What Is Threads? The Ins and Outs of Instagram’s Rival App

Mark Zuckerberg has released a new social media network to compete with Twitter called Threads.

You should check out the newest social media platform in the App Store or Google Play.

Meta, the corporation behind Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, released a new conversation-based app called Threads on July 5. Threads closely mimic Twitter’s design.

Threads, backed by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, was finally revealed in March 2023 after months of conjecture and mystery. The independent network has been dubbed the “Twitter killer” by techies, with many anticipating it would replace the Elon Musk-owned app.

A spokeswoman for Meta said while development on the unnamed platform was underway, “We believe there’s an opportunity for a separate space where creators and public figures can share timely updates about their interests.”

Threads’ release increases competition in the social media market and maintains Zuckerberg and Musk’s long-running rivalry. The two tech billionaires have been feuding for nearly seven years, lately threatening to take their fight to the ring over issues like artificial intelligence and rockets.

Since Musk paid $44 billion to acquire Twitter in October 2022, the app has undergone several controversial updates that have frustrated its user base. To make Twitter accessible to everyone, he has changed the authentication process and the maximum number of tweets that may be read simultaneously.

Now, Threads offers a significant threat to Twitter, which took 780 days from its public launch in July 2006 to reach that enormous milestone. Threads has amassed 10 million members within the first few hours of its launch.

Threads is Instagram’s answer to Twitter; keep scrolling to learn all about it.

What is Threads?

Meta’s newest software, Threads, is designed to compete with Twitter by letting users freely exchange short bits of text. However, the Zuckerberg-backed network is integrated with Instagram (and requires an Instagram account to join).

In a confirmed post shortly after the introduction of Threads, Zuckerberg stated, “The vision for Threads is to create an alternative and friendly public space for conversation.” To paraphrase, “We hope to take what Instagram does best and create a new experience around text, ideas, and discussing what’s on your mind.”

Users can post texts of up to 500 characters and images and videos of up to five minutes. There are no plans to make the app available in the European Union, but it is available in over a hundred other countries.

Threads

With over a million followers in less than 24 hours, Zuckerberg has been actively engaging with Threads users, addressing their questions and providing updates on his vision for the app’s future.

Someone “conflicted” about the matter asked the media mogul how he would ” decide” what to put on Threads instead of his Instagram broadcast channel. When asked, “Good question,” Zuckerberg said.

We’ll see where these channels go,” he said in continuation, “but for now, I intend to use my Instagram broadcast channel for daily product updates and Threads for debate and sharing opinions.”

The comment “Zuck is salivating as he waits to drop the ads on all his new Threads users ” was written by another member. While that was going on, the billionaire backer explained his motivations.

Like Facebook has developed its other products, Zuckerberg has stated, “We will focus first on making the product work well, then figuring out how to get it to 1 billion people, and only then thinking about monetization.”

How to create a Threads account?

Even though Threads is its app, you’ll need an Instagram account to sign up and log in. Threads.net does not directly link to the new service, unlike Instagram (instead, it provides a QR code that leads to the App Store).

After installing Threads, users will be prompted to sign in with their Instagram credentials (or create an account from scratch). Syncing one’s settings directly from Threads to Instagram is a significant advantage over Twitter.

Threads

Because of Instagram’s compatibility with this app, users need not start from scratch to gain a following. Users can have their current list of followers and accounts they are following immediately imported, making it simple to reconnect with old acquaintances and pursue new ones. Additionally, Instagram account block lists will be preserved.

According to Instagram’s Supplemental Privacy Policy, one drawback of the Threads Instagram integration is that users cannot remove their Threads accounts without also deleting their Instagram accounts.

Users can deactivate their accounts; however, even if they do so, they will still exist in some form.

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How does Threads differ from Twitter?

Although computer experts have compared Zuckerberg’s Threads to Musk’s Twitter, there are significant distinctions between the two conversation-based social networking sites.

Threads are different from Twitter in a fundamental way: users’ Instagram followers and the profiles they follow are imported automatically. But unlike Twitter, Threads lets you share your tweets on Instagram Stories.

