The countdown begins ! Meta’s Instagram will launch a new Twitter rival on July 6th. Its name: Threads…
The timing of the threads is impeccable!
The news poses a direct challenge to Twitter, which has faced multiple controversies since Elon Musk bought the company in 2022 for $44 billion.
Last week, billionaire Tesla announced a list of new restrictions for the app, capping the number of tweets users can see per day, sparking a wave of protests from many users of the platform.
The timing is therefore perfect for Instagram.
Threads has been in development at Meta since January under the name “P92 Meta”. The website The edge confirmed the name and got a first real insight into the app during a company-wide internal meeting. Meta Product Manager Chris Cox said during the Threads preview:
“We’ve heard from creators and public figures who want a well-managed platform” unlike Twitter.
Meanwhile, developer Alessandro Paluzzi tweeted that Meta’s Twitter clone, Thread, was briefly released on the Google Play Store.
We can read:
“Threads are communities where communities come together to discuss everything from the topics that interest you today to the trends of tomorrow. No matter what interests you, you can follow and connect directly with your favorite creators and other users with the same interests – or build your own loyal following to share your ideas, opinions and creativity with the world. »
Paluzzi has attached screenshots showing some interface elements:
- The login screen, which allows users to log in with their Instagram accounts;
- A list of accounts that the pics and videos site follows so they can choose which threads to follow.
On Monday, the App Store launched a page for iPhone users to pre-order Threads. On the same page it is confirmed that the application will be released on July 6th and 7th (depending on the country where the user is located).
What exactly does Threads offer?
Threads allows users to keep their followers on the Instagram photo sharing platform and keep the same username, Apple’s App Store says
The request may capture:
- data about your health;
- financial information;
- contact information;
- Browser history…
For comparison, BlueSky, another Twitter competitor, can link contact information, user content, and identifiers.
Threads, a serious competitor to Twitter?
There are indeed a number of applications vying to be THE new Twitter. Mastodon, invitation-only Bluesky, and former President Donald Trump’s Truth Social have all been touted as new havens for Twitter users.
But none could boast the rampant, meteoric growth it would take to crush the thrush. Mastodon, for example, has between 1.3 and 2.5 million active users, compared to 237.8 million daily active users on Twitter in 2022!
Instagram, on the other hand, is already around 10 times larger with 2 billion users and is used to rolling out new features based on the success of other social media companies. In response to the growing popularity of Snapchat, the Stories feature was added in 2016. More recently, the short video feature “Reels” attempts to challenge the rise of TikTok.
Starting threads would therefore pose a credible threat to Twitter.
One of developer Alessandro Paluzzi’s screenshots shows that Instagram users will immediately be able to follow the same accounts in threads to follow them, which could help users build a large follower base quickly.
Meta also rolled out codes on Instagram to allow for pre-registration. To use them:
- In Instagram’s search box, enter the codes “thread” or “threads”.
- A red “allow one” ticket will appear on your screen, which will then be moved to your search box.
- Click on the ticket to be taken to a website with a countdown (ending July 6th at 10am ET). There will also be a QR code.
- Scan the QR code to be redirected to the app download page in the Apple Store.
