Threads Rolls Out ‘Use Media’ Option for Users to Quickly Reshare Photos & Videos

Threads / Use Media Feature

Threads is rolling out an ‘Use Media’ feature, allowing users to easily reshare photos and videos on the platform while giving proper credit to the original creator.

To activate the feature, users can tap the repost icon or long-press on the media and select the ‘Use Media’ option. Once selected, they can add their own caption and publish the post.

Reshared media will display the original poster’s handle at the top left. The original post will also show how many times its media has been shared, and users can tap this counter to view other Threads posts where the media has been reused.

Creators can disable the feature in their app settings if they’d prefer to restrict the reuse of their photos or videos.

Why It Matters:  ‘Use Media’ addresses a key issue for creators: unauthorized use or lack of attribution. While not a perfect solution, it’s a step forward, offering users a way to share photos or videos with proper credit to the original creator instead of taking screenshots or downloading and reposting media.

Some creators, particularly photographers, have raised concerns about how the feature is implemented.

For creators who enable this option, it can help them reach a wider audience as their content is shared with their handle attached.

It also provides insights into how users engage with their posts. If media is reshared via ‘Use Media’, it signals that users connect with the visuals, while sharing both the media and caption through the Quote Post feature shows appreciation for both the visuals and context.

There's room for improvement. For example, Threads could link reused media back to the original post, allowing creators to fully benefit from the additional reach and engagement.