In a significant move to enhance user engagement, Threads, a competitor to X, has officially launched a feature that allows users to attach up to 10,000 characters to their posts. This update aims to cater to the needs of content creators, enabling them to share longer narratives and link to external resources such as blogs, newsletters, and podcasts.
Previously, Threads had a character limit of 500, which was already more generous than the 280 characters allowed for unverified users on X. However, X has recently introduced a paid feature that permits subscribers to post up to 25,000 characters, encouraging creators to share their work directly on their platform.
In contrast, Threads is focusing on providing a free option for users to express themselves more fully while promoting their work and directing audiences to their content, regardless of whether it resides on Threads.
**Image Credits:**Meta/Threads
Prior to this rollout, Meta observed that users were frequently resorting to screenshots to share longer excerpts from various sources, including books and articles. This trend inspired the development of the new feature, which allows users to seamlessly integrate longer text into their posts.
Many users expressed a desire to link back to original works or promote their own projects after initiating discussions on Threads. For example, authors might want to share excerpts from upcoming books to encourage preorders, while journalists could highlight their in-depth articles.
On X, users have historically navigated character limitations by creating threads or posting screenshots from note-taking applications. In response to this demand for longer content, X has made extended character limits a paid feature.
Conversely, Threads is offering this capability at no cost, making it accessible to all users.
During a recent event, the company confirmed that there are currently no plans to monetize posts that include text attachments. Additionally, users can format their text with various styles, including bold, italics, and strikethroughs, and even incorporate emojis to enhance their posts.
Meta is also actively seeking community feedback to explore further enhancements to this feature.
Importantly, when creators link to external content, those links will be prominently displayed within the text attachment, contrasting with X’s recent changes that have downplayed link visibility. This strategic move positions Threads as a more user-friendly platform for sharing external resources.
However, there are some limitations to consider. The content within these text attachments will not be indexed by search engines like Google, nor will it be federated. Federating refers to the ability to publish posts across the broader open social web, including decentralized platforms like Mastodon. This feature allows Threads users to connect with and follow individuals from other servers, enhancing the overall social experience.
Meta has indicated that it is exploring ways to enable federation for longer text attachments in future updates.