Meta's Threads is launching its own version of Bluesky's popular "Starter Packs" feature, which provides new users with curated lists of suggested accounts to follow based on popular topics. The move comes as Threads aims to stay competitive with Bluesky, which has been gaining traction and recently surpassed 20 million users.

The feature, announced by Instagram head Adam Mosseri, will display suggested collections of profiles to new users when they sign up for Threads, as well as within the app's For You feed. These collections will focus on a variety of topics, including pop culture and recipes, making it easier for users to discover and connect with like-minded individuals.

This development comes just two weeks after TechCrunch reported that Threads was working on the feature, highlighting the social network's efforts to rapidly update and expand its offerings. Threads already helps new users find people to follow by connecting them to accounts they follow on Instagram, but the addition of Starter Packs is likely a response to the popularity of the feature on Bluesky.

Bluesky's Starter Packs have been a key factor in the platform's growth, allowing users to instantly connect with others by joining a growing community. With this feature, Threads is likely trying to prevent users from migrating to Bluesky, which has been catching up with Threads in terms of daily active users.

Threads has been working to add new functionality based on user feedback, including the recent rollout of custom feeds and changes to the "For You" algorithmic feed. These updates are likely aimed at keeping users engaged and preventing them from switching to Bluesky, which has experienced a surge in users after the U.S. presidential election.

The competition between Threads and Bluesky is heating up, with both platforms vying for dominance in the social media landscape. As the battle for users continues, it will be interesting to see how each platform evolves and adapts to meet the changing needs and preferences of its users.

In the broader context, the introduction of Starter Packs on Threads highlights the importance of community-building and discovery features in social media platforms. As users increasingly seek out platforms that allow them to connect with like-minded individuals and engage in meaningful conversations, the ability to facilitate these connections will become a key differentiator for social media companies.

With the launch of Starter Packs, Threads is taking a significant step towards enhancing the user experience and staying competitive in the social media landscape. As the platform continues to evolve and expand its offerings, it will be important to monitor its progress and assess its impact on the broader social media ecosystem.