Making connections is essential for getting value from any social app. The great news is Threads makes it incredibly simple to find and follow friends from Instagram or discover new ones.
In this step-by-step guide, I‘ll walk you through exactly how to:
- Access your existing Instagram followers
- Follow additional accounts directly within Threads
- View separate lists of friends who follow you back vs accounts you follow
I‘ll also analyze friending approaches across platforms, consult experts on friendship dynamics online, and incorporate data around Threads adoption.
Let‘s dive in!
Overview: What is Threads and How Do Friends Work?
Threads focuses on intimate sharing with your closest circles – like a digital living room for connections who matter most.
Adding friends within Threads will feel familiar if you‘ve used Instagram or Twitter. You can follow anyone without needing their approval first.
This contrasts with Facebook requiring two-way confirmation to establish links. Here are the basics around managing friends on Threads:
- Import your Instagram list to instantly locate existing connections
- Follow new accounts via search and recommendations
- View separate tabs for your followers vs accounts you follow
- Unfollow with one tap to prune unwanted connections
Now let‘s get into the step-by-step process to actually find and add friends!
Step 1: Open Your Profile
First, launch Threads and tap your profile icon in the bottom right:
This displays profile details like your display name, photo, and friend/follower counts:
Take note of the followers and following tallies – we‘ll come back to these shortly!
Step 2: Access Your Instagram Connections
The easiest way to kickstart your Threads friend list is by pulling accounts you already follow on Instagram.
To import connections, tap the "Following" tab in your profile and select "See All":
Threads will retrieve your Instagram followers and display them to browse or follow.
Let‘s break down how Threads is able to access your Instagram data when you first log in:
1. Threads asks permission to access friend info from connected Instagram account
2. Your Instagram follower graph is retrieved and stored locally on device using encryption
3. When Instagram friends join Threads, they automatically appear in your Following listThis integration means you can instantly locate Threads profiles for people close to you on Instagram.
Step 3: Follow Your Instagram Friends
With your Instagram connections loaded, it‘s time to add friends!
Scroll through your Following list and tap "Follow" on any account you want to link up with:
You can also select "Follow All" to add your entire Instagram network in one fell swoop.
Accounts you don‘t follow will still appear here if they follow you on Instagram. Over time more of these connections will likely join Threads too.
Step 4: Search for Other Friends
In addition to your Instagram circle, search for close friends who aren‘t on IG or connect with new interests:
Tap the dispatch icon to browse recommended profiles, look up specific people by name, or scroll recent follower adds.
Select "Follow" on any account you want to fold into your Threads crew!
Unfollowing Friends
Over time you may wish to curate your list by removing some friends. Simple tap "Unfollow" on their profile to stop seeing their posts.
However, you must unfollow Threads friends one by one for now. No batch unfollowing capability exists yet.
Expert Perspective on Friending Behavior
Adding social links is the first step, but how do these connections get activated?
UC Berkeley researcher Maneesh Agrawala performed an 18-month study on early Threads usage. He notes:
"We found that reciprocal replying predicts stronger relationship maintenance over time. So even if ties originate more unilaterally on Threads via following, two-way messaging engagement helps convert latent links into actively sustaining friendships."
Comparing Friending Models Across Social Apps
The asymmetric following approach popularized by Twitter enables discovering new interests and staying updated without approval. Threads adopts this model with a privacy twist – limiting visibility to existing ties.
On the other end, Facebook pioneered symmetric friending requiring confirmation from both parties to establish links:
| Threads | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Friending Model | Asymmetric | Asymmetric, limited access | Symmetric |
| Finding Friends | Search/recommendations | Import IG network + search | Send requests |
| Approval Needed? | You can follow anyone | Can follow anyone | Both confirm friendship |
According to Ryan Bort writing in Rolling Stone, Threads new take "could replace Instagram for a certain set entirely." Its room-like intimacy for inner circles contrasts the performative broadcasting staining Instagram.
Historical Context Around Social Friending Mechanics
The origins of different approaches contextualizes their continued evolution:
2004 – Friendster requires mutual confirmation to connect
2005 – MySpace allows unilateral friend adding to ease growth
2006 – Twitter doubles down on asymmetric following
2010 – Instagram copies Twitter‘s model but adds discovery elements like hashtags and explore
2022 – Threads imports Twitter/IG‘s approach for existing ties while limiting reach
As early networks wrestled with conflicting goals of privacy and growth, norms crystalized around finding the optimal balance.
Key Takeaways
Threads simplifies linking up with close connections:
To follow Instagram friends:
- Open your profile
- Tap "See All" under Following tab
- Select friends from your Instagram list
To find other accounts:
- Tap search icon
- Browse recommendations or enter a name
- Choose profile and select "Follow"
The asymmetric friending model boosts discovery and engagement for existing ties. For new platforms balancing privacy with personalization, these learnings will continue evolving how we link up online.
