Zuckerberg VS Musk: Meta launches Twitter's competitor 'Threads' app
Washington (US), July 6: Meta owner Instagram has unveiled its new app called 'Threads,' designed to directly compete with Elon Musk's Twitter.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the launch was announced by Meta Platforms Inc. CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who described Threads as "a new, separate space for real-time updates and public conversations." Threads will be linked to individuals' Instagram profiles, making it easy to connect with followers, famous personalities or brands. Text posts will be limited to 500 characters in length. (In comparison, Twitter has a 280-character limit, which grows to 10,000 for Twitter Blue subscribers.)
Instagram claims that accounts will be private by default, with a main feed consisting of accounts you follow and suggested material from authors you may not be familiar with. According to The Hollywood Reporter, threads can be posted on Instagram stories or via a link.
Threads will be available in over 100 countries, with iOS and Android apps, and new features such as a better recommendation engine and search functionality will be added gradually.
"Our vision is that people using compatible apps will be able to follow and interact with people on Threads without having a Threads account, and vice versa, ushering in a new era of diverse and interconnected networks," the company wrote.
"Threads is Meta's first app envisioned to be compatible with an open social networking protocol - we hope that by joining this fast-growing ecosystem of interoperable services, Threads will help people find their community, no matter what app they use," The Hollywood Reporter said.
"Threads is where communities come together to discuss everything from the topics you care about today to what'll be trending tomorrow. Whatever it is you're interested in, you can follow and connect directly with your favourite 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," reads the App Store description.
While there have been a number of Twitter alternatives (including Mastodon, Truth Social, and Bluesky), none have been able to replicate the network effects. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Instagram believes that by bringing over its current social graphs, Threads will have an advantage over its competitors.
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- ANI
