In an unexpected twist to the current dynamics of social media, Meta’s recently launched platform, Threads, is being touted as the biggest threat to Twitter so far. According to reports, the fresh social networking app, part of Meta’s suite that includes Facebook and Instagram, debuted on Thursday, surprisingly ahead of schedule. In less than a day, Threads had raked in an astounding 30 million users, bolstering speculations about Twitter’s shaky standing in the market.
The outpouring of users flocking to Threads is in stark contrast to the mounting disillusionment towards Twitter, whose recent decline has been attributed to the controversial leadership of CEO Elon Musk. With the ability for Instagram’s two billion users to directly link their accounts to Threads, this newcomer is expected to see a swift surge in its user base.
Threads’ striking resemblance to Twitter is not lost on its new users. Featuring a simple black and white feed, users can reply, love, quote, and comment on “threads”, much like Twitter. As Threads continues to gain momentum, it raises the question – will it be the application that finally dethrones Twitter?
Twitter’s journey under Musk has been marked by turmoil and dismay, prompting a search for alternative platforms. Decentralized servers like Mastodon emerged as the first option but proved confusing and daunting to navigate due to the differing content rules and communities across its servers. However, none of the alternatives, including Spoutible, Post, and Bluesky, could truly capture the imagination of Twitter’s user base – until now.
What seems to set Threads apart is its community-building emphasis. By enabling the link to Instagram, Meta has essentially fast-tracked Threads towards a critical mass of users – an edge its competitors did not enjoy. Users can not only retain their usernames but also bring their Instagram followers along, thus maintaining their existing online community. This crucial feature has positioned Threads as the most formidable threat to Twitter yet.
Despite the apparent allure, joining Threads is not without concerns. Users wary of Meta’s data usage policies and privacy issues might hesitate before signing up. Additionally, Threads’ launch did not extend to the European Union due to potential regulatory hurdles posed by the new Digital Markets Act.
As Threads continues to amass followers, it will be interesting to see how Twitter fights back. With allegations of trade secret misappropriation already surfacing against Meta, it’s clear that this social media rivalry is far from over.
This news report is based on the article published on Malay Mail
