Meta, the parent company of Instagram, the same organization that owns Facebook, is gearing up to launch its new app called Threads, which is set to rival Twitter. The app, available for pre-order on the Apple App Store, will be linked to Instagram. Ahead of its official launch, Threads seeks to provide a space for text-based conversations and community discussions. Threads will allow users to follow and connect with their favorite creators and engage with others who share similar interests. The app’s interface resembles Twitter, offering features such as reposting, liking, and the ability to control who can reply to posts.
Screenshots of Threads reveal a dashboard that bears a striking resemblance to Twitter, intensifying the rivalry between Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and Twitter’s owner Elon Musk. Meta’s entry into the market comes at a time when users are seeking alternatives to Twitter. Particularly after Elon Musk took over the platform and implemented significant changes that made it more challenging to access.
Instagram Threads, Bluesky, Truth Social, and Other Competitors
In one of their ongoing battles, Zuckerberg and Musk even agreed to a physical fight recently. Although the seriousness of their intentions remains uncertain. Musk took another swipe at Zuckerberg, sarcastically praising the sanity of Twitter in response to a tweet about the Instagram Threads. This exchange comes as Twitter announced that its popular user dashboard, TweetDeck, will be placed behind a paywall in 30 days. As part of Musk’s efforts to promote Twitter Blue, the platform’s subscription service. Musk has also limited the number of tweets users can see, citing data scraping concerns.
Meta’s Threads, on the other hand, is expected to offer free access with no restrictions on post visibility. Meta is joining other platforms like BlueSky and Mastodon in the competition to replace Twitter. While Musk has received praise for his commitment to free speech, he has also alienated some users. Zuckerberg hopes to attract dissatisfied Twitter users and create a genuine alternative. In recent years, apps like Donald Trump’s Truth Social and Mastodon have emerged as Twitter-like platforms. Bluesky and Mastodon experienced increased traffic following Musk’s tweet restrictions. However, Threads has the potential to be the most formidable competitor Twitter has faced thus far.
Meta executives revealed during a company meeting that Instagram Threads would integrate with ActivityPub. The decentralized social media protocol used by Mastodon. This announcement sparked speculation about a potential showdown between Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk. An in-house executive expressed the desire for a platform that is sanely run.
The launch of Instagram Threads, Meta’s Twitter competitor, is expected on July 6th. According to listings on the App Store and Google Play Store.