared externally, Threads cannot control the rules of the servers it lands on. While Meta can request the removal of previously shared posts from other servers, this is the extent of their control. It should be noted these observations are based on the initial setup process experienced in March, and details may have changed since.
When users activate Fediverse sharing, a sharing symbol appears next to their name on their Threads profile page. According to Meta, this means that Threads profiles can be followed by individuals using different servers on the fediverse. Eventually, users will also be able to follow others from within Threads. Users who turn on this feature will be reminded of their username and informed that they can now connect and share with others within the fediverse.
From practical experience, it has been shown that users can follow their Threads accounts from Mastodon accounts, and shared posts can be viewed on Threads. The effectiveness of this feature depends on how well cross-posting functions over time, the smoothness of the process, and security measures to prevent misuse by malicious actors. Since its introduction in March, the feature has operated effectively, suggesting a potential shift towards a more integrated form of social networking.
Update as of September 13th, 2024: The article now includes details about the single link leading to the fediverse sharing dialog, along with other updates.
