Threads Launches Activity Status to Highlight Who’s Online and Boost Engagement

Threads / Activity Status 

Threads is launching an Activity Status feature that allows users to see when others are online. An activity indicator will appear next to profile pictures in the feed and on profiles for users who have this setting enabled. The feature can be turned off at any time.

Instagram head Adam Mosseri describes it as "a way to help you find others to engage with in real-time."

Why It Matters: Activity Status is designed to boost real-time interactions, as seeing someone online may encourage more immediate engagement. This could be particularly useful during live events like award shows or sports games, where active commentary and discussions happen in real-time.

With direct messaging still absent from Threads, this feature could also serve as a workaround for real-time conversations.

However, early feedback indicates that some users aren’t too thrilled about the new feature due to some of the potential issues around privacy and risk of harassment.