Threads is going deeper into the fediverse, the interconnected social platform ecosystem based on an open protocol called ActivityPub that includes apps like Mastodon and BookWyrm.

Instagram head Adam Mosseri said that starting Wednesday, Threads users can follow people from other fediverse servers who have interacted with federated users or posts on Threads. More interconnected features are on the way, he added.

The fediverse, as Instagram puts it, is a global, open, social network of independent servers that are operated by third parties around the world. The servers, which can be thought of as an individual platform, share information with each other. Think of it like your Threads, Instagram, and TikTok all being interoperable, so you could post something and all of your followers everywhere could see it.

Instagram has long looked to federate Threads and has been working to roll out certain features, putting it closer to becoming the most well-known ActivityPub app. (Mastodon likely is the second.) Threads in March opened a beta that allowed users in the U.S., Canada, and Japan to cross-post a view likes from other federated social networks. It expanded that ability to over 100 countries in June.