Meta Takes Aim At Twitter With The Launch Of Threads
Context :
The application is marketed as a text-based Instagram; posts are limited to 500 characters, which is higher than Twitter’s character restriction of 280, and can include links, photographs, and videos up to five minutes in length.
What are Threads?
- Purpose: The Meta Platforms (previously Facebook) app Threads was created as a substitute for Twitter. Similar to Twitter’s microblogging structure, it seeks to offer a text-based platform for real-time updates and open interactions.
- Associated with Instagram: Another well-known programme that is owned by Meta is called Instagram, and Threads is referred to be Instagram for text. It attempts to duplicate Instagram’s success with photo and video sharing by emphasizing text and discussion.
- Launch and User Reaction: Meta released Threads and made it accessible through the Apple and Google Play app stores for Android users. Ten million individuals signed up inside the first seven hours, according to CEO Mark Zuckerberg, signalling a positive start. But there were also early bugs, like problems loading Mr Zuckerberg’s posts.
- Accessibility: Threads was made available to a large user base when it premiered in more than 100 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and Japan.
- User Interface and Features: Similar to Twitter, Threads provides buttons for users to like, repost, reply to, or quote a thread. Threads posts can only be 500 characters long, exceeding Twitter’s 280-character restriction. Links, images, and movies up to five minutes long can also be included by users in their contributions.
- Accounts: Users can sign in to Threads with their existing Instagram usernames and follow the same accounts. However, to access Threads, new users must first create an Instagram account.
- Celebrity and Media Adoption: Since joining the network, celebrities including chef Gordon Ramsay and actor Jack Black have drawn attention to Threads. Furthermore, accounts from well-known organisations like Airbnb, Netflix, and Vogue magazine have started using Threads.
- Data Privacy Concerns: There are concerns about data privacy related to Threads. The app’s data privacy disclosure on the App Store suggests that Threads has the potential to collect a wide range of personal information from its users, including health data, financial information, contact details, browsing and search history, location data, purchases, and sensitive information. This has raised privacy concerns among users.
- Safety Measures: Meta has emphasized its commitment to user safety on Threads. The company has stated that it will enforce Instagram’s community guidelines, which are already in place on the parent platform, and provide tools to control who can mention or reply to users.
