What was once a highly requested feature on X (formerly Twitter) is now available on Meta’s Twitter clone, Threads. Meta is rolling out Threads post editing and voice notes. These options allow users to edit their posts up to five minutes after publishing.
As seen in this example, a new “Edit” option appears within the three-dot menu in the upper right corner of your Thread. The edit button will display a 5-minute countdown timer to update your post, which should help correct minor errors.
Threaditing
So, why the time limit?
Same with X, there has long been resistance to providing editing capacity due to post meanings potentially drastically changing. Even the smallest alterations can affect a post’s overall meaning. The primary concern is that people could update viral posts behind time to something entirely different. That might give viewers a sense of false advertising or endorsing something they are not.
That was the main concern among former X management, though the Threads team has yet to share an official explanation. X Premium subscribers currently have an hour to update their posts.
After a Thread has been edited, you will see a new “Edited” icon beside its timestamp. Tapping on that reveals a basic pop-up message. However, you get no access to history or previous versions. It’s a functional way to update your posts, though some will likely be unhappy with the 5-minute window. Regardless, it’s free, unlike that of X’s. It should at least help users catch clumsy typos and grammatical errors.
On another front, Threads is also rolling out audio messages, which it calls “Voice Threads.” Voice Threads shows up as a soundwave-looking attachment within a Thread. Tapping on the play button allows you to hear the audio snippet left by that user. It is an important addition in regions where many languages are spoken, but not all citizens fluently write. That provides a means to communicate via voice with potentially reduced barriers, which could see Threads gain more momentum.
All these steadily bring Threads into greater parity with X, just as more castoffs seek a Twitter alternative. There is no official data as yet, but anecdotally, the current Israeli conflict has pushed more X users away. Similar to what happened in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, there is plenty of circulating misinformation concerning in-app content.
Journalists, in particular, are steadily looking to shift their focus onto Threads as Musk continues making changes encouraging direct posting. For most journalists, that is not an option. Meanwhile, Musk’s personal stances have continued to drive people away. That being said, providing more functionality can only be a good thing. Threads post editing and voice notes could potentially make it rival X, even if only among select audiences.
The Wrap
Professional blog writer and Social Media Today’s Andrew Hutchinson has noted how Musk’s repeated criticisms are set to hurt him. Journalists have been among the most active and engaged X (Twitter) users. The more Musk “Freely Speeches” at this group, the more they actively seek alternatives. Only a paltry 20% of X’s users remain actively posting in the app. The impact of losing journalists will be a lot more significant than Musk believes.
We will soon find out. If Threads continues to grow in this direction, then X can only play 2nd-fiddle. Either way, Threads post editing and voice notes make it a weighty contender in the X-alternatives market.
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