NewsThreads was originally going to live inside the Instagram appThe Instagram team was shoehorning Twitter-like posts and replies inside the app.The Instagram team was shoehorning Twitter-like posts and replies inside the app.by Umar ShakirMay 8, 2025, 3:59 PM UTCLinkFacebookThreadsImage: The VergeUmar Shakir is a news writer fond of the electric vehicle lifestyle and things that plug in via USB-C. He spent over 15 years in IT support before joining The Verge.Instagram boss Adam Mosseri is on the stand today in Meta’s antitrust trial. In trying to prove the social network is not a monopoly, he shared that the Threads app could have been just a feature inside of Instagram.Meta was working on built-in Threads features for Instagram first to compete with Twitter, which pioneered text-first social media apps. But Mosseri says the team made the “very contentious decision internally” to move the features out of Instagram.Meta’s team, according to Mosseri, found having Instagram host text posts could be confusing to users since the Twitter-like model is entirely different, where replies and original posts can be equally prominent. Comparatively, on Instagram, and other apps like YouTube and TikTok, replies are subordinated to original posts.Still, Threads is heavily linked to Instagram. You need an Instagram account to use it, and your profile on both platforms link back to each other. Instagram also adds Threads posts inside of Instagram feeds that invite you to go to Threads to read them.See More: InstagramMetaNewsPolicyTechThreadsMore in this streamSee allTikTok and YouTube have become more similar to Instagram.Lauren Feiner6 minutes agoCommentsComment Icon BubbleInstagram doesn’t want to be a ‘lean-back experience.’Lauren Feiner15 minutes agoCommentsComment Icon Bubble‘Part of our core identity’ is connecting friends.Lauren Feiner40 minutes agoCommentsComment Icon BubbleMost PopularMost PopularAndroid’s splashy new paint job won’t yank Gen Z from iPhonesHow Microsoft shrunk its Surface devicesEcoFlow brings its plug-in solar power plant to US homesSony WH-1000XM6 headphone specs and details leak earlyMicrosoft and Asus’ Xbox handheld appears in leaked photosInstallerA weekly newsletter by David Pierce designed to tell you everything you need to download, watch, read, listen to, and explore that fits in The Verge’s universe.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native ad
FTC v. Meta live: Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri takes the stand do sex