Meta's Twitter killer? Threads
Meta's new social media platform, Threads, is now live and ready for use. This app, which is seen as a direct competitor to Twitter, can be accessed via its website Threads.net or by downloading the app on iOS and Android platforms.
Threads was unveiled after much speculation, leaks, and a high-profile challenge between Meta's Mark Zuckerberg and Tesla's Elon Musk. In a conversation with The Verge's Alex Heath, Instagram's Adam Mosseri acknowledged Twitter's pioneering role in the social media space, but emphasized the opportunity to create an open platform that caters to the existing Instagram community.
Threads allows users to post text-based content of up to 500 characters, as well as share photos and videos up to five minutes long. The interface is reminiscent of Twitter, with options to like, comment, repost, and share threads. Users can log in using their Instagram credentials and follow the same individuals they do on Instagram.
Unlike Twitter, Threads does not currently allow users to switch between streams of recommended and following-only content. However, it does extend some of Instagram's privacy controls, such as the ability to filter out certain words in replies and limit who can reply to your threads.
Despite its launch, Threads does not yet support ActivityPub, a decentralized social networking protocol used by Mastodon. This protocol would enable users to transfer their information from Threads to another host, among other functionalities.
Threads has been met with mixed reactions. While some experts believe it could attract Twitter users dissatisfied with recent platform changes, others have raised concerns about the amount of data the app might use, including health, financial, and browsing data linked to users' identities.
Currently, Threads is available for download in over 100 countries, excluding the European Union due to regulatory concerns. Despite being a standalone app, Threads requires users to log in using their Instagram account, with the option to customize their profile specifically for Threads.
Threads' launch comes amidst criticism of Meta's business practices, including allegations of prioritizing profits over safety and allowing third parties to access Facebook users' personal data. Despite these controversies, Threads has a significant advantage due to its connection to Instagram and its vast user base.
Threads operates by allowing posts to be shared to Instagram and vice versa, including links, photos, and videos. Users can control who can mention them, filter out replies containing specific words, and manage other profiles. Despite its ties to Instagram, Threads has been widely compared to Twitter, with some investors even dubbing it a "Twitter killer".