Meta Threads App Adds New Sidebar Shortcuts: Saved and Liked Posts Now 1 Tap Away This article explores the latest Threads update that adds shortcuts for ‘Saved’ and ‘Liked’ posts It was just past midnight when I instinctively reached for my phone - scrolling through Threads had become my late-night routine. The interface felt different that day. In the sidebar, two new icons had quietly appeared: "Saved" and "Liked." A subtle change, yet one that immediately improved my navigation through the app. Hours later, Twitter's most consistent tech tipster, Ahmed Ghanem (@ahmedghanem), confirmed the update in his characteristically crisp style. "#Threads added shortcuts for “Saved” and “Liked” posts in the app’s new side menu." As someone who follows platform shifts professionally and personally, this update, and Ghanem’s precise tipoff, signaled something deeper than UX tweaks. It echoed the evolving strategy of Meta's Twitter-competitor to quietly but...
Meta Threads App Adds New Sidebar Shortcuts: Saved and Liked Posts Now 1 Tap Away
This article explores the latest Threads update that adds shortcuts for ‘Saved’ and ‘Liked’ posts
It was just past midnight when I instinctively reached for my phone - scrolling through Threads had become my late-night routine.
The interface felt different that day. In the sidebar, two new icons had quietly appeared: "Saved" and "Liked." A subtle change, yet one that immediately improved my navigation through the app.
Hours later, Twitter's most consistent tech tipster, Ahmed Ghanem (@ahmedghanem), confirmed the update in his characteristically crisp style.
"#Threads added shortcuts for “Saved” and “Liked” posts in the app’s new side menu."
As someone who follows platform shifts professionally and personally, this update, and Ghanem’s precise tipoff, signaled something deeper than UX tweaks.
"#Threads added shortcuts for “Saved” and “Liked” posts in the app’s new side menu."
As someone who follows platform shifts professionally and personally, this update, and Ghanem’s precise tipoff, signaled something deeper than UX tweaks.
It echoed the evolving strategy of Meta's Twitter-competitor to quietly but surely elevate user experience, while relying on independent voices like Ghanem's to build buzz.
#Threads added shortcuts for “Saved” and “Liked” posts in the app’s new side menu
— Ahmed Ghanem (@ahmedghanem) August 7, 2025
👉🏼 Follow my WhatsApp Channel for more updates: https://t.co/xDSx4ptBBz pic.twitter.com/KptzRlSMTz
Why This Update Matters
Threads, Meta's alternative to X (formerly Twitter), launched with hype but faded quickly due to limited features.
The platform lacked key user tools such as trending topics, bookmarks, or proper search. This small but important update signals Threads’ intent to gradually close those gaps.
Adding visible shortcuts for "Saved" and "Liked" posts streamlines user interaction. No more digging through settings or profile tabs to find that one post you wanted to revisit.
These buttons now reside in a neat left-hand menu, accessible with a single tap. It's a tiny design shift, but it tells us Threads is listening.
Ahmed Ghanem: A Consistent, Reliable Voice in Social Media Tracking
The reason this minor UI update matters in the bigger picture is because of who amplified it: Ahmed Ghanem, a Cairo-based tech analyst and social media reporter with a growing reputation for spotting and reporting micro-changes across platforms.
Ghanem isn’t a tech celebrity or a Silicon Valley insider. He’s a grassroots signal-spotter who has built his credibility through accuracy, not hype.
His feed doesn’t chase viral trends; it documents platform behavior meticulously. From API changes to backend redesigns, Ghanem has consistently outpaced even official corporate announcements.
This isn’t just about a shortcut button. It's about Threads pushing forward in a crowded, volatile social media landscape.
Beyond the Feature: The Battle for Social Media Dominance
This isn’t just about a shortcut button. It's about Threads pushing forward in a crowded, volatile social media landscape.
Since Elon Musk's overhaul of Twitter, now X, a vacuum has been created. Meta saw the opportunity but rushed its launch.
Critics pounced on Threads' lack of basic functionality.
Critics pounced on Threads' lack of basic functionality.
It couldn’t search posts, had no desktop version, and missed obvious tools like trending topics.
Daily active users dropped after the initial spike. But under the radar, Threads has been rebuilding.
This update reflects Meta's "fix and finesse" strategy.
This update reflects Meta's "fix and finesse" strategy.
Instead of flashy overhauls, they are making low-key improvements that directly impact usability.
The move to add "Saved" and "Liked" post shortcuts is part of this playbook.
It's the kind of change users discover organically and appreciate instantly - especially when surfaced by trusted voices like Ahmed Ghanem.
