Threads is a new app launched by Instagram, positioned as a real-time, public conversation platform and aimed at rivaling Twitter. The app was unveiled by Meta, the company that owns Instagram, and within a short span of time, it became the most rapidly downloaded app ever. In just 16 hours, Threads was downloaded over 30 million times, surpassing the previous record held by ChatGPT. It is projected to exceed 100 million users within two months.
The launch of Threads intensified the rivalry between Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg and Twitter’s owner, Elon Musk. Twitter threatened legal action against Meta, accusing it of using trade secrets from former Twitter employees to build Threads. However, Meta denied the claims and stated that no former Twitter engineers were involved in the development of Threads.
Threads offers a user experience similar to Twitter, allowing users to post text-based messages, photos, and videos to a scrolling feed. The popularity of Threads attracted notable users, including celebrities and influencers, who joined the app and began posting. The early momentum indicates a desire among users to find an alternative to Twitter, which has faced criticism due to changes implemented by Elon Musk and issues with content moderation and outages.
According to The New York Times, the success of Threads highlights the demand for alternative platforms, but it remains to be seen whether the app can sustain long-term engagement and compete with Twitter’s large user base. Threads’ integration with other apps within Meta’s ecosystem, and its potential to operate seamlessly across multiple platforms, including those based on the federated universe concept, adds to its appeal.
Overall, Threads has significantly impacted the social media landscape, positioning itself as a strong contender in the public conversation space and offering users an alternative to Twitter. The app’s rapid download numbers and early user engagement indicate its potential for growth and success.