What is Instagram Threads and how does it work?

(Pocket-lint) - Facebook-owned Instagram launched a caller standalone app for you to download and try, backmost successful precocious 2019.

Called Threads, it's really a messaging app, which Facebook said is to beryllium utilized by your closest friends for sharing text, photos, and videos. It's a companion to Instagram and truthful falls nether the Instagram umbrella.

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So, you won't spot Facebook branding anyplace connected this app. Here's however it works.

What is Instagram Threads?

Threads is described arsenic a "camera-first messaging app". Instagram said it's been coming up with ways to let its users to visually stock more, similar done Stories oregon Direct messaging. Threads aims to grow upon that; it's specifically meant to assistance you pass what you’re doing and however you’re feeling done photos and videos with your adjacent friends successful a "private" space.

How does Threads work?

You tin usage Threads to stock photos, videos, messages, and stories with your "close friends" database connected Instagram - and you person full power implicit who tin scope you. There are 3 main parts to the app: Camera, Inbox, and Status Screen.

Camera

Similar to Snapchat, the camera presumption is the default surface erstwhile you unfastened the app. From here, you tin instrumentality photos and videos. There are nary filters available. But determination are shortcuts to your adjacent friends, truthful if you usage Threads to connection conscionable 2 oregon 3 people, you pin their illustration representation close to the bottommost of the camera screen. To nonstop them a picture, pat their photograph and swipe up to send. 

You tin take to prevention each the photos and videos you instrumentality utilizing Threads to your phone's camera rotation oregon gallery.

Inbox

Inbox is fundamentally your nonstop messages from Instagram, but successful Threads, you'll lone spot conversations from your closes friends. Group chats are available, too, if everyone progressive successful the chat is listed a adjacent person of yours.

Status screen

Remember the AOL distant message? That's the presumption screen. To make a status, prime an emoji, and benignant a presumption (or take a generic presumption that Instagram created). Then, specify however agelong to support the status. You tin take from 1 to 4 hours.

There's besides an "Auto Status", which volition update your presumption passim the day. So, for instance, Auto Status mightiness usage your determination to amusement your friends you’re "at a cafe", oregon if you're biking, that you're "on the move". Yes, this means Instagram is passively requesting your location, movements, network, and adjacent artillery level, but it promises to not store your nonstop location. 

Plus, astatine each times, your presumption volition lone beryllium seen by your adjacent friends successful Threads.

How to adhd radical arsenic adjacent friends

Threads works with your Instagram adjacent friends list. If you don’t person a list, you tin acceptable 1 up connected Threads erstwhile you download the app:

1. Open Threads.
2. From the camera, pat Home astatine the top.
3. Tap the hamburger paper successful the apical left.
4. Tap Close Friends.
5. Tap adjacent to your friend’s sanction to adhd oregon region them from your adjacent friends list.
6. Tap Done.

To make a adjacent friends database connected Instagram itself, travel these steps:

1. Open Instagram.
2. Tap Profile icon successful the bottommost right.
3. Tap hamburger paper successful the apical right.
4. Tap Close Friends.
5. Tap Add next to the radical who you privation to adhd to your adjacent friends list.
6. You tin besides tap Search to hunt for a friend.
7. Tap Done when you've finished adding radical to your list.

How to download Threads

Instagram Threads is disposable for some iOS and Android mobile devices.

Want to cognize more?

Check retired the Instagram Threads blog post oregon the Threads FAQ hub for more.

Writing by Maggie Tillman. Editing by Max Freeman-Mills. Originally published connected 3 October 2019.