How the Threads Algorithm Works in 2024 [GUIDE]

Creating content that’s strong enough to wow both the Threads algorithm and your followers is a lot of pressure. If you’re experiencing a Threads block (like writer’s block, but shorter), there’s no shame in asking for help.

Our Threads generator will get your content calendar filled and get those creative juices flowing again in no time.

Please note: This tool may display inaccurate or offensive material that doesn’t represent Hootsuite’s views. You’re solely responsible for use of any content generated using this tool, including its compliance with applicable laws and third party rights.

Every time you’re using Threads, you’re feeding the Meta robot more information about what you like and don’t like. It sees how many posts you’ve clicked to like, which authors you’ve followed recently, how many replies you’ve seen, and so on.

The Threads algorithm looks at each post and considers the following:

Whether or not you’ll like the post

According to Meta, signals that influence this prediction include how many posts you’ve liked, how many posts by a particular author you’ve liked and how many posts you’ve seen in your feed.

Meta can predict the likelihood of a user viewing replies on a post based on how many times others have done the same thing, how frequently you engage with an authors content and how long it’s been since you were active on Threads.

Are you active on Threads? How many posts have you seen in your feed? Who have you followed recently? Have you been creeping the author on Instagram? The Threads algorithm is tracking all this behavior to determine just how likely you are to give the author of a particular post a follow.

Signals that influence how likely it is that you’ll click on a Threads author’s profile include how many times others have clicked on the profile and how many times you’ve viewed the author on Instagram, among others.

The odds of you engaging with something go up if you’ve viewed a post multiple times or liked the author’s post. They also go up if the post has been viewed by others a high amount.

And those are just the factors you control. The Threads algorithm also takes into consideration how many other users like you are enjoying a particular post.

Has a post has been viewed by a ton of other people with similar interests to yours? Meta’s going to take note and might pop that post into your feed, too. (“This guy’s gonna love this alligator escape video!”)

All that intel above tells you how Meta curates the perfect Threads feed for you… but what can we learn about how to maximize the reach of content you create? How can you get the Threads algorithm to work for you?

Ultimately, the Threads algorithm is designed to give people content they’ll probably like… including content that other people like and content that’s relevant to their interests. So the real secret to making waves on the app is to create great content that people like.

Okay, we know that may not sound like much of a hack (“What if you were just… good?”), so read on for some more practical advice for how to create engaging, far-reaching Threads posts that will impress that powerful, powerful Threads algorithm.

Every Threads user who interacts with your account is telling the app exactly how valuable they think your content is.

Likes and follows are obviously indicators that you’re putting out some good stuff into the Thread-iverse. But if users are blocking, unfollowing, or hiding you, that’s going to indicate something very different.

So… keep ‘em happy. That means creating Threads content that has value: it should be entertaining, informative or inspiring.

Plugging your grocery store’s big BOGO sale every day isn’t really providing much that’s worthwhile… but showing a behind-the-scenes video of how you built that crazy display of soda cans is going to bring a little delight to a follower’s day.

Reaching a lot of people is the first step to delighting and engaging a lot of people. You’ll have your best chance of doing that if you get your content up when your audience is at its most active.

When the Threads algorithm is considering recommending your content to someone, it takes into account how active you are on the app.

Viral posts get so much attention, but the strongest creators on social media have usually built their audiences over years, growing their following one post at a time.

A scheduling tool (see above!) can help you stick to a regular schedule and prove yourself as a dependable contributor to the Threadscape.

Your Instagram account and your Threads account are intimately intertwined. You may remember you needed an Instagram account to set up your Threads profile in the first place.

Your Instagram followers are prompted to join you on Threads, which makes it a good funnel for growing your audience. But actions that users take on Instagram can also impact what they see in their Threads feed.

For instance, if a user is views your profile on Instagram, the Threads algorithm treats that as a signal the user is probably interested in your Threads content, too.

Use your Threads post to run a poll, ask a question or spark a friendly debate.

Posts like these are an easy way to snag engagement because they literally tell people how to interact with you. Taking advantage of this format is a low-stakes (and classic) move you can use on any social media platform.

The more followers that participate in your survey, the more the algorithm will recommend your post to others.

That same leaked Meta email reveals that the head honchos would looove creators to start using Threads features.

Yes, the Tweet-like text posts are front and center, but there’s also the ability to share up to 10 photos and five-minute video clips. Play around with existing and future tools, and you might just see the algorithm give you a li’l boost as a reward. (A little thirsty, Threads.)