Meta is set to launch a Twitter rival App, Threads, which it disclosed will go live on Thursday, July 6, and will be available for downloads on the iOS App Store.
Threads, which looks similar to Twitter in terms of features and interface, offers a community where users can come to discuss everything from the topics they care about.
In a preview before the launch, Meta said “Threads is where communities come to discuss everything from the topics you care about today to what’ll be trending tomorrow”, the App Store description reads, “Whatever it is you are interested in, you can follow and connect directly with your favorite creators and others who love the same things or build a loyal following of your own to share your ideas, opinions, and creativity with the world”.
Tekedia Mini-MBA edition 14 (June 3 – Sept 2, 2024) begins registrations; get massive discounts with early registration here.
Tekedia AI in Business Masterclass opens registrations here.
Join Tekedia Capital Syndicate and invest in Africa’s finest startups here.
The official description of the app seems to take a dig at Twitter’s shortcomings, promising to “Say more with Threads”. Threads is poised to serve similar functions as Twitter and other social platforms, with users encouraged to follow and connect directly with their favorite creators. Though Threads is closely connected with Instagram, it will be a stand-alone App.
Meta’s move to launch the Twitter-like app comes days after Twitter CEO Elon Musk put a limit to the number of tweets users can read per day. This according to Musk was a temporary measure to address extreme levels of data scraping and system manipulation.
Threads launch will be the latest rivalry between Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Twitter CEO Elon Musk. Even though their much-anticipated cage fight will likely not happen, both billionaires will go head to head to dominate the microblogging space.
The launch seems like perfect timing for Meta, as several Twitter users have continued to move to Twitter-like apps, following Musk’s “unpleasant” revamp and his latest move to limit tweet engagements. A New York Times report said Meta’s executives have discussed how they could capitalize on the chaos at Twitter since last year, including building a rival service.
Threads will be free for users, and there will be no restrictions on how many posts users can view and engage, unlike the latest Twitter policy. Tech enthusiasts believe Threads will likely be a strong competitor to Twitter.
Reports also reveal that Meta was scouting celebrities to use Threads, by pitching the social media app as a “sanely run” platform, a reference used by Musk to take a dig at Meta.
Chief product officer at Meta, Chris Cox reportedly said that the company was already working with notable personalities like Oprah Winfrey and the Dalai Lama to join the platform to attract others to try the Project.
Meta seems to have an advantage as regards the launch of Threads, since the app will be part of the Instagram platform, it will be connected to hundreds of millions of accounts. Meta will let users log in with their Facebook or Instagram ID, saving them from the hassle of creating a new ID. This means it will not have to start from zero, unlike other rival apps.
It is worth noting that Meta is known for copying features from other social media apps and incorporating them across its social media platforms. Be it TikTok-inspired Reels, Snapchat-inspired Stories, or Discord-inspired Communities, amongst several others.
While Meta side apps haven’t always been successful, Threads might prove to be different, following the timing at which several users are moving to Twitter-like platforms.