PostEaseThe short answer
A poll is a post that asks a question with a few set answers people can tap. X, Threads and LinkedIn all allow up to four options, but they differ on how long a poll runs and on privacy. Votes on X and Threads are private: X says neither the poll creator nor other participants can see who voted or how. On LinkedIn the opposite is true: LinkedIn says the author “will be able to view who voted and how each person voted.”
Instagram puts polls in Stories, as a sticker, rather than in feed posts. Instagram’s Help Center lists the Poll sticker among the stickers you can add to a story.
Polls side by side
From each platform’s help pages:
| Question | X | Threads | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Options | 2 to 4, up to 25 characters each | Up to 4, up to 25 characters each | 2 to 4 |
| How long it runs | 5 minutes to 7 days; 1 day by default | 24 hours | 1 day, 3 days, 1 week or 2 weeks; 1 week by default |
| Who sees how you voted | No one, not even the creator | Only you; others can’t see which option you chose | The poll’s author sees who voted and how |
| Can the author vote? | Not stated | No | Not stated |
| Pictures | Not allowed in a poll | Not stated | Not stated |
Details worth knowing
A few rules from the same pages that change how you would use each:
| Platform | Rule |
|---|---|
| X | Each person can vote once; results show instantly after voting, and voters may get a notification with the final result |
| Threads | You can add a poll to a new post or a reply; once posted, editing the post can’t remove or change the poll |
| Page and group admins can post polls from the Page or group; polls may not ask for political opinions, health status or other sensitive data | |
| Brand Surveys look like polls but are ads; LinkedIn says personal information is not shared with the advertiser |
Using polls well
A poll is the quickest thing you can ask an audience to do, which makes it a good way to start a conversation and to learn what people want. A few habits follow from the rules above:
- Write options that fit 25 characters on X and Threads, and keep the question itself specific.
- Match the length to the platform: a day or two on X, a week on LinkedIn, and remember Threads polls close after 24 hours.
- On LinkedIn, tell people their vote is visible to you if the topic is personal; LinkedIn shows the author each vote.
- Post the result afterwards, with what you will do about it; it gives everyone who voted a reason to come back.
Questions
Can people see how you voted in a poll on X?
No. X says neither the poll creator nor other participants can see who voted or how they voted.
Can a LinkedIn poll author see who voted?
Yes. LinkedIn says the author can see who voted and how each person voted, as well as percentages and vote counts per option.
How long does a poll last on Threads?
24 hours. Threads polls show a countdown, and people have up to 24 hours to vote.
How many options can a poll have?
Up to four on X, Threads and LinkedIn. X and Threads limit each option to 25 characters.
Sources
- X, About X Polls, checked November 2026.
- Instagram, Add a poll to your post on Threads, checked November 2026.
- LinkedIn, LinkedIn Polls, checked November 2026.
- LinkedIn, Create LinkedIn Polls, checked November 2026.
- Instagram, Using stickers on Instagram, checked October 2026.