X rival Threads is expanding into the fediverse, which includes apps like Mastodon, PeerTube, and others running the ActivityPub protocol. Meta announced on Tuesday that it is now opening up its beta to Threads users in global markets who are 18 and up and have public accounts in Threads.
The beta was previously only available in a few countries but now anyone worldwide can participate. With it, users can share their Threads posts to the larger fediverse network. This includes Mastodon, where likes and replies from users there can now appear in Threads too.
While in beta, only top-level posts from Threads will be shared with other apps. Things like polls and posts with special formats won’t transfer yet. But it lets Threads users connect with more people across different social networks.
Meta has also added tools to help users understand how the fediverse works. An explanation explains it brings together social servers and how federated sharing allows crossing networks. By educating people, Meta may encourage more to explore this new way of connecting online.
As Threads already has millions of users, it instantly became one of the largest apps in the fediverse. Opening up to federated sharing allows Threads and Meta to be part of the growing movement for a more connected open social web.
