Mark Zuckerberg, has launched a Twitter rival called Threads to potentially threaten Twitter’s dominance.
- Threads is a text-based conversation app seen as an alternative to Twitter, allowing users to write and share real-time text updates among groups of followers. They can engage with posts by liking, replying, sharing, and sending direct messages.
- Threads is integrated with Meta’s photo and video sharing network, Instagram, making it easy for users to find and track the same accounts they follow on Instagram.
- Meta aims to poach Twitter’s users who are seeking a platform that is “sanely run” in response to controversies and changes under Elon Musk’s ownership.
- Twitter has faced technical glitches, content moderation problems, workforce cuts, and controversial changes under Musk’s leadership, leading to criticism and user boycotts.
- Under Musk’s leadership, Twitter has introduced a paid subscription offering, replaced the blue check verification system, implemented a daily post limit, and downsized its workforce. Technical issues have raised doubts about Twitter’s ability to sustain operations and regulate content with fewer staff.
- In July, Twitter announced that access to its TweetDeck service would be restricted to paid subscribers, resulting in criticism and boycotts by news organizations. European Union regulators have called for increased resources to address sensitive content and disinformation on the platform.
- Notable individuals and alternative platforms, such as Mastodon and Bluesky Social, saw increased user numbers as some users left Twitter.
- Threads is expected to integrate with ActivityPub, a decentralized social media protocol, potentially allowing users more control over their data and the ability to switch platforms. This protocol enables different services to share information, allowing users to explore various platforms and have more control over their data. Most major social media platforms are controlled by private companies, limiting users’ ability to control and transfer their networks of friends to other services. The extent of Threads’ integration with ActivityPub and how it operates alongside Instagram, which does not run on such a service, remains to be seen.
Threads can be accessed by downloading the app for iOS or Android or via desktop at threads.net