In a direct challenge to Twitter’s long-standing dominance in the realm of public conversations, Instagram, owned by Meta Platforms Inc., has unveiled Threads, a powerful new application that promises to reshape the way users engage and share information online. With its seamless integration of text, links, and conversations, Threads poses the most formidable threat to Elon Musk’s ailing social media platform yet.
According to reports from Bloomberg, Threads allows users to effortlessly transfer their follower lists and account names from Instagram, Meta’s immensely popular photo and video-sharing platform boasting a user base exceeding 2 billion. This means that renowned brands, celebrities, and content creators can seamlessly transition their online presence to Threads, providing an instant and substantial user base.
The introduction of Threads marks a significant milestone for Meta, as it is the first time the company has directly targeted Twitter’s functionality and user base with a dedicated application. While Meta-owned platforms like Instagram and Facebook have previously emulated products from emerging competitors, Threads represents a focused effort to directly compete with Twitter.
Meta’s well-timed entry into the market comes amid Twitter’s struggles, including declining advertising revenue and internal restructuring. With Elon Musk at the helm following his acquisition of Twitter for $44 billion, the platform has faced numerous challenges, including technical difficulties, changes in content moderation policies, and layoffs. These issues have prompted users to explore alternative platforms.
Threads, with its absence of limitations on daily tweet views and strong safety measures, offers a compelling alternative to disenchanted Twitter users. Furthermore, the app builds on Instagram’s existing infrastructure, incorporating the same content rules and user controls for muting and blocking harassing accounts. Verified public figures can maintain their blue badges, emphasising Meta’s commitment to nurturing established communities.
The early response to Threads has been overwhelmingly positive, with over 30 million downloads within the first 18 hours of its launch. The app’s swift ascent to the top of Apple’s App Store rankings in the UK and the US further reinforces its potential to disrupt the social media landscape. Experts predict that Threads could exceed 100 million users within the next two months, cementing its status as a serious contender to Twitter’s reign.
While Threads currently lacks certain features present in Twitter, such as hashtags, keywords, direct messages, and a desktop version, it’s core offering of public conversations and content sharing is poised to captivate users seeking a fresh alternative.
How to sign up for the Threads?
To sign up for the Threads app on Android and iPhone, follow these steps:
- Open the App Store or Play Store on your device and search for “Threads, an Instagram app.” Download and install the app.
- Once the installation is complete, launch the Threads app. At the bottom of the screen, you will find the “Login with Instagram” button.
- Tap on the “Login with Instagram” button and enter your Instagram username and password to log in to the Threads app.
- Upon logging in, you will have the option to import your profile information from Instagram. Tap the “Import from Instagram” button to do this.
- The app will prompt you to choose between a Public profile or a Private profile. Make your selection and tap “Next.”
- Finally, tap “Join Threads” to complete the signup process.
If you prefer to sign up through the Threads website, currently, it redirects you to download the application. You can visit threads.net and log in to the platform using your Instagram username and password, but you will be prompted to download the app to continue using Threads.
