On Wednesday, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, officially launched Threads, its competitor to Twitter. This move comes just three months after Meta confirmed its plans for the app. Threads have made a strong start, garnering 30 million sign-ups as of Thursday morning, including many brands, celebrities, journalists, and other prominent accounts. The launch of Threads evoked a sense of anticipation similar to the first day of school, with early adopters eagerly trying out the app and sharing their initial posts. Some even speculated whether Instagram Threads could become a “Twitter killer.” By Thursday morning, Threads had become the top free app on Apple’s App Store and a trending topic on Twitter itself.
The introduction of Threads could seriously threaten Twitter, especially as the platform has faced criticism since Elon Musk assumed control in October 2022, resulting in a haphazard approach. Recently, Twitter has faced user backlash due to temporary limits on content viewing, rendering the platform particularly vulnerable. For Meta, Threads represents an opportunity to expand its empire of popular apps further.
Threads could pose a significant challenge to Twitter, especially considering the recent backlash faced by the platform since Elon Musk assumed control in October 2022. Under Musk’s leadership, Twitter has been perceived as operating somewhat impulsive and unplanned. This has led to a growing vulnerability for Twitter, evident recently as users express their frustration over temporary restrictions on content viewing.
Additionally, for Meta, the launch of Threads presents an opportunity to expand its empire of popular apps and tap into a new platform for advertising. With its large user base and diverse range of accounts, Threads could offer Meta a valuable avenue to monetize through targeted advertising. By leveraging the app’s popularity and user engagement, Meta can further enhance its portfolio of successful applications while generating revenue from ad placements.
What are Threads? – Key Features of Instagram Threads App
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has recently launched a new app called Threads. This platform is similar to Twitter as it has a feed that mainly consists of text-based posts. But it also allows users to share photos and videos, making it possible to have real-time conversations.
Meta has announced that Threads will have a character limit of 500 for messages, similar to Twitter’s concise format. Users can interact with posts by replying, reposting, and quoting others’ content. The app’s design and navigation system are similar to Instagram’s, and users can easily share posts from Threads to their Instagram Stories. Thread accounts can be designated as public or private, with verified Instagram accounts automatically receiving verification on Threads.
After launching Threads, Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, shared his vision for the platform. He intends to create an inviting and interactive public space where people can converse. By leveraging Instagram’s strengths, the aim is to develop a new and exciting experience that focuses on text, ideas, and discussions.
Please be aware that a few users experienced some glitches and problems loading content in the first few hours after the launch of Threads. This is common when many users join and interact with a new app simultaneously.
How can users sign up on Threads?
Users can use their existing Instagram accounts to sign up for Threads. They will retain the same username, password, and account name, although they can customize their bio specifically for Threads. Additionally, users can easily import their list of followed accounts from Instagram, facilitating a seamless transition onto the app. However, leaving Threads is more complex. While users can temporarily deactivate their profiles through the app’s settings, according to the privacy policy, permanently deleting a Threads profile requires deleting the associated Instagram account. This aspect has raised concerns among some users regarding data collection.
Similar to Instagram, Threads has the potential to gather various user data, including location, contacts, search history, browsing history, and contact information, as indicated on the Apple App Store. As for its availability, Threads is accessible in certain regions. It is recommended to check the app’s availability on the respective app stores or official announcements from Meta for the most up-to-date information on which countries or regions can access Threads.
Is Threads the potential replacement for Twitter?
According to the company, Threads is available in 100 countries and can be used on both Apple’s iOS and Android platforms. It also supports over 30 languages. Thread is a strong contender among the new media that aim to challenge Twitter’s dominance in real-time, public conversations. Many Twitter users have desired an alternative since Elon Musk took control of the platform. However, it remains to be seen if Threads could be considered a potential “Twitter killer.”
Meta, as the parent company, has a significant advantage over Twitter due to its vast user base on various platforms. With over 2 billion active Instagram users worldwide, Meta plans to attract many users to Threads. In comparison, Twitter’s active user base is only estimated to be around 250 million. Given the size and engagement of Meta’s user base, Threads has a promising chance of capturing attention and potentially offering a viable alternative to Twitter in public conversations.
Meta’s existing scale and infrastructure provide it with a significant advantage. Unlike many other Twitter competitors introduced recently that required users to join waitlists or receive invitations, Threads makes it incredibly easy for users to get started without the hassle of recreating their network.
However, Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri acknowledged in a video posted on the platform that the real challenge for new social media platforms lies in keeping users engaged over the long term rather than simply getting them to sign up initially. To ensure a positive user experience, Meta must actively address spam, harassment, conspiracy theories, and false claims on Threads. These are the very issues that have caused many users to become disillusioned with Twitter. The launch of Threads follows Meta’s layoff of more than 20,000 employees, including those responsible for user experience, well-being, policy, and risk analytics, starting in November.
Additionally, the forthcoming 2024 US Presidential election campaign season has raised concerns about a potential surge in misinformation. Meta asserts that its community guidelines, just like those for its other apps, will be in place to govern Threads. Meta must prioritize maintaining a safe and welcoming environment on Threads to ensure user satisfaction and mitigate the challenges plaguing other social media platforms.
Click here to read more blogs.
