In a move that may signal a larger shift towards openness and decentralization, Meta has added support for verifying your Threads profile on Mastodon using ‘rel=me’ links. This feature is part of a broader effort to adopt open standards and build support for the fediverse.
What are ‘rel=me’ Links?
‘rel=me’ links are a way to establish relationships between two accounts by pointing links to each other. When you add your Mastodon profile to your Threads profile, it creates a link that points back to Mastodon. By adding this link to the ‘Extra fields’ in your Mastodon profile, you can verify your Threads profile on Mastodon.
How to Verify Your Threads Profile on Mastodon
To verify your Threads profile on Mastodon, follow these steps:
- Add Your Mastodon Profile to Your Threads Profile: This creates a link that points back to Mastodon from your Threads profile.
- Add the ‘rel=me’ Link to Your Mastodon Profile: Add the link you created in step 1 to one of the ‘Extra fields’ in your Mastodon profile.
- Save the Changes: Once you’ve added the link, save the changes to your Mastodon profile.
Verification Process
When you complete the verification process, the Mastodon server will ping the Threads page to check for a ‘rel=me’ web attribute and verify that the link in your Threads profile is pointing back to Mastodon. This process will likely appear on your Mastodon profile as a green highlighted bar around the Threads link along with a check mark.
Limitations and Issues
While this method allows you to verify your Threads profile on Mastodon, it’s not working for some users. A Threads engineer mentioned that the team is looking into verification-related bugs. Additionally, there is no way for you to verify your Mastodon profile on Threads at the moment.
Other Features Added in This Update
This update comes with a slew of other features being added to Threads, including:
- Send Posts Directly to Instagram DMs: Users can now send posts directly to their friends’ Instagram DMs.
- Custom Alt Text for Images: Users can add custom alt text for images to make them more accessible.
- Mention Someone in a Post: A new button allows users to easily mention someone in a post.
Meta’s Commitment to the Fediverse
Instagram head Adam Mosseri noted that this update is one of the "meaningful steps towards adopting open standards and the fediverse." He also mentioned that the company has been using an "early version" of Threads on the web internally, which means we can expect a fully functional desktop version of the social network in a few weeks.
Background on the Fediverse
The fediverse is a network of decentralized servers, including Mastodon, Wikipedia, Gravatar, and Flipboard. Last year, after Elon Musk took over Twitter, developers built many link verification services for Mastodon as people were migrating to the fediverse. Top tech companies like Meta are now following suit by adding support for open standards.
Timeline
- Last Month: Mosseri mentioned that because of technical challenges, the Threads app won’t support the fediverse at launch.
- This Update: Meta has added support for ‘rel=me’ links to verify your Threads profile on Mastodon.
- Coming Soon: A fully functional desktop version of Threads is expected in a few weeks.
Conclusion
Meta’s addition of ‘rel=me’ links is a significant step towards supporting the fediverse. This feature allows users to verify their Threads profiles on Mastodon and other decentralized servers, making it easier for people to connect with each other across different platforms. As Meta continues to build support for open standards, we can expect more exciting developments in the world of social media.
