Welcome to Threads: Meta’s Answer to Twitter
Threads, Meta's new text-based social media app, was launched on July 5, 2023. Developed by the Instagram team, Threads lets users share text updates and engage in public discussions. While it functions as a standalone app, users can simply use their existing Instagram account to log in and post text updates up to 500 characters long, including links, photos, and videos up to 5 minutes in length. Soon, there will also be an option to follow hashtags and trending topics. Users can unfollow, block, limit, or report other accounts, and apply specific word filters.
On July 6th, Adam Mosseri, Instagram's head, announced the launch with a Reel through his personal account. Meta's founder, Mark Zuckerberg, posted an iconic Spider-Man meme in his first tweet in a decade, hinting at the app's rivalry with Twitter. Interestingly, Threads' release coincided with rumors about a potential mixed martial arts cage match between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg and Musk's decision to impose daily tweet usage quotas to address data collection concerns related to advanced AI models.
Threads saw an impressive 30+ million registrations within its first 24 hours, with numerous creators, celebrities, public figures, and brands already promoting the app and encouraging their audience to download it. Brands like HBO, Netflix, Spotify, and many others have instantly activated their profiles and joined the conversation. This strategic decision aims to enter a less "toxic" version of Twitter and capitalize on the community engagement trend and overall hype with relevant content.
Meta describes Threads as a platform where communities come together to discuss a wide range of topics, providing users with the freedom of expression. To compete with emerging decentralized microblogging platforms like Mastodon, Meta is committed to giving users more control over their audience. They partnered with ActivityPub, a decentralized social networking protocol, to allow users to transfer their content to another platform if they decide to stop using Threads. Meta envisions a new era of diverse and interconnected networks, where users of compatible apps can follow and interact with people on Threads without having a Threads account, and vice versa.
A couple of important points to note:
Users under 16 (or under 18 in certain countries) are defaulted into a private profile when they join Threads.
Existing Instagram users can sign in with their credentials, keeping their usernames, followers, and verification status. They can follow the same accounts they did on Instagram and find others who share their interests.
Users can switch accounts, but will need to log out first.
Users can add up to 10 media files to a single post and more than one video.
Deleting your Threads account will also delete your Instagram.
While a few new features are expected, including improved feed recommendations, voice notes, photo and video tagging, post reactions, and a more robust search function, Meta has announced that Threads will remain ad-free at least until 2023.
