Threads, a new application developed by Meta as a response to Twitter, is scheduled to launch on Thursday (6th July 2023) amidst a surge of users seeking alternative platforms. The app, which is associated with Instagram, made its appearance in the Apple app store on Tuesday, preceding the upcoming launch. Meta has also created a countdown website to build anticipation for the release.
The introduction of Threads doesn’t come as a significant surprise, as information about the app has been gradually emerging in recent months. While Threads maintains a close association with Instagram, it will function as a separate and independent application. Although the App Store listing doesn’t provide extensive details, it appears that users will have the ability to engage with posts by liking, commenting, reposting, and sharing them. The screenshots displayed on the App Store also reveal a feature that allows users to customise their post’s reply audience, giving options to choose between everyone, people they follow, or only those mentioned in the post.
According to experts, Threads has the potential to significantly impact Twitter and is considered the most substantial challenge Elon Musk has encountered thus far. This is primarily due to its association with Instagram, which boasts 500 million daily users worldwide. Online, Threads has been dubbed the ‘Twitter Killer,’ reflecting the animosity between the rival billionaires. Their feud has even included talk of a potential cage fight, with the Colosseum in Rome suggested as a venue. Musk has openly expressed his preference for such a showdown and has consistently urged Twitter users to delete their Facebook accounts, dismissing the social network as ‘lame.’
Meanwhile, Mark Zuckerberg is attempting to capitalise on the discontent among Twitter users, who are frustrated and considering leaving the platform after Musk implemented limitations on the number of posts users can read per day. Elon Musk, the billionaire behind SpaceX and Tesla, has implemented temporary limitations on Twitter users due to concerns regarding the utilisation of Twitter’s data by numerous companies and websites. However, these restrictions do not affect accounts that have obtained the coveted blue verification tick, typically held by celebrities, prominent individuals, and companies. Verified users are still able to view up to 10,000 posts per day, while non-verified users are limited to 1,000 posts.
Screenshots indicate that users will have the option to log into Threads using their Instagram handle and follow their existing contacts. The app’s user interface appears to bear similarities to Twitter, offering comparable features such as reposting, liking content, and allowing users to control who can respond to their posts.
Only time will tell whether Threads can be a legitimate threat to Twitter but either way, it may prompt Elon Musk to be a little more careful with some of the changes he makes to his application over the coming months and years. We’ll be sure to keep an eye on the growth of Threads and will look to integrate it in to our social media services if it begins to get the traction that Mark Zuckerberg will be hoping for.