Threads’ new “media to use” feature is the latest attempt to combat the cultivation of stolen memes and engagements

Another day, another new thread feature. Applications of Meta”” will release a feature that allows users to re-share photos and videos to their timelines with credit to the original poster but without attaching the original post.

When available, users will need to long-press a photo or video in their feed and select “use media.” They can then draft a new post with the clip image attached, showing the original poster with a watermark in the top left corner. “This is a quick and easy way to add your creativity to trending images and clips without posting a budget,” wrote Adam Mosseri, Head of Threads. .

This feature is supposedly meant to make it easier for people to re-share other users’ work with some credit to the original creator. Mosseri has fielded several complaints on Threads from frustrated users who see their work ripped off without credit. In a post last month, Mosseri said that Meta was “trying to shift more distribution from aggregators to creators on Instagram and Threads,” though he admitted that it could be “very difficult” when the original post was pulled from someone who wasn’t. Meta-proprietary platform. On Instagram, the company recently trying to push creators over aggregators.

Judging by some of the reactions to Threads’ latest update, however, some creators are still unhappy with Meta’s approach. “Looks like blatant content theft,” one photographer said . “Quoting a post is a more effective way to share someone’s content with your comments while giving credit to the creator,” another user said. .

in one Meta notes that individual creators can disable media reuse in their app settings, so it’s possible to block sharing of your posts in this way. (There are also settings to prevent others from posting entirely.) However, accounts will rip posts directly for those concerned. there is still little any user can do to prevent unscrupulous accounts from copying their content through screenshots or other means.