Threads is finally testing a ‘recent’ filter for search results

Meta-owned social network Threads is finally testing a “Recent” filter to sort search results based on the most recent posts. Instagram head Adam Mosseri noted on Monday that the roll-out is part of a “limited test,” and the feature has been made available to only a few users.

“We’re starting to test this with a small number of people, so it’s easier to find relevant search results in real-time,” he said in a reply to a user.

A user who was part of the test posted that they could see “Top” and “Recent” filters on the search results screen. They noted that the “Recent” filter isn’t strictly chronological, but it’s better suited than the “Top” filter for seeing new posts.

Earlier this year, Threads had accidentally rolled out the option to sort search results by recency. At that time, the company said it was an “internal prototype available for a small number of people.”

Last November, Mosseri cautioned that Threads lacked the feature to search for real-time results because it could create a “safety loophole.”

“To clarify, having a comprehensive list of *every* post with a specific word in chronological order inevitably means spammers and other bad actors pummel the view with content by simply adding the relevant words or tags. And before you ask why we don’t take down that bad content, understand there’s a lot more content that people don’t want to see than we can or should take down.” Mosseri said at that time.