Threads gets web version and search 'in coming weeks'

Threads users will soon get one of the most requested features for the text-based social network: a web version. Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg announced on the app that within the next few weeks Threads will be getting both a web version that people can use to access the service on desktop, as well as a proper search feature. p>

While it's possible to view Threads posts on desktop at the moment, clicking the reply, repost, like, and send buttons simply brings up a QR code that links to the app. Similarly, Threads' search function is currently limited. As 9to5Mac notes, it can only bring up other accounts and cannot be used to search for particular messages.

Meta launched Threads at an opportune time when X users were reeling from major changes to the platform formerly known as Twitter. It became available shortly after X limited the number of messages users could see on the website/app due to "extreme levels of data scraping [and] system manipulation". Non-paying users were the most affected and were initially limited to seeing 600 posts per day.

People flocked to Threads after its release, and it easily hit 100 million users in less than a week. However, Meta released Threads without a bunch of features that people expect from a social network like this. Company officials have promised that the Threads team is working on these features, and for the past couple of weeks they've released a timeline feed and embedded translations. Threads' engagement has plummeted since that first blockbuster week, but the new features coming out might entice those early adopters to take a look and become active users.