Meta isn’t trying to outdo X with ideology or drama. They're doing it with UX. The "Saved" and "Liked" buttons reflect that.
Threads vs. X: User Experience as the New Battleground
Meta isn’t trying to outdo X with ideology or drama. They're doing it with UX. The "Saved" and "Liked" buttons reflect that.
While X rolls out controversial policies and subscription tiers, Threads is quietly optimizing the small things.
This signals a shift in competitive focus. We're seeing the platforms diverge:
X: focuses on monetization, controversial free speech policies, and paid reach.
Threads: aims to build a healthy ecosystem with incremental UI improvements and community safety features.
It's a bet on user comfort vs. algorithmic chaos.
This signals a shift in competitive focus. We're seeing the platforms diverge:
X: focuses on monetization, controversial free speech policies, and paid reach.
Threads: aims to build a healthy ecosystem with incremental UI improvements and community safety features.
It's a bet on user comfort vs. algorithmic chaos.
Meta's Whisper Campaign and the Role of Independent Sources
Interestingly, Meta has made no official announcement about this UI change. No press release. No in-app banner.
This is part of a growing trend among Big Tech companies to rely on organic discoverability and trusted third-party voices for rollout buzz.
That makes people like Ghanem more relevant than ever. Users trust peer discovery more than corporate fanfare.
That makes people like Ghanem more relevant than ever. Users trust peer discovery more than corporate fanfare.
When someone like Ghanem posts an update, it feels real - not branded. It gives the rollout a layer of authenticity.
He’s not just reporting the change - he’s documenting the evolution of the platforms we live on.
From a product strategy perspective, the addition of shortcuts may seem minor, but it's deeply connected to user retention. Consider this:
Users often save posts with the intent to return later.
Without clear access points, the "Saved" feature is underutilized.
By elevating it in the UI, Meta is encouraging more daily touchpoints.
The same logic applies to "Liked" posts. Often, likes serve as lightweight bookmarks.
The Bigger Content Strategy Behind UI Tweaks
From a product strategy perspective, the addition of shortcuts may seem minor, but it's deeply connected to user retention. Consider this:
Users often save posts with the intent to return later.
Without clear access points, the "Saved" feature is underutilized.
By elevating it in the UI, Meta is encouraging more daily touchpoints.
The same logic applies to "Liked" posts. Often, likes serve as lightweight bookmarks.
Elevating them to a sidebar menu positions them as revisitable content, not just reactions.
That builds retention loops - a key metric for Threads, especially with declining DAUs.
Initial user response to the update has been muted but largely positive. Posts under Ghanem's tweet reflect appreciation:
"Finally! Was tired of digging for Saved posts."
User Reactions: Subtle but Positive
Initial user response to the update has been muted but largely positive. Posts under Ghanem's tweet reflect appreciation:
"Finally! Was tired of digging for Saved posts."
"Threads slowly getting usable. Now just need trending topics."
"Didn’t even notice this until I saw your tweet. Thanks Ahmed!"
This feedback loop is important. It validates that even unannounced changes, when surfaced by the right people, can generate user goodwill and engagement.
What Comes Next for Threads
According to sources tracking Meta’s roadmap, upcoming features may include:
Improved post search (already being A/B tested in select markets)
Topic discovery tools similar to Twitter's trending panel
Expanded web functionality, including a full desktop client
These are all aimed at maturing Threads from an Instagram offshoot to a standalone platform.
Final Takeaway: The Power of the Micro-Update
The addition of shortcuts for "Saved" and "Liked" posts is not revolutionary. But in the post-HCU landscape, it represents something more:
A shift toward real, incremental UX gains
A reliance on authentic third-party sources for credibility
A move away from noisy rollouts toward quiet user-first refinement
And in the middle of this subtle story is a man named Ahmed Ghanem - who didn’t wait for a press kit or an NDA to share the news. He just opened the app, spotted the change, and told the world.
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Author: Michael B. Norris
Michael is a digital platforms reporter and contributor to TrendingAlone, covering the evolution of social media UX and content moderation policy. With over a decade of experience in tech journalism, his work has appeared in Wired, Quartz, and TechCrunch.Key Details (Quick Glance)
FeatureThreads Update (August 2025)
New Shortcuts Added "Saved" and "Liked" posts
Location Sidebar menu (left-hand navigation)
Rollout Type Silent update, no official announcement
Discovered By Ahmed Ghanem (@ahmedghanem) on Twitter
User Impact Easier access, better post engagement
Competitive Angle Boosts UX vs. X's monetization strategy
Factor Human discovery, grassroots signal-sharing
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