Threads Expands Fediverse Integration with New Discovery Features

06/17/2025 Social Media

Threads, Meta's answer to X, is taking further steps into the world of the fediverse, the decentralized social web. Two new features have just rolled out, aimed at deepening Threads' integration with this open network.

Imagine a social network where your connections aren't limited to just one platform. That's the promise of the fediverse, and Threads is inching closer to that reality. Users who've chosen to participate in fediverse sharing can now discover posts from other fediverse users in a dedicated feed within Threads. Moreover, finding fediverse users directly within Threads is now possible through a search function.

To access these federated posts, head to the "Following" tab within the Threads app. However, instead of blending seamlessly with regular Threads content, these posts appear in a separate feed accessible via a link at the top. It's a slightly segregated experience, but it's a start.

Threads is capable of displaying posts from federated apps like Mastodon, Bookwyrm, and WriteFreely, with plans to support more services down the line. According to Threads engineer Peter Cottle, this feed currently displays top-level posts from the fediverse, although users can't directly reply to them within Threads just yet. Interestingly, you can view fediverse replies to your own posts, but they reside in a different section of the app.

Beyond browsing, Threads users can now actively search for and discover profiles from the fediverse. This includes WordPress bloggers who've enabled fediverse sharing, Flipboard users, and individuals on Mastodon, expanding your potential connections beyond the confines of the Threads ecosystem.

These enhancements strive to make Threads feel more like a true federated app, seamlessly connected to the broader network of interconnected social media servers that constitute the decentralized open social web. Although the integration remains incomplete, with a substantial user base of over 350 million monthly active users, Threads stands as the largest app operating on the ActivityPub protocol, the very backbone of Mastodon and other federated apps.

Since its launch in July 2023, Threads has drawn inspiration from established social networks such as X, as well as open-source protocol platforms like Mastodon and Bluesky. Mirroring Bluesky, Threads has introduced custom feeds and its own version of Starter Packs, facilitating user discovery. Moreover, akin to Mastodon, Threads is closely intertwined with the fediverse, enabling users to connect with individuals who aren't directly on Threads.

Since its inception, Threads has consistently rolled out features that empower users to share their posts on the fediverse, view replies from Mastodon users, follow profiles on other fediverse servers, and track their followers in return. In June, Threads broadened its fediverse sharing capabilities to the European Union, following initial launches in the United States, Canada, and Japan. Meta reports that Threads has engaged with over 75% of all fediverse servers since the introduction of the fediverse sharing feature a year ago.

However, there's no word yet on full fediverse integration or the introduction of account portability, which would grant users the ability to move their accounts to other platforms if they disagree with Meta's policies. This aspect is crucial for open, decentralized apps, as it places control in the hands of users, rather than the platforms themselves.