Meta's Adam Mosseri explains how Instagram really works - and how he wants to build Threads
Summary
Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram and Threads, discusses Meta's strategic shifts, including changes to content moderation and handling political discourse across their apps. He delves into the complexities of algorithmic ranking, comparing Instagram's approach to TikTok's exploration model, and explains the company's efforts to foster user-driven creativity while adapting to trends like the rise of private messaging. Mosseri also shares the origin story and goals for Threads, addressing its development as a distinct app aiming for a friendlier tone and community focus, while reflecting on the challenges and responsibilities of running massive global platforms.Episode description
Adam Mosseri's official title is head of Instagram, Meta's massive photo and video app. He also runs Threads, the Twitter clone the company launched two years ago.
Unofficially, he's become one of Meta's chief explainers, frequently jumping on social media to defend and proselytize on behalf of his employer.
So when I got a chance to interview Mosseri, I had a long list of questions about… lots of things: I wanted to know how Mosseri felt about the company's recent pivot to Trump-friendly policies, and how he looked at TikTok, for instance.
And while it may not be the most important thing on Meta's roadmap, I was also really curious about a unique opportunity Mosseri created for himself: the chance to build a brand-new social network from the ground up. What did he want to accomplish with Threads, and what mistakes that earlier social networks made was he hoping to avoid?
There's a bunch in here. Take a listen and let me know what you think.
Help us plan for the future of Channels by filling out a brief survey: voxmedia.com/survey. Thank you!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices