In an attempt to dethrone Twitter, Facebook has made numerous efforts over the years, including shamelessly replicating signature Twitter features such as hashtags and trending topics. However, the parent company of Facebook, Meta, has now unleashed its most audacious move against Twitter to date.
Introducing Threads, a brand-new app launched by Meta on Wednesday, designed to provide a platform for real-time conversations online. This particular function has long been the core selling point of Twitter, and Meta is now stepping into the arena with its own offering.
Upon first glance, Threads bears a striking resemblance to Twitter, from its layout to the description of its features. The initial listing, released as a tantalizing teaser earlier this week, highlights the app’s potential to foster communities and facilitate connections with like-minded individuals.
In a Threads post following the launch, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg expressed the vision behind the app: “Threads aims to create a friendly public space for conversation. Our goal is to leverage Instagram’s strengths and pioneer a new text-based experience for sharing ideas and engaging in meaningful discussions.”
Zuckerberg, using his verified Threads account, revealed that the app garnered over 2 million sign-ups within its first two hours. Later on Wednesday, he triumphantly announced that Threads had surpassed 5 million sign-ups within the first four hours of its release.
Responding to posts and addressing whether Threads could surpass the popularity of Twitter, Zuckerberg shared his thoughts.
“It will require some time, but I firmly believe that there should be a public conversations app with an audience of over 1 billion people. Twitter has had the opportunity to achieve this but has yet to master it. Hopefully, we will.”
The app’s listing describes Threads as a space where communities can converge to discuss a wide array of topics, ranging from current affairs to the latest trends.
“Regardless of your interests, you can directly follow and connect with your favorite creators and like-minded individuals, or cultivate a devoted following of your own to share your ideas, opinions, and creativity with the world,” the description reads.
Meta has announced that messages posted on Threads will be limited to 500 characters. The company plans to make the app available in 100 countries via Apple’s iOS and Android platforms.
Upon downloading the app, users are prompted to link their Instagram accounts, customize their profiles, and follow the same accounts they already follow on Instagram.
The interface bears a striking resemblance to Twitter, featuring a familiar layout with a text-based feed, the ability to repost and quote other Thread posts. However, it also incorporates Instagram’s distinctive aesthetic and allows for seamless sharing of posts from Threads directly to Instagram Stories.
Furthermore, verified Instagram accounts will automatically receive verification on Threads, and users have the option to list their Thread accounts as either public or private.
This new addition to the market joins a growing list of Twitter rivals and could potentially pose the most significant threat to Twitter yet, given Meta’s vast resources and massive audience.
The release of Threads comes at a time of increased turmoil for Twitter, which recently experienced an outage over the weekend. Subsequently, the company announced temporary limits on the number of tweets users can read while using the app, further exacerbating the unrest among its user base.
In conclusion, Meta’s Threads app marks the beginning of a new era in real-time conversations. With its striking similarities to Twitter and the added advantage of integrating Instagram’s appeal, this app has the potential to reshape the landscape of online discussions.
As Meta continues to innovate and expand, it remains to be seen whether Threads will indeed surpass Twitter’s dominance and become the go-to platform for public conversations on a global scale.