Threads by Meta 2023 Overview

Threads, developed by Meta's Instagram team, is a platform where users can share short posts or updates limited to 500 characters. It allows the inclusion of links, photos, or videos up to 5 minutes long. The app is linked to users' Instagram accounts, enabling easy sharing of Threads posts to Instagram stories or other platforms. The feed on Threads includes content from followed accounts on Instagram or Threads, as well as personalized recommendations. Users have the ability to customize their feed by filtering specific words and managing mentions. Threads is a free app available for download on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

MEHTODS TO USE THREADS:

To use Threads, you need to have an existing Instagram account since the platform relies on your Instagram login details for sign-in. When you create your Threads account, your Instagram username will be automatically imported. However, you have the option to personalize your profile according to your preferences. It's worth mentioning that users under the age of 18 in the UK will have a default private profile set by default, as specified by Meta.

Using Threads, you can conveniently follow the same accounts you already follow on Instagram, preserving your existing connections with just a few clicks. Instead of starting from scratch, you can easily transfer your following to Threads. When creating a post or "Thread," you have the flexibility to choose who can view it, whether it's the entire world or just your followers.

In terms of features, Threads incorporates functionalities that will please Twitter and Instagram users. You have the ability to unfollow, report, block, or restrict a profile, accessible through the three dots drop-down menu. If you have blocked someone on Instagram, they will automatically be blocked on Threads as well. Additional features include support for screen readers and AI-generated image descriptions.

Meta is actively working towards making Threads compatible and integrative with other applications that support the ActivityPub protocol, including WordPress and Mastodon. In the future, the company aims to make Threads posts accessible to anyone with a compatible app, regardless of whether they have a Threads account or not.

THREADS V/S TWITTER:

   

The rivalry between the two tech giants is extending beyond the anticipated clash between Musk and Mark Zuckerberg. Threads, with its seamless integration with Instagram, has the potential to attract a large user base rapidly. However, Musk's recent modification of Twitter's posting limits, restricting verified users to 10,000 posts per day, unverified users to 1,000 posts per day, and new unverified users to 500 posts per day, may lead to a decline in subscribers and advertisers.

However, not everyone is optimistic about the Threads platform. According to Forrester analyst Mike Proulx, Meta is capitalizing on the current dissatisfaction with Twitter, but the company has a history of unsuccessful standalone app launches, like Slingshot and IGTV. Proulx believes that the market is already saturated with Twitter alternatives such as Bluesky, Mastodon, and Hive, which further divides the user base seeking alternatives.

Moreover, the launch of Threads in the European Union reportedly faces delays due to concerns over data sharing between the two apps.

For more information on social media platforms, including TikTok rules and Meta's paid verification system for Instagram and Facebook, you can refer to CNET's additional coverage.