Threads expands open social web integrations by adding two new features that connect it better with the “fediverse.”
These updates are focused on helping people discover and follow users from other platforms like Mastodon, WordPress, and Flipboard, all from within Threads.
If you’ve been wondering what this means for you, this post explains it in the simplest way possible.
What Is the Fediverse?
The fediverse is a group of apps and websites that are connected but run independently. It works using something called the ActivityPub protocol, which allows users from different platforms to interact, even if they are not using the same app.
Think of it like sending an email from Gmail to Yahoo. You are on different platforms, but the messages still reach. The fediverse works like that, only for social media.
Apps in the fediverse include:
- Mastodon
- WordPress
- Bookwyrm
- WriteFreely
- Ghost
- And more
Until recently, Threads didn’t fully support this kind of cross-platform connection. But now, Threads expands open social web integrations to make this a reality.
What Are the New Features?
As part of this update, Threads introduced:
- A Fediverse Feed
- User Profile Search for Federated Platforms
Let’s look at each one.
1. Dedicated Fediverse Feed
Now, if you turn on “fediverse sharing” inside Threads, you will get a new section on your Following tab. This is a special place where you can see posts from people on other fediverse platforms like Mastodon or Flipboard.
The posts won’t mix with your normal Threads content. You have to tap on a button to open this separate feed. It’s designed this way on purpose. According to Threads engineer Peter Cottle, this clear separation helps with things like user safety, spam protection, and understanding how content works.
The fediverse feed shows posts in the order they were posted, not based on an algorithm. It’s like reading blog updates or an RSS feed. This way, you get pure content without extra sorting.
This move shows how Threads expands open social web integrations by respecting how the fediverse works while giving users a clean way to access that content.
2. Search for Fediverse Profiles
The second feature is just as useful. You can now search for fediverse users from inside Threads. For example, if someone has a WordPress blog and has turned on fediverse sharing, you can find them and follow them, just like a Threads user.
This also works for:
- Flipboard accounts
- Mastodon users
- Other federated platforms using ActivityPub
Before now, it was very hard to find these people unless you knew their exact profile link. Now, Threads expands open social web integrations by solving that problem.
What This Means for You
If you’re a regular Threads user, this gives you more content to enjoy. You don’t need to switch apps to see what people on Mastodon or other places are saying. You can follow them and view their posts right from the Threads app.
If you’re a blogger or creator already using the fediverse, this is huge. You get access to Threads’ massive audience, over 350 million monthly users, without needing a Threads account.
This is a major way Threads expands open social web integrations and creates new traffic paths for people outside the Meta ecosystem.
Why This Is a Big Deal
These updates show Meta is slowly opening up Threads, instead of keeping it locked in like Instagram or Facebook. That’s important because:
- It gives users more control
- It supports decentralization
- It allows people to move content across platforms
- It builds trust, especially with privacy-conscious users
Since its launch in July 2023, Threads has copied some features from X and Bluesky. But now, Threads expands open social web integrations in a way even those platforms haven’t fully done yet.
What’s Still Missing?
Even though this is a big step, there are still things not available yet:
- You cannot reply to fediverse posts from inside Threads
- You cannot post directly into the fediverse unless you opt in
- You still need separate accounts to interact with other fediverse platforms
- Account portability is not yet ready
Meta has said it plans to allow account portability in the future. This would mean you can take your Threads account and move it to another app if you don’t like Threads anymore. That’s a core part of what makes a platform “open.”
Until then, we can say Threads expands open social web integrations without going all the way, but it’s getting there.
Also Read: Instagram Tests a Repost Feature for Resharing Posts In a Bold Move – Good Idea in 2025?
How Threads Handles Fediverse Posts
To keep things simple for users, Threads puts fediverse posts in a separate feed. This feed is not controlled by algorithms. It is not affected by Meta’s normal moderation tools either. It’s like a raw stream of updates from the outside world.
This helps people:
- Follow their favorite authors
- Keep up with Flipboard magazines
- Read blog updates
- Discover niche communities
Peter Cottle from Threads said this format is great for people who just want to “subscribe” and check in, not engage deeply. It’s more about reading than chatting.
Expansion Across the Globe
At first, these features were available in the U.S., Canada, and Japan. In June 2025, Threads expands open social web integrations further by making fediverse features available in the EU.
Meta also confirmed that Threads has connected with over 75 percent of all known fediverse servers. That’s a major step toward full decentralization.
The move supports Meta’s long-term goal of being more open, even though Threads is still owned by Meta. Some critics remain skeptical, but others see this as a smart compromise.
Will Threads Become Fully Federated?
That’s still unclear. Meta hasn’t promised a full merge with the fediverse. The platform is clearly influenced by it, but it still controls many parts of how users interact.
Cottle said there’s still internal debate about whether Threads should fully join the open web or just act as a gateway for other platforms.
But the fact that Threads expands open social web integrations step by step means Meta is listening and testing carefully.
Don’t Miss: WhatsApp Is Adding Ads To The Status Screen, a Bold, Unprecedented Move Towards Monetisation
The Future Is Connected
This update makes Threads more than just a Twitter rival. It’s now a doorway into the larger open web. By adding the fediverse feed and profile search, Threads expands open social web integrations in a way that helps both regular users and creators.
You get more content. You find more people. And you stay in one app.
As more people learn what the fediverse is and why it matters, expect Threads to keep improving. The journey isn’t finished, but the direction is clear.
In 2025, Threads expands open social web integrations like never before, and that could change how we use social media forever.
