Meta has recently announced the launch of the Threads beta program for Android.
Users will get early access to improvements, and problem fixes thanks to the beta programme, but there is an increased risk of an unstable build due to the program’s early stage.
There is no waiting list for the Threads beta app, so interested users can just visit the Play Store and sign up. In spite of its limited features, end users may find it appealing because of the promise of early feature rollout.
The beta programme invitation states that “certain data on your use of the app will be collected and shared with the developer to help improve the app.” There’s a disclaimer in the invite saying, “Testing versions may be unstable.”
The lack of hashtags, direct messages, a full web version, a chronological feed, a “following” feed, and the ability to delete your profile without also wiping your Instagram account makes the programme enticing, but there don’t seem to be any beta builds of the Android app available just yet.
Since launching on Wednesday, Threads has garnered 70 million users.
Read also: Twitter threatens legal action against Meta over its new App, Threads
The following are steps to enrol on Threads beta
Step 1: Head to Google Play Store
Step 2: Search for ‘Threads’ in the search bar
Step 3: Scroll to the bottom of the app page and tap on the ‘Join’ button in the ‘Join the beta’ section
Benefits that come with the Threads Beta program
Engaging in the Threads beta programme on the Google Play Store will provide Android users with early access to a variety of features currently in development. Take for example, the CEO of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, has responded to a question about the ‘Following’ tab by saying it is still in development and users may expect to see it soon.
Also, Threads, according to Mosseri, will soon have the ability to see the feed in chronological order. He announced the change in a post on Threads, writing, “If anyone was wondering, both Instagram and Facebook have chronological feeds options, so yes, we’re going to bring one to Threads too.”
Therefore, users can gain access to these functions by enrolling in the beta programme. This early access does have certain restrictions, though. There will be many bugs in the system that users introduce, which the company will fix before integrating the feature into the main app.
Furthermore, Meta will collect user data, potentially more than the main app, in order to improve the features that it is testing. “Certain data on your use of the app will be collected and shared with the developer to help improve the app,” the beta programme invitation states.
Threads are available on iOS and Android in 100 countries, though not in the EU, owing to data privacy regulations.