Threads is breaking further away from Instagram’s shadow with the launch of an independent Hidden Words settings, enabling users control what they want to avoid, including words, phrases, and even emojis, across feeds, search, profiles, and replies.
Threads now allows users to block content in bulk, add custom filters, and set time limits on them, something Instagram still doesn’t offer.
You can now temporarily silence specific topics for up to 30 days, a good step toward giving people more autonomy online, whether to avoid political noise, spoilers from a new series, or simply the internet’s daily dose of viral issues.
Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, confirmed the rollout in a post on Threads, “Threads is about fostering an open exchange of perspectives, and to do so people need to be able to shape the experience into one where they feel comfortable expressing themselves.”
Previously, Threads borrowed Instagram’s content moderation tools, meaning filters applied on one platform also affected the other. This update changes that dynamic entirely. The Hidden Words setting on Threads is now standalone. Users can decide what to filter, where to filter it, and for how long, without Instagram dictating the terms.
This flexibility mirrors what’s already available on X (formerly Twitter), where users can mute specific words for 1 day, a week, or a month. But Threads takes it further. Its batch-filtering feature lets users mute several keywords and emojis all at once, useful in the middle of a news cycle or cultural trend that doesn’t interest you.
Threads is also reportedly testing spoiler tags, giving people the option to hide sensitive or time-sensitive content behind a “tap to reveal” prompt. That could be a game-changer for users tired of seeing spoilers or distressing headlines in real time.
Beyond filters, the platform is gradually shedding Instagram’s skin. Threads is testing standalone direct messages (DMs), removing follow suggestions based on Instagram activity, and even letting users sign up without needing an Instagram account at all.
It helps that the platform has crossed the 350 million user mark. That’s enough data for Meta to stop relying on Instagram usage patterns and begin refining features directly for Threads.
These changes are part of a vision to compete with X by focusing on safety, customisation, and user control.
While the new features are rolling out in phases and may not be available to all users immediately, they point to a good direction for where Threads is headed—a more user-driven, noise-resistant social space.