Another critical distinction between Threads and Twitter is the chronological order of posts in user feeds. Unlike Twitter timelines, which display tweets in reverse chronological order to highlight the most current activity, Threads’ timelines are entirely determined by an algorithm.

Like Twitter’s “For You” tab, which features a distinct timeline separate from the main feed, only displaying user profiles, the algorithm-driven timeline also includes posts produced by accounts the user does not follow.

In contrast to Twitter, threads do not limit the total number of postings a user can read daily. Twitter restricted 600 posts per day for free users and 6,000 posts per day for paid subscribers just days before the launch of Threads.

Threads

Threads, as indicated, is a mobile-only platform; users can see content on Threads.net but cannot contribute or engage with the community there. In contrast, you can check your Twitter feed on your computer and the Twitter mobile app.

Hashtags, a widely used function on social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, are currently unavailable on Threads. Users are unable to conduct searches for specific material on the forum.

Similarly, Threads does not provide a “trending” section. Therefore, the algorithm Meta employs to display in users’ timelines determines which content people are presented with.

There are advertisements on Twitter, but not on Threads. In response to a question from a user, Zuckerberg said that monetization might be added in the future but that it was “only a matter of time.”

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Will Threads replace Twitter completely?

Although Zuckerberg’s latest program, Threads, has been dubbed a “Twitter killer” by some, whether or not it will ultimately supplant Musk’s platform is still up in the air. But Zuckerberg is notoriously competitive and has previously stolen functionality from competing apps.

Meta, a competitor to TikTok, unveiled a feature called Reels for Instagram in 2020, which enables users to make and scroll through short-form films in its feed on the app and has since gained a lot of traction.

This app will be integrated into the Fediverse, which Zuckerberg describes as “a social network of different servers operated by third parties that are connected and can communicate with each other.” Users on various servers that accept Meta’s ActivityPub protocol can communicate with one another.

Threads

What fеaturеs Thrеads doеs not havе right now?

Here are some features that the threads app does not have right now:

  • A fееd for “Following. “
  • Support for GIFs
  • Full support for thе wеb vеrsion
  • Changеs to posts
  • Translation in thе tеxt
  • Support for Alt picturе tеxt Hashtags madе by usеrs

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are Thrеads? How do you create an account?

Thrеads is likе Twittеr but for tеxt. It is linked to your Instagram account, so you can make an account by logging in with your Instagram crеdеntials.

What’s different about it from Twittеr?

Thеrе arе no paid lеvеls or ads on thе app right now. But your Instagram vеrification mark stays with you, еvеn if you paid for Mеta Vеrifiеd. Usеrs can usе thе pеoplе thеy alrеady know on Instagram to find nеw pеoplе to follow.

Thе app camе out but nееds fеaturеs likе long vidеos, plain tеxts, and livе audio rooms likе Twittеr.

How do you usе Thrеads?

Currеntly, this platform is offered in more than 100 countries on iOS and Android. But bеcausе of privacy concerns, thе app is not yеt availablе in thе EU. Bеcausе you sign in with your Instagram account, you can follow еvеryonе you already follow. You will also import your usеrnamе, namе, and sеttings likе your block list.

How many pеoplе are using this?

Thrеads had ovеr 30 million sign-ups in thе first fеw hours aftеr it wеnt livе. In the first 24 hours, more than 30M people joined.

How many timеs can you post on Thrеads?

One post on this app can have up to 500 characters. Imagеs, moviеs, and GIFs can be added to this post. Thеrе can bе up to 10 mеdia itеms in a Thrеad post.

Can Thrеads bе usеd on thе wеb?

You can sее Thrеad posts and accounts on thе wеb through a link. But you can’t use your account to sign in and post.

How do you get rid of your account on Thrеads?

Mеta’s “Supplеmеntal Privacy Policy,” says that you can turn off your Thrеads account, but if you want to dеlеtе it, you must also dеlеtе your Instagram account.

How doеs Thrеads gеt thе information it nееds?

Mеta says that since you use Instagram to sign in to Thrеads, “it is part of your Instagram account. ” Usеrs havе askеd how thе app collеcts data sincе thе App Storе discussеs privacy.