Twitter has been in the news for different reasons since it got acquired by Elon Musk. Mass layoffs, paid verification controversies, multiple technical outages, massive ad revenue losses, and other issues have led to the exit of many.
Taking advantage of the situation, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, worked on a secret project called Threads. The app was released on July 5 and quickly gained 30 million signups in less than twenty-four hours. Threads promises to offer a different kind of social network for sharing text updates. Let’s find out more about this app.
What is Threads: Meta’s new Twitter rival?
Threads shares a similar look with Twitter, with a feed of largely text-based posts where users can post photos and videos. According to Meta, posts on Threads are limited to 500 characters, similar to Twitter’s character limit. Users have the ability to reply to, repost, and quote others’ posts, resembling Twitter’s functionalities. However, Threads also incorporates Instagram’s visual style and navigation system, and users can directly share posts from Threads to their Instagram Stories.
Threads accounts can be set as public or private, and verified Instagram accounts automatically carry over their verification status to Threads. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg expressed the vision for Threads as creating a welcoming and interactive public space for conversation, building on Instagram’s strengths and emphasizing text, ideas, and discussions.
How to sign up on Threads
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to sign up on Threads:
Step 1: Download the Threads app
Go to the Google Play Store or Apple Store on your iPhone or Android device. Search for “Threads” and download the app for free. You can also find a direct link in your Instagram app by tapping the three lines in the top right corner, opening Settings, and selecting “Threads.”
Step 2: Log in with Instagram
Open the Threads app and click on the button at the bottom of the screen to log in with your Instagram account. You can switch between multiple Instagram accounts if needed.
Step 3: Create your profile
Once logged in, you can now create a profile. Add a profile picture, write a bio, and optionally include links. You can also import your existing Instagram profile information to Threads.
Step 4: Choose your profile privacy
Threads will ask you to decide whether you want a public or private profile. Public profiles allow anyone, including non-Threads users, to view your content. Private profiles restrict access to approved followers only.
Step 5: Follow accounts
You have the option to instantly follow all the accounts you already follow on Instagram or manually choose whom to follow. If you follow someone who hasn’t joined Threads yet, they will appear as “pending” until they join the app.
Step 6: Start exploring
With your account set up, you can begin exploring Threads. Browse through the home page, follow additional accounts, and start posting your own Threads. If you want to adjust your feed settings to show only the accounts you follow, you can refer to the provided guide.
How it works
Threads is a microblogging app that offers a similar experience to Twitter but with some key differences. When you open the app, you will see buttons that allow you to like, repost, reply to, or quote a “thread.” There are also counters that show the number of likes and replies that each thread has received. Unlike Twitter, Threads allows posts of up to 500 characters and supports the inclusion of links, photos, and videos up to five minutes in length. It combines features from both Twitter and Instagram, providing a visually appealing and easy-to-navigate feed. In contrast to Twitter, Threads does not use hashtags or provide a search function to find specific text or phrases. Moreover, it allows users to share up to 10 photos in a single post, resembling Instagram’s capability, while Twitter limits users to four images.
Related: Instagram Users Can Now Download Reel for Free
Is Threads available everywhere?
Threads is currently unavailable in European Union countries because of the complexities in complying with upcoming data privacy laws. Meta, the parent company, has informed Ireland’s Data Privacy Commission, their main privacy regulator in the EU, that they have no immediate plans to launch Threads in the 27-nation bloc. While Meta is working on expanding the app to more countries, they have decided to hold off on a European launch due to regulatory uncertainties.
Conclusion: What is Threads, Meta’s new Twitter rival?
Threads is a new social media platform developed by Meta for users to share text-based updates similar to Twitter. It gained 30 million signups within 24 hours of its release. Threads combines elements of Twitter and Instagram, with a visually appealing interface and the ability to post photos and videos. Users can engage with posts through likes, reposts, replies, and quotes. Verified Instagram accounts carry over their verification status. Threads is currently unavailable in European Union countries due to privacy regulations.
