On Wednesday Meta owned by Mark Zuckerberg launched a “friendly rival” to Twitter amidst the turmoil and controversies surrounding the latter and the two tech billionaires– Zuckerberg and Musk.
Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO states that an impressive number of ten million users joined the app within seven hours of launch.
The Threads app, described as a text-based alternative to Instagram focused on immediate updates and open discussions, will have its initial availability in over 100 countries, encompassing the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Japan.
Due to regulatory concerns regarding data sharing between apps (Instagram and Threads), the initial launch will exclude availability in the European Union.
Within minutes of its launch, several prominent brands such as Billboard, HBO, NPR, and Netflix had already created accounts on Threads. Meta also mentioned celebrities Shakira and Gordon Ramsay had backed them with support.
Users will require an Instagram account to log in and access Threads. Once registered, they have the option to follow the same accounts they follow on Instagram, provided those accounts have also joined the new app.
Although Threads bears a visual resemblance to Twitter, certain terminologies have been modified. Retweets are referred to as “reposts,” and tweets are called “threads.” Meta has previously incorporated features from rival platforms, as seen with the launch of Instagram’s Reels in 2020, which resembled TikTok’s short-form videos.
On Threads, posts can be up to 500 characters in length, surpassing the typical 280-character limit on Twitter. Additionally, users can share videos up to five minutes long, and posts can be shared as links on other platforms. Similar to Instagram user will be able unfollow, block, restrict, or report other users, and they can also filter out replies containing specific words.
In a separate post on Instagram following the app’s launch, Zuckerberg expressed his belief that the world needs a friendly community like Threads and conveyed his gratitude to all the users who joined the app.
Zuckerberg- Musk rivalry
The launch of Threads follows a period of ongoing exchanges and verbal jabs between billionaires Zuckerberg and Musk, with the two even going as far as jokingly threatening to engage in a real-life mixed martial arts cage match in Las Vegas.
Meta’s endeavour to compete with Twitter comes in the wake of several challenging months for the social media company. Since Musk gained ownership of Twitter by buying it for $44 billion last October, Twitter has experienced significant turmoil, including large-scale layoffs, technical issues, and controversies surrounding content moderation. These challenges have led to a loss of confidence among advertisers, resulting in an exodus from the platform.
According to some analysts, Threads could potentially leverage the extensive user base of Instagram and its connections with advertisers. As users can access Threads through their existing Instagram accounts, there is an opportunity for synergies between the two platforms, potentially benefiting the new app.
The official Threads account posted a message stating that it aims to cultivate a positive and creative environment for users to freely express their ideas. Adding that the goal is all about fostering conversation.
Previously, attempts to challenge Twitter have faced limited success. Alternative platforms like Mastodon, Bluesky, and Post have been unable to match the widespread reach and influence of Twitter, which boasts a user base of over 400 million worldwide. Despite the emergence of these alternatives, Twitter has remained the dominant player in the micro-blogging sphere.
