Meta’s Threads Tests ‘Recommended Follow Lists’ to Rival Bluesky’s Starter Packs
In a strategic move to counter Bluesky’s growing popularity, Meta is developing a new feature for Threads inspired by Bluesky’s successful “Starter Packs.” This development signals intensifying competition in the decentralized social media space.
What Are Starter Packs & Why Is Threads Copying Them?
Bluesky’s Starter Packs have become a hallmark feature of the platform, offering:
- Curated lists of recommended accounts
- Community-created collections around topics like:
- Industries
- Geographies
- Fan communities
- Languages
- A searchable database of user-generated packs
These packs help new users quickly find relevant accounts to follow, fostering immediate community connections.
Threads’ New Approach: Recommended Follow Lists
Recent discoveries by technologist Chris Messina reveal Threads is testing its own version called “Recommended Follow Lists.” Key details:
- Currently accessible via iOS Safari with a specific code
- Features user-curated lists (e.g., “NBA Threads”)
- Maintains Threads’ community-driven ethos
- Attribution shows lists created by users, not Meta
Image: Chris Messina’s discovery of Threads’ test feature
Why This Matters for Social Media Competition
While Threads benefits from Instagram’s existing social graph, the move suggests:
- Meta sees Bluesky as a genuine threat - evidenced by recent feature rollouts mirroring Bluesky’s offerings
- Community curation is valuable - even for established platforms
- The battle for user onboarding is intensifying - first impressions matter more than ever
Meta’s Recent Competitive Moves
Threads has rapidly implemented Bluesky-inspired features:
- Custom feeds
- Default feed selection
- Algorithm adjustments favoring followed accounts
- Political content controls
The platform also recently announced adding 35 million new users in November, directly responding to Bluesky’s growth from 9M to nearly 23M users since September.
What’s Next for Threads?
While the feature remains in testing, its development highlights:
- Meta’s willingness to borrow successful concepts from compe*****s
- The importance of community-driven discovery tools
- An evolving social media landscape where no platform can rest on its laurels
Meta has not yet commented on these developments, but the feature’s existence confirms Threads is closely watching—and learning from—Bluesky’s innovations.
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