Wednesday 05 July 2023 saw the launch of Threads, a new app from Instagram’s parent company Meta that attempts to take on Twitter by providing a text-based chat experience. You may keep your usernames, followers, and verification status by logging in with your Instagram credentials.

Threads’ release coincides with Elon Musk’s announcement of Twitter’s new restrictions on the number of tweets users may read per day, despite rumors that the app has been in development since January.

Some social media users may be looking for alternatives, such as Mastodon or Bluesky, in light of the recent changes to Twitter. With Threads, users have the option to have live conversations while also sharing text, videos, and photographs. To learn more about joining Threads and the advantages it offers, keep reading.

What is Threads by Meta?

The Instagram team at Meta created the Threads platform for publishing short updates or posts with a 500-character constraint. Users have the option to include links, images, and 5-minute videos. The app seamlessly integrates with your Instagram account, and Meta assures that you can effortlessly publish your Threads post as a link or in your Instagram story.

The posts from the people and accounts you follow on Instagram or Threads will appear in your Threads feed along with personalized recommendations for finding fresh material. You also have the choice to limit who can mention you and filter out certain terms from your feed.

Downloading Threads from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store is free.

How to use Threads

Since the platform requires the use of your Instagram login information for logging in, you must already have an Instagram account in order to join Threads. Once you create an account, Threadsapp will instantly transfer your Instagram username.

However, you have the freedom to create a unique profile. Remember that Meta’s rules automatically assign private profiles to users in the UK who are younger than 18.

We don’t have to start from zero when switching to Threadsapp because you can quickly follow the same profiles you already follow on Instagram. You won’t need to go through the inconvenience of starting over with a fresh following because we will smoothly transfer it to this new app. You can choose whether to make a post, commonly referred to as a “Thread,” visible to the entire world or restrict it to your followers only.

Users used to using Twitter and Instagram will be happy to learn that Threads has the option to report, block, unfollow, or restrict profiles. You can use the three-dot drop-down menu to access these choices. Please be aware that the app will immediately block anyone whom you have previously blocked on Instagram. Additionally, Threads combines AI-generated image captions and provides support for screen readers.

In order to ensure compatibility and integration between Threads and other applications that utilize the ActivityPub protocol, such as WordPress and Mastodon, Meta has pledged its support. In the end, the business hopes that all users of compatible apps will be able to access Threads posts, regardless of whether they have a Threads account or not.

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Meta’s Threads vs. Twitter

Beyond the predicted conflict between Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, these two tech behemoths are in fierce competition with one another. Considering Threads’ seamless integration with Instagram, it could attract a substantial user base in a short period of time. It’s possible that subscribers and advertisers will stop using Twitter as a result of Musk’s decision to change the post limitations to 10,000 for verified users, 1,000 for unverified users, and 500 for new unverified users.

However, there have been issues with the launch of the Threadsapp platform as well. According to Forrester analyst Mike Proulx, Meta is taking advantage of the general unhappiness with Twitter, citing the company’s poor previous launch of Threads and subsequent closure of the service.

Proulx, in a statement to CNET, stated that “While we should acknowledge Meta’s commitment to experimentation, we must also recognize that they have a less than stellar track record of successfully launching standalone apps outside of their core family,” citing examples such as Slingshot and IGTV.”

Bluesky, Mastodon, and Hive are just a few of the many Twitter alternatives available, according to Proulx. “This only serves to divide the user base seeking alternatives to Twitter,” he continued.

According to reports, there have been delays in Meta-Threadsapp’s rollout in the EU because of worries over data sharing between the two programs.