How to get started with Threads from Meta (easy guide)

Threads is the social network that the Instagram team from Meta has created to compete with Twitter, and in this guide, you will learn how to get started with the platform.

The social network is not dissimilar to Twitter since it allows you to share text-based messages, photos, and videos with the rest of the community. However, the experience is a little different. For starters, you need an Instagram account to sign up. Posts have up to 500 characters, and videos can be up to 5 minutes long. The interface includes almost the same features as Twitter, but they are either different places or called differently.

Also, Threads doesn’t have all the same equivalent features you will find on Twitter, but things like direct messages and the ability to delete the account without deleting your Instagram account are coming.

Whether you’re looking for a Twitter alternative or want to try out Threads, this guide includes the instructions to create and share posts, follow and unfollow accounts, make your account private or public, control notifications, and change settings.

This guide will teach you the steps to get started using the Threads social network.

How to use Threads (by Instagram)

These instructions will walk you through creating your first post, sharing a post, managing followers, changing settings, adjusting notifications, and more.

Create first post

To create your first post on Threads, use these steps:

1. Open Threads app.

2. Click the “New Thread” button from the bottom-middle.

3. Compose your message with up to 500 characters (including emojis and “@” mentions).

   

4. (Optional) Click the attach button to add an image, gif, or video (up to 5 minutes long).

5. Click the Post button in the bottom-right corner.

Once you complete the steps, the post will upload to the social media platform. You can view your posts in the “Threads” tab from your profile page (bottom-right button).

At this time, it’s not possible to edit the posts, but you can click the menu (three-dots) button on the right of the post and choose the “Delete” button. Once you delete the message, you can post a new one with corrections.

Similar to Twitter, on each post, you can like, comment, re-thread, and forward.

Share post

To share a link to the Threads post, use these steps:

1. Open Threads app.

2. Click the Share button on the post.

3. Click the Shre via option to share the post with others using mobile apps.

4. Click the Copy link option also to create a link you can share with others.

5. Click the Tweet button to share the post on Twitter.

   

6. Click the “Add to story” to re-share the post in your account.

After you complete the steps, you will be able to share the post with others.

Follow and unfollow users

To follow or unfollow users, use these steps:

1. Open Threads app.

2. Click on the user profile name or icon.

3. Click the Follow button to follow the user.

   

4. (Optional) Click the Following (gray) button to unfollow the user.

Alternatively, you can also mute or hide the user instead of unfollowing. You can do this by clicking the three-dots button on the right side of the users and selecting the “Mute” or “Hide” option.

View activities

To access the activity page on Threads, use these steps”

1. Open Threads app.

2. Click the Activity (heart) button next to the “Profile” button.

   

On this page, you can review all your activities, replies, mentions and verified accounts.

Control notifications

To manage Threads notifications, use these steps:

1. Open Threads app.

2. Click the Profile button on the bottom-right corner.

3. Click the two-dots menu button from the top-right corner.

4. Click the Notifications settings.

5. Turn on the “Pause all” toggle switch to stop all Threads notifications for an specific period of time.

   

6. Click the “Threads and replies” setting.

   

7. Choose the notification settings for likes, replies, mentions, reports, quotes, and first threads.

8. Click the “Following and followers” setting.

9. Choose the notification settings for new followers, accepted follow requests, account suggestions, and pre-followed user joined Threads.

Once you complete the steps, the settings will apply to your account.

Private or public profile

To make your Threads profile private or public, use these steps:

1. Open Threads app.

2. Click the Profile button on the bottom-right corner.

3. Click the two-dots menu button from the top-right corner.

4. Click on Privacy.

5. Turn off the Private profile toggle switch to make your account public.

   

6. (Optional) Turn on the Private profile toggle switch to make your account private.

After you complete the steps, the Threads profile will become public or available to everyone depending on your configuration.

Control mentions

To determine who can mention you on Threads, use these steps:

1. Open Threads app.

2. Click the Profile button on the bottom-right corner.

3. Click the two-dots menu button from the top-right corner.

4. Click on Privacy.

5. Click the Mentions setting.

6. Select the setting you want to use for mentions. For instance, you can allow everyone to mention you, only people you follow, or no one.

   

Once you complete the steps, the settings will apply to your Threads profile.

Edit profile

To edit your Threads profile, use these steps:

1. Open Threads app.

2. Click the Profile button on the bottom-right corner.

3. Click the Edit profile button.

   

4. Change your bio or link.

   Quick note: On this page, you can also make your profile private or public.

5. Click the Done button.

You cannot change your account name or profile picture since the platform is tied to Instagram. If you want to make these changes, you will have to change your username and profile picture on Instagram, and then the system will reflect the changes on Threads.