Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, has unveiled Threads, a new app aimed at competing with Twitter. Described as a platform to “share ideas & trends with text,” Threads is available for iOS and Android users. The app functions as a text-based version of Instagram, using the same username and automatically following the accounts already followed on Instagram. Users can customize their profiles and log in using their Instagram accounts. Posts on Threads can contain up to 500 characters and include links, photos, and videos up to 5 minutes in length.
Meta, the parent company of Instagram, previously mentioned its plans to explore a text-based platform for sharing updates about users’ interests. Threads’ launch is seen as a strategic move by Zuckerberg and Meta to tap into the Twitter user base. Leveraging Instagram’s massive user count of over 2 billion monthly active users could give Threads an advantage. It is worth noting that Instagram often introduces features inspired by other social media platforms.
Threads may pose a challenge to Twitter, which has faced controversy since being acquired by Elon Musk. Dissatisfied users have sought alternatives such as Bluesky, Mastodon, and Post. Musk recently implemented temporary restrictions on the number of posts certain Twitter users can view, citing data scraping and system manipulation concerns. Although Meta’s Threads has the potential to disrupt Twitter, analysts believe it will face significant obstacles in gaining substantial market share. Meta has a history of launching apps that later struggle and shut down, as seen with Slingshot, Paper, Rooms, and IGTV.
As the billionaire rivalry between Musk and Zuckerberg heats up, their respective companies are making waves in the social media landscape. However, the success of Threads will depend on its ability to compete against established players and overcome the challenges Meta has faced in the past.
