Meta’s Chief Mark Zuckerberg has unveiled Threads, a new app aimed at challenging Twitter’s dominance in the public conversations space. The app, which garnered five million sign-ups within its first four hours, has drawn interest from Twitter users dissatisfied with recent platform changes. Threads, currently not available in the European Union due to regulatory concerns, allows users to post up to 500 characters and shares several features with Twitter. Zuckerberg emphasized the importance of maintaining a “friendly” platform to ensure its success, prompting a response from Twitter CEO Elon Musk, who highlighted the value of Twitter’s confrontational nature compared to the superficial happiness found on Instagram.
When asked about Threads’ potential to surpass Twitter, Zuckerberg stated that while it may take time, he envisions a public conversations app with over one billion users, which Twitter has failed to achieve thus far. Critics of Threads have raised concerns about the app’s potential data usage, including health, financial, and browsing data tied to user identities. Meta’s ownership of Facebook and Instagram, along with Threads’ integration with Instagram, provides it with a competitive advantage over alternatives like Bluesky and Mastodon, as it taps into the existing user base of hundreds of millions.
Users can share posts between Threads and Instagram, including links, photos, and videos up to five minutes long. Despite the app’s standalone status, users log in using their Instagram accounts, and they have the option to customize their profiles specifically for Threads. The app allows users to follow the same accounts as on Instagram, and they can choose to be private on Instagram while remaining public on Threads.
Meta’s launch of Threads comes amid scrutiny of its business practices, with whistleblower Frances Haugen accusing the company of prioritizing profits over user safety. Meta has also faced backlash for allowing third-party access to users’ personal data, as exemplified by the Cambridge Analytica scandal. While early users have reported minor issues, such as image upload problems, Threads’ integration with Instagram and its extensive features have positioned it as a potential rival to Twitter. However, the app’s availability in the EU remains uncertain due to regulatory obstacles outlined in the Digital Markets Act. Meta asserts that protecting user privacy is a fundamental aspect of its operations.