Meta launches Threads, the new social network that challenges Twitter
Mark Zuckerberg has launched a new social network, taking advantage of Elon Musk's moment of administrative uncertainty
Amid the turmoil Twitter is facing under Elon Musk's ownership, Meta has decided to take advantage of this situation and has created a new platform to capture the attention of those looking for an alternative to the "blue bird" app. This is how Threads came to be, a new Meta app that originated within Instagram but operates independently.
Threads launched on July 6, 2023, and in less than eight hours managed to attract more than ten million users, a worrying blow for Twitter. This milestone is evidence that Meta has succeeded in leveraging Instagram's huge user base to power its new service.
But what exactly is Threads and how does it work?
Threads is a microblogging social network, designed for users to interact through short messages. It was created as an alternative to Twitter and, unlike Elon Musk's service, Threads allows interaction with Mastodon and other similar networks.
It works similar to Twitter, where users can generate and share text messages, accompanied by photos or videos. There is a 500-character limit on messages, and posts can be organized into threads that connect to a central theme. It is also possible to reply, share or quote posts from other users by adding your own text.
By being linked to an Instagram profile, Threads allows you to share posts directly to Instagram Stories, thus expanding your visibility. The platform also has features to manage mentions, mute users, filter words, search for other users, adjust notifications, set profile privacy, and report posts or block users.
However, Threads still lacks some features, such as a web version to use from a computer and the ability to create lists and use hashtags. New options are likely to be added in the future as the service develops.
With the creation of Threads, Meta seeks to establish itself as an alternative to Twitter and take advantage of the success of Instagram to attract more users to its new social network. The competitive landscape between these platforms promises to be interesting in the coming months.
