Meta has initiated a test for a new feature in Threads that permits users to follow the same creators they currently follow on X, the company confirmed to TechCrunch.
According to a statement emailed by Meta spokesperson Alec Booker, the company is exploring ways to enable users to discover and follow creators from other platforms on Threads, facilitating easier connections with significant conversations and individuals.
Over the past years, a number of creators have migrated from X to platforms like Threads and Bluesky but have encountered challenges in retaining their large followings. At the same time, some users have experienced difficulties in replicating the communities they had built over the years on X. This new feature is designed to streamline the transition for both creators and users establishing themselves on Threads.
The feature, currently in beta testing, was initially identified by Jane Manchun Wong, a security researcher and former Meta employee.
On Wednesday, certain users, including those at TechCrunch, noticed a pop-up in the Threads mobile app, indicating the option to “Find popular creators from X.” This pop-up directs users to the beta feature, offering guidance on how to download and transfer their following list from X to Threads.
The exact mechanism through which Meta links creators from X to their Threads profiles remains unclear. Meta has stated that the feature will work for “popular creators,” though it may not apply to all individuals followed on X. Meta has not yet provided a response to TechCrunch’s inquiries regarding this issue.
Nevertheless, such features are contributing to Threads’ positioning as a viable alternative to X, showing a consistent growth rate. In January, Meta announced that Threads had surpassed 320 million monthly active users, an increase from 300 million in December. Although companies report monthly active users with varying criteria, Threads appears to be reaching a scale comparable to that of X.
