How to mix politics with your Threads
![Vector collage showing various of aspects of using Threads.](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/wd39Ia5n5_F9mEG7zgwif4vYF-I=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73247945/HT055_THREADS_CVirginia.0.jpg)
You can’t really blame Meta’s executives for wanting to limit the amount of political yelling on Instagram and Threads. That stuff can get pretty toxic. As a result, both of Meta’s social networks now limit what Meta terms “political content” from people you are not following.
However, if you are a Threads or Instagram user and you want to be exposed to posts “likely to mention governments, elections, or social topics that affect a group of people and/or society at large” (which is how Meta describes it), you can still do it by opting in to political content. The only thing that may be a little confusing is that you have to opt in within the Instagram app — even if you are mainly using Threads.
Here’s how:
- On your mobile device, go to the Instagram app.
- Go to your profile and select the three parallel lines in the upper right.
- Scroll down to Content preferences > Political content.
- Select Don’t limit political content from people you don’t follow.
![Content preferences page with Political content near bottom of list of suggested content.](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/eUBp1DSHUX6SrINtWxzv1ZxXPLA=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25366272/Screenshot_20240401_163712.png)
![Mobile page headed Political content with choices to limit or don’t limit political content from people you don’t follow.](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/2btQmu_b3AsiHf7MXv0g_EPfJ3U=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25366274/Screenshot_20240401_163640.png)
And now you can expose yourself to as much political infighting as you want. The fact that you need to opt in to political opinions on a social network rather opting out may seem a little topsy-turvy, but this is apparently the way that the Meta execs felt safest. Whether this strategy really will make Threads a less contentious place — or whether it will just make it less interesting — is yet to be seen.
* This article was originally published here
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