Meta launches Threads, What to know about the ‘Twitter Killer’ app
Threads, a text-based social media app from Meta is finally here. The app debuted Wednesday, a day ahead of its scheduled debut and people are calling it the “Twitter killer,”
The launch comes after Twitter CEO Elon Musk announced Twitter would be enforcing a temporary limit on viewing Tweets for users. Musk said in a Tweet, “Verified accounts are limited to reading 6000 posts/day, Unverified accounts to 600 posts/day, New unverified accounts to 300/day.” Frustrated with the limit, Twitter users were looking for a different platform. Many developers have capitalized on Twitter’s recent fallout, but have not posed a threat to the company. Threads, however, enables users to sign up directly through their Instagram account and has the potential for more than 2 million users to import their accounts to the text-based platform.
Mark Zuckerberg, Meta CEO, claimed the app surpassed 10 million sign-ups within the first seven hours of the launch and anticipates for the platform to grow its audience over time. “Our vision is to take the best parts of Instagram and create a new experience for text, ideas, and discussing what’s on your mind,” Zuckerberg wrote in an Instagram caption. “I think the world needs this kind of friendly community, and I’m grateful to all of you who are part of Threads from day one.”
Zuckerberg also took to Twitter, posting for the first time in over a decade, a Spider-Man meme nodding to the similarities between Threads and Twitter.
But how does the app work? We’ve broken down some commonly asked questions regarding the platform.
How do I use Threads?
You need to have an Instagram account to use the Thread platform. Once you sign up, you’ll be able to log on directly to Threads and import the list of who you follow on the platform. Users are also permitted to set their accounts to private if they wish.
How does Threads work?
Fundamentally, the platform is very similar to Twitter. Users will be able to write short 500-character posts and attach photos, links, and short videos up to five minutes in length. The app’s feed is algorithmic, so it will include people you follow and recommend content based on the content you engage with, similar to Instagram’s Explore page.
How does Threads differ from Twitter?
There are not many differences between the two platforms, but Threads has yet to include a direct message feature. Instagram said in a blog post that it’s working to develop the app further to be “compatible with the open, interoperable social networks that we believe can shape the future of the internet.”
Where is Threads available?
Threads is available for free download from Apple’s App Store and the Google Play store in the United States and roughly 100 other countries, and it has plans to expand further. The platform is not yet available in the European Union.