Threads

Connect and Share with Threads: Instagram’s New Messaging App

The much-awaited Threads app is now available for download on Android and iOS. Even though the Threads app was scheduled to launch on July 6, the company pushed the launch date ahead to July 5 in a surprising development. Touted as a Twitter replacement, the Threads app is not yet available on desktop. It’s primarily a mobile-based app. You will be able to make use of Instagram’s username on Threads and also follow the same accounts as on Instagram. Threads is seen as a direct rival to Elon Musk-owned Twitter.

Commenting on the development, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg disclosed that the purpose of the app is to take the best parts of Instagram and create a new experience for text, ideas, and discussions. The world needs this kind of friendly community. The Threads app is available on Android and iOS across more than 100 countries. Zuckerberg claimed that the app has crossed five million sign-ups in the first two hours of the official launch.

According to reports, the Threads app is expected to support ActivityPub, which is the decentralized social networking protocol powering services such as Mastodon and other federated apps. The Threads app will be compatible with ActivityPub soon. Moreover, the app will be interoperable with other apps that also provide support for the ActivityPub protocol such as Mastodon and WordPress.

Twitter has evolved over the years and integrated several features. The launch of the Threads app will not be a setback for Twitter since the platform has its own user base. Twitter will be able to retain the core users including Government officials. The Threads app is a stepping stone for the future especially students and young talents.

Zuckerberg added that people making use of the compatible apps will be able to follow and interact with people on Threads without having a Threads account. You can simply establish connectivity with your Instagram account to work with Threads. This will result in a new era of diverse and interconnected networks. Zuckerberg also added that Threads is an open and friendly public space for conversation.

The launch of Threads comes at a time when rival Twitter is imposing curbs on its users. This includes limiting number of tweets users can read on a daily basis for verified and unverified users. Musk disclosed that the move is a part of a temporary adjustment and also to address extreme levels of data scraping and system manipulation. Twitter also recently imposed restrictions that prompted users to register on Twitter to view the tweets. However, the company backed out of this feature on July 5.

Threads app is deeply integrated with Instagram. You can post threads of upto 500 characters including links, photos, and videos of up to 5 minutes in length. You can also share the threads on the Instagram story or any other platform of your choice. Your Instagram username and verification will carry forward with an option to customize the profile on Threads. The Meta-owned app revealed that users under the age of 16 will have a private profile by default for safety purposes.

According to Meta, the Threads app dashboard includes threads from people they follow. Moreover, the dashboard also includes suggested content from new creators based on various algorithms. We can see threads from several people we never followed. Within months after the takeover of Twitter by Elon Musk, we saw the gradual rise of competing platforms like Mastodon, Bluesky, Post.news, Spill, and T2.

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