Threads, the social network owned by Meta, is testing a new feature that allows users to see how well their individual posts perform on the platform. This update marks a significant shift from the previous "Insights" feature, which only provided aggregated metrics for all posts.

The new feature enables users to sort their posts by the highest or lowest number of views, likes, and replies, providing a more granular understanding of their content's performance. Additionally, users can now see a breakdown of views and interactions by followers and non-followers for each post, as well as track how many people followed them from a specific post. This level of detail is expected to help users better understand what types of posts resonate with their audiences.

Instagram head Adam Mosseri announced the change on Thursday, highlighting the importance of understanding post performance in the context of Threads' updated algorithm. The algorithm now prioritizes showing users more content from accounts they actually follow, making it essential for users to understand what works and what doesn't.

This update comes as Meta rapidly builds out and updates Threads, likely in response to the growing popularity of Bluesky, a competing social network that recently surpassed 20 million users. Bluesky's surge in popularity is attributed to its decentralized, open-source approach, which has attracted users seeking an alternative to traditional social media platforms.

In recent weeks, Threads has rolled out a slew of updates, including deeper integration with the fediverse, advanced search, custom feeds, and AI-powered summaries of trending topics. These updates are seen as an effort to remain competitive and retain users, as Bluesky continues to gain traction. Despite having a solid user base of over 275 million monthly active users, Threads is facing increasing pressure from Bluesky, which is catching up in terms of daily active users.

The competition between Threads and Bluesky is particularly interesting, given the political undertones surrounding the latter's rise to fame. Bluesky's popularity soared following the U.S. presidential election, as users sought an alternative to X, a social network that has been criticized for its right-wing approach. The rivalry between these platforms will undoubtedly continue to shape the social media landscape in the coming months.

As the social media landscape continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how Threads' new feature will impact user engagement and retention. One thing is certain, however: the battle for dominance in the social media space has only just begun, and users are poised to be the ultimate beneficiaries of this competition.