Threads for Podcasters: New Features & Show Discussions

Threads Shifts Focus to Podcast Community

Meta’s Threads platform is initiating a strategic effort to attract a specific demographic: podcasters. The company announced on Tuesday its intention to cultivate more dialogue surrounding podcasts within the app and to provide creators with enhanced promotional tools for their shows.

New Features for Enhanced Visibility

Several new functionalities will be implemented initially to support this initiative. Podcast links appearing in users’ feeds will be visually distinguished with vibrant backgrounds and accompanying image thumbnails. This design aims to increase their prominence and ease of identification.

Furthermore, creators will be provided with a dedicated section within their profiles to showcase a link to their podcast. These links will also be designed to stand out, facilitating improved show promotion and audience growth for podcasters.

According to a Meta spokesperson, further features geared towards both podcasters and their audiences are planned for release in the coming year.

The Appeal of Podcast Discussions

Meta’s interest in the podcasting sphere stems from its belief that Threads can become the central hub for show-related conversations and creator engagement. Currently, these discussions are fragmented across various platforms, including Reddit, X, Facebook, Instagram, and podcast streaming services like YouTube and Spotify.

The company also recognizes the strong cultural connection inherent in podcasts, which has the potential to stimulate discussions and foster increased user interaction. While Threads boasts over 400 million monthly active users and 150 million daily active users, it currently lags behind X, which reports up to 600 million monthly active users. Attracting a significant portion of the podcast community could substantially reduce this disparity.

Focus on Conversation, Not Distribution

It’s important to note that while Threads will prioritize the conversations generated by podcasts, the company has clarified it does not intend to function as a podcast distribution platform.

Instead, the focus will be on providing podcast hosts with valuable insights and analytics regarding audience engagement with their shows. Development is also planned for features that will aid in podcast discovery and facilitate connections between podcasters and listeners.

Expanding Creator-Focused Features

This move represents a continuation of Threads’ strategy to attract creators as a means of differentiating itself from competitors like X and Bluesky.

In May, creators were granted the ability to include up to five links in their profiles, enabling them to promote their online presence across various platforms, including social media, video sharing sites, blogs, and portfolios. More recently, a text attachment feature was introduced, allowing creators to share more extensive thoughts and perspectives.

Meta anticipates the release of additional features centered around podcast discussions in the months to come, further solidifying Threads’ commitment to this growing community.