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Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is all set to launch ‘Threads’, a Twitter rival platform, on July 6, 2023. Threads will be aiming to provide an alternative platform for social networking and discussions, amid concerns raised about Twitter’s rate limitations and ongoing controversies.
The timing for launching the app seems to be perfect as it will address the concerns of users, considering the current restrictions on viewing tweets. Earlier this week, Meta’s new Twitter-esque message app appeared in the Google Play Store in some regions. The app is proposed to be called ‘Threads’, based on the messaging app launched by Meta in 2021.
‘Threads’ app interface suggests that people will be able to use their Instagram handle to log in to Threads, Meta’s rival to Twitter, and follow their existing contacts.
About Meta’s move to compete with Twitter
Meta responds to Twitter controversies by announcing a new app called Threads, which will launch on Thursday, just as users of the Elon Musk-owned platform seek out alternatives in droves.
The ‘Threads’ app is linked to Instagram and is noted to have appeared in the Apple app store and other Play stores on Tuesday, two days ahead of its launch. Meta has also launched a countdown website for the release of its Twitter-like app.
Designed to be a Twitter-like platform for real-time conversations and sharing information, Threads aims to provide users with a replicating experience with an increased emphasis on public, text-based posts and conversations focusing more on microblogging. The app will be closely linked to and based on the sister social networking platform ‘Instagram’.
Unlike Twitter, Threads is slated to be an ActivityPub-compatible decentralized social networking service, similar to other Twitter competitors like Bluesky and Mastodon. Initially, the app was supposed to launch at the end of July 2023, but the launch has been moved forward to the 6th of July, 2023, to take benefit of the chaos around Twitter rate limitations and usage restrictions imposed on users recently.
Whilst the adoption of a compulsory login to be able to use Twitter and browse tweets, with restrictions on how many tweets users can view per day, we have seen people criticizing Musk’s new move and can expect a downfall in Twitter’s engagement rates. At such a crucial time, it was a good move by Meta to prepone the launch of Threads to capture the market.
What is new about ‘Threads’?
A quick preview of the “text-based conversation” app suggests that ‘Threads’ will be a platform where communities will come together to discuss and give opinions about everything, from the topics they care about today to what’ll be trending tomorrow.
“Whatever it is 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,” the promotional text from the company says.
Instagram users can now discover their tickets to ‘Threads’, by typing Threads on their IG search bar and the username to the new app would be the same as their IG username. When searching for the app, a golden ticket icon shows up, and on clicking that ticket icon a window appears with the date (July 6) and time (6 PM) on which ‘Threads’ would be launched (as shown on the left side of the picture) and the Threads logo (on the right side of the picture).
The first look of the ‘Threads’ suggests that people will be able to use their Instagram handle to log in to Threads and follow their existing contacts. It appears to share a similar look and feel to Twitter, providing similar features reposting, liking, and allowing users to limit who can reply to posts.
As per the Play Store Description of the app:
“Threads is where communities come together to discuss everything from the topics you care about today to what’ll be trending tomorrow. Whatever it is 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.”
It appears to be so similar to Twitter but with an IG Direct tilt.
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