By now, you must have come across numerous individuals urging you to join Threads, or perhaps you’ve already received notifications from influencers encouraging you to become a part of their Threads community.
On July 5th, Meta (aka Facebook and Instagram creators) unveiled a new social media platform, intended to rival Twitter. While Mark Zuckerberg himself hasn’t explicitly said it as such, if you explore the platform, that’s precisely what you’ll discover. Threads brings together the functionalities of Instagram and Twitter into a single space, earning the moniker of “Twitter Killer” among techies.
“We believe there’s an opportunity for a separate space where creators and public figures can share timely updates about their interests,” a Meta spokesperson said in a statement at the time when coding was underway on the then-untitled platform.
This development can be seen as another move by Zuckerberg to engage with Elon Musk, following an ongoing rivalry spanning approximately seven years on various tech-related subjects. Most recently, the two billionaires even hinted at the possibility of settling their differences as a brawl to the cage. Musk has been actively tweeting about this matter since the launch of Threads last week.
But, let’s discuss in detail what it is and what it does.
What is Threads?
Threads is designed as a companion app to Instagram, specifically focusing on facilitating private and direct communication between users and their close friends.
With Threads, users can create a dedicated and private space for sharing photos, videos, messages, and status updates with their selected close friends list. The app places emphasis on real-time communication and encourages users to share instant updates and updates throughout the day.
Threads offer features like automatic status updates, where users can set their current activity or location to be shared with their close friends. It also provides a camera feature that allows users to quickly capture and share photos and videos directly within the app.
The app aims to create a more intimate and private social media experience, allowing users to connect and communicate more closely with their inner circle. However, it is important to note that Threads requires a separate installation from Instagram and operates as a standalone app.
“The vision for Threads is to create an option and friendly public space for conversation,” Zuckerberg said in a verified Threads post following the launch. “We hope to take what Instagram does best and create a new experience around text, ideas, and discussing what’s on your mind.”
The difference between Threads and Twitter.
To put this simply, the decision to embrace or overlook social media platforms comes down to your specific needs and objectives. Let’s list the differences:
- In addition to penning up to 500 characters, Threads allows users to share photos and videos up to five minutes long.
- The order in which posts are listed in users’ feeds – Like Instagram and Facebook, Threads timelines are purely algorithmic, meaning posts don’t show in reverse chronological order to show the most recent posts like Twitter timelines.
- Unlike Twitter, Threads doesn’t limit the number of posts users can consume daily. A few days before Threads launched, Twitter imposed a boundary that limits users to 600 posts a day and those paying a monthly subscription fee to 6,000 posts a day.
- Threads is exclusively designed as a mobile-only platform, meaning that users can access and read posts on Threads.net. However, the ability to post and interact is limited to the Threads mobile app. In contrast, Twitter offers users the flexibility to access the platform via desktop computers as well as the Twitter mobile app.
- Hashtags, a popular feature on Twitter (in addition to Instagram and Facebook), are not available on Threads. The platform also does not allow its users to search for specific content like the aforementioned.
- Also, Twitter has ads and Threads does not. However I doubt that this will stay, Zuckerberg has built his Meta empire on ads and campaigns.
How do you sign up for Threads?
Getting started with Threads is a straightforward process, but it’s important to note that an Instagram account is required for login, even though Threads operates as a separate app. Unlike Instagram, Threads cannot be accessed via Threads.net as it redirects users to the App Store through a QR code on the website.
Once you’ve downloaded the Threads app, you’ll be prompted to either log in using your Instagram credentials or create a new account if you don’t already have one. The integration with Instagram is advantageous as it allows for seamless synchronisation of settings between the two platforms, unlike Twitter.
One of the benefits of Instagram integration is that users don’t have to start building a following from scratch on Threads. You have the option to automatically carry over your existing followers and following, making it easy to connect with your friends and favourite accounts. Additionally, any blocked accounts on Instagram will also carry over to Threads.
Final Thoughts!
The question at hand is whether you’re ready to dive in or step aside. While the framework of most social media platforms may seem similar, your decision should be based on your desired outcomes and the level of engagement you seek, whether for personal use or business purposes.
Truth be told, social media platforms are continuously expanding and evolving, and this trend is unlikely to fade anytime soon. Figures like Zuckerberg, Musk, and the new generation of creators are constantly driving this growth. So, it’s wise to hop on the bandwagon and embrace the opportunities that lie ahead.
It’s important to recognise that social media platforms have become an integral part of modern communication and interaction. They offer a dynamic and ever-expanding space for individuals to connect, share, and express themselves. From Facebook to Instagram, Twitter to TikTok, each platform presents unique features and audiences, allowing users to tailor their experiences accordingly. Threads will be no different, and I am excited to see what Musk will now do with Twitter which has been the ‘talk of the town ‘from the tech world of the new platform features, since his public and openly Twittered takeover.
In the meantime, get onto the app and learn its features today.