Adam Mosseri, the chief of Instagram and Threads, recently questioned the emphasis placed on follower counts in social media apps, noting that engagement is more important than follower counts. This raises the question of why follower accounts are displayed prominently in these apps if they are not the most important metric. Former Twitter chief Jack Dorsey also highlighted the negative impact of highlighting follower counts, as it can lead users to post polarizing content to gain more followers. Twitter attempted to address this issue by making the follower count font slightly smaller, but this was not very effective. Similarly, Instagram has hidden like counts on posts to reduce pressure on users.
Despite acknowledging the potential harms of focusing on specific metrics, Mosseri and Meta continue to prioritize follower counts in the design of their apps. While the font for follower counts in Threads is lighter, it still occupies a prominent position. Mosseri has also expressed skepticism about features like Trending Topics, lists, and hashtags, stating that they do not noticeably increase engagement in Threads. Despite this, Threads has implemented or is working on versions of these features. This raises questions about why these features are being prioritized if they are not as valuable as other engagement metrics.
There may be potential value in taking a different approach to social media metrics, such as removing follower counts and lists to shift the focus to other engagement indicators. Mosseri, as a veteran in the field of social media engagement, could use Threads as an opportunity to experiment with different metrics and observe how they impact user behavior. Instead of prioritizing features that have limited impact, Mosseri could explore alternative approaches to enhance user experience and encourage more meaningful interactions on the platform.
Given Mosseri’s expertise in social media engagement, it is puzzling why he continues to prioritize follower counts and other less impactful features in the design of Threads. While he has made efforts to address negative behaviors in the past, such as hiding like counts on Instagram, there is still potential to further improve the platform by focusing on more meaningful engagement metrics. By experimenting with different approaches and features, Mosseri could gain valuable insights into what drives user behavior and ultimately create a more positive and engaging social media experience for Threads users.
Ultimately, the question remains as to why Mosseri, as the chief of Instagram and Threads, continues to prioritize follower counts and other features that may not have a significant impact on engagement. While he has acknowledged the importance of focusing on engagement rather than numbers, his actions seem to contradict this stance. By exploring alternative metrics and features, Mosseri could potentially enhance user experience on Threads and create a more meaningful platform for users. It will be interesting to see whether Mosseri takes steps to align his beliefs with the design and features of Threads in the future.