Instagram Threads: Everything you need to know about the latest Twitter rival
Instagram Threads: Everything you need to know about the latest Twitter rival
Meta’s new app Threads could be a game-changer for the world of micro-blogging. Learn how it aims to leverage Instagram’s massive user base to create a better Twitter experience.
(Image: App Store/Meta)
It’s not enough for the two tycoons to fight it out in the ring. They also want to knock each other out of the social media scene. Musk’s Twitter reign is under fire, as disgruntled users explore alternative platforms. But these alternatives have a major shortcoming: they have very small userbases considering they’ve all started from scratch. After all, who wants to tweet to an empty room?
Enter Zuckerberg’s Threads, the new player on the field that could give Twitter a run for its money. Threads’ advantage is that it taps into Instagram’s massive and loyal usebase of 2.35 billion people. That’s a lot of potential threaders. As the hype builds up and the launch date draws near, we take a look at the app that could change the game.
What is Instagram Threads?
When leaks about the Threads app first popped up, the screenshots showed an app interface resembling that of Instagram’s comment section. Instagram is hoping to turn that comment section into a standalone app where users can create and join threads on various topics, similar to Twitter. Threads will allow users to follow hashtags, reply to posts, and send direct messages to other threaders.
What will Instagram Threads be like?
Meta’s chief product officer Chris Cox gave employees a sneak peek of the company’s upcoming Twitter rival last month. The app will piggyback on Instagram’s account system, so users can skip the hassle of filling out their details. If you already have an Instagram account, you’re good to go – your username and other info will be transferred to the new app.
The platform was previously known by the mysterious codenames “Project 92” and “Barcelona”, but now it has an actual name: Threads. Don’t confuse it with the other Threads that died in 2021, though.
Cox said at the meeting that Meta was listening to creators and public figures who want a platform that’s “sanely run”. He added that the app aims to be “safe, easy to use, reliable” and a place where creators can find a “stable home to build and grow their audiences.”
What are some of Instagram Threads’ features?
“Threads is where communities come together to discuss everything from the topics you care about today to what’ll be trending tomorrow. Whatever it is you’re interested in, you can follow and connect directly with your favourite creators and others who love the same things — or build a loyal following of your own to share your ideas, opinions and creativity with the world,” reads the app’s description.
But what else can you do on Threads? The app’s screenshots give us some clues. Like Instagram, you can like, comment, and DM any post, but you can also reshare it with a new feature that looks like Twitter’s retweet button. And speaking of Twitter, your replies will show up in a neat thread, making it easy to follow the conversation.
One thing that sets Threads apart from Twitter is the length of your posts. You can write up to 500 characters per post, which is almost twice as much as Twitter’s limit. You can also share updates in the form of photos, videos, and links with their followers and other creators – similar to Twitter.
Will Threads have a shot against Twitter?
The CEO of Meta has a reputation for borrowing features from other platforms and incorporating them into his own, often with great success. A prime example of this strategy is the Reels feature, which debuted in 2020 as a rival to the viral sensation TikTok app. Given Instagram’s massive user base, which happens to be significantly larger than that of Twitter, Threads does have an advantage over other Twitter competitors, and therefore, perhaps over Twitter itself.
How private is Instagram Threads?
Instagram’s Threads app is not fully in the clear, though. The eye-wateringly lengthy permissions requirements listed on the Threads app’s App Store listing are inviting criticism from users, particularly around the fact that the app asks for users’ “Financial Info” and “Sensitive Info.”
That’s a lot of trust to put in an app from Meta, the company formerly known as Facebook, which has a history of scandals and controversies.
When is Instagram Threads launching?
If you’re itching to try out Instagram Threads, mark your calendar for July 6. That’s the official launch date, according to the App Store listing. Instagram has also added a sneaky surprise ahead of the launch: type “Threads” in the search bar and you’ll see a ticket icon. Tap it and you’ll get an invite to the app and a countdown to the big day. The Threads app now also has an Instagram account that went live on Tuesday, although as of writing it hasn’t posted anything and is private.