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As expected, the Meta-run Threads app has registered over 100 Million members in less than a week of launch, making it one of the fastest-growing apps in social media history. The much-anticipated Twitter alternative has surpassed the rapid growth and user engagement gained by ChatGPT, snatching away the title of the world’s fastest-growing app.
Yes, that’s correct. ChatGPT, launched earlier this year was reported to reach 100 million users in two months while Threads which launched a day earlier than the expected date rushed to 30 million sign-ups within 24 hours, and 70 million within 2 days of launch breaking all the records.
With that being said, let’s understand why Threads was successful in driving user engagement and what’s next for the fastest-growing app.
Threads safety check
Meta is sure to take user and data safety seriously on Threads, to help users have productive and positive conversations and an unwavering user experience without worrying about data compromise. See a few things you can do to help focus on the threads and people you’re into:
- Threads have in-built tools to control who can mention you or reply to you for an enhanced safe user experience.
- Accounts you have blocked on Instagram will automatically be blocked on Threads. Users can also unfollow, block, restrict, or report a Threads profile by using the three-dot drop-down menu.
- Like on Instagram, users can add hidden words to filter out replies to their threads that contain specific words.
- You can have a completely different Threads community if you don’t choose to follow everyone you follow on Instagram.
Post by @threadsappView on Threads
Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram has also shared insight on what was the inspiration behind the Threads log and who were the people behind @ like sign that was customized to create the Threads logo:
Post by @mosseriView on Threads
Threads dictionary
There was so much noise around Meta’s new app and users were baffled about how to use the app and what were the basic terminology for the new app. Things like is a post on Threads called a ‘Thread’ or a ‘post’? And what about re-posts – are they ‘re-threads’?
All these questions were up in the air when Meta decided to help users with the latest lingo in a creative and interesting way. The Threads team shared a ‘Threads Dictionary’ to keep you posted on the terminology and get users up to speed:
What’s next?
From the looks of it, Threads’ rapid growth and popularity are beating the other social media platforms making it the fastest-growing app as compared to ChatGPT which was launched earlier this year. Meta’s course on using Instagram and its networks has both simplified and amplified ‘Threads’ sign-ups, making it easy for users to sign-up using their Instagram account
However, it is worth noting that ‘sign-ups’ and ‘active users’ are two different measurements. While Threads has succeeded in getting millions of people to create an account, Meta has definitely not shared any insight into how user engagement looks like as of now.
Things like how engaged users are and how much time they are spending in the app right now might help in concluding whether the sign-ups are actually resembling current active users and whether the users are enjoying using the app and the experience they are sharing.
Post by @mosseriView on Threads
The main changes in approach that are in progress, that Mosseri is pointing to in his recent Threads are based on the fact that news and politics no longer need to be a focus because Meta doesn’t benefit from that engagement in the same way that it can from highlighting the most entertaining content from across its apps.
Adam Mosseri has also recently pointed to some developments that are in progress for the new app, which is still in its very early stages and is open for feedback from users. Listing some recent developments (as of now):
- Improved search functionality is on the horizon, going beyond the current basic user search option.
- Threads will incorporate active hashtags, despite the potential redundancy in a modern social app that relies on algorithmic matching and text identification. Nevertheless, this feature is being implemented.
- A separate following feed will be introduced, allowing users to bypass sifting through numerous recommendations if they choose not to.
- Meta is actively working on its decentralized elements, which will facilitate graph syncing and portability.
- Additionally, Meta is exploring the possibility of an auto-archive option to maintain the freshness of user-profiles and prevent negative associations with past misguided Threads posts.
Adam Mosseri appears somewhat hesitant about incorporating in-app direct messaging (DMs). This hesitancy likely stems from Meta’s preference for linking this option to Messenger, WhatsApp, or Instagram Direct. Meta has been striving to integrate all its messaging tools into a unified platform, making the addition of another separate one somewhat counterintuitive.
According to Meta, all of these elements are in development but they will definitely take some time to develop. But now that Threads is the fastest-growing app of all time, we can bet that Meta’s giving it its full focus, as it works to build on that early hype.
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