Threads, a new app from Meta (the parent company of Facebook and Instagram), is the latest social media platform to challenge Twitter. Perhaps you have seen your friends post recently that they have joined Threads and you are unsure what it is. Or, you are fed up with Twitter and looking for an alternative. Either way, if you are in the marketing industry, you need to know all about Threads and how it compares to other social media platforms.
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What Is Threads?
Threads is a new text-based social media app that launched July 6, 2023. It is an Instagram app for sharing ideas and trends with text.
According to its description in the app store, “Threads is where communities come together to discuss everything from the topics you care about today to what’ll be trending tomorrow. Whatever is it you’re interested in, you can follow and connect directly with your favorite creators and others who love the same things ‒ or build a loyal following of your own to share your ideas, opinions, and creativity with the world.”
Does this sound familiar? Maybe like the little blue bird icon on your homescreen known as Twitter? You’re right: Many see Threads as Instagram’s challenger to Twitter. Many Twitter users are looking for an alternative to the platform that has seen major changes since Elon Musk purchased the platform last year. According to the MIT Technology Review, Twitter may have lost more than a million users since Musk took over.
What Is a Thread?
A post on Threads can be up to 500 characters long and include photos, links, and videos up to five minutes long.
In addition to being a text-based social media app, Threads is meant to enable positive, productive conversations. It gives you the power to control who can mention you or reply to you. You can also add hidden words to filter out replies that contain specific words.
https://twitter.com/mosseri/status/1676757469534511104
How to Download the Threads App
You can log in to Threads using your Instagram account. The Threads app is also available for download in the Apple app store and the Google Play store.
How to Create a Threads Account
If you already have an Instagram account, you’re in luck. You can use your existing Instagram account to log in to Threads. Simply open your Instagram app, click the three lines icon at the top right for Settings, and just below “Settings and Privacy” you will see an option for “Threads.” Simply click and go!
Threads vs. Twitter
Some competitors to Twitter that have already launched like Mastadon, Bluesky and Spill have not quite become equals to the original bird app. So far, Twitter has remained the go-to app for live updates on current events and sports and other text-based conversations.
However, those companies do not have Meta as a parent company. Meta is the largest social media company in the world. Meta’s current users across its platforms should give Threads a head start on launching its user base. Instagram alone has two billion users across the world.
Whether or not this new app will become a real rival to Twitter remains to be seen. However, the app is off to a good start. As of the afternoon of July 6, the first day the app launched, Mark Zuckerberg claimed that 30 million have already joined Meta’s Twitter rival.
Should I Download the Threads App?
Threads is setting itself apart as a potential competitor to Twitter. If you are using Twitter for marketing purposes, it might be time to download Threads and give it a try, too!
FAQ:
- What is the Threads app?
- How do I download the Threads app?
- How do I create a Threads account?
- Can Threads compete with Twitter?
- Is it necessary to join Threads?
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