Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, set the internet agog with its new launch of a Twitter rival, "Threads."
Instagram announced on Thursday that Threads, a text-based social networking programme that allows Instagram users to authenticate with their existing credentials in order to submit short updates. This includes text up to 500 characters, links, photographs, and videos up to 5 minutes in length, is set to launch.
Over 30 million users have downloaded the app in less than 24 hours, according to Zuckerberg.
What is Threads's App?
Threads is like Twitter, but for text. It is linked to your Instagram account, so you can make an account by logging in with your Instagram credentials.
How do you use Threads?
Because you're logging in using your Instagram account, you'll be able to follow everyone you follow. You'll also import your username, name, and settings, such as your block list.
What's the difference with Twitter?
Threads, unlike Twitter, doesn't have paid ads or tiers. However, you still retain your Instagram verification mark. Users can use their Instagram network to find new individuals to follow.
Although the software is new, it lacks Twitter-like capabilities such as extended video, direct messages, and live audio rooms.
At the moment, Threads lacks certain features such as the "Following" feed, editing posts, hashtags, web version support, GIF support, personal DM, and liked' post views.
More so, many have raised concerns about the Data policy of Threads. In fact, Due to data and Privacy concerns, Threads is currently not launching in the EU, a source from the Guardian confirms.
According to Apple's listing, reported on TechCrunch, the Threads iOS app may gather personal information such as health, financial, purchase, contact, usage, and browsing details.
There are other concerns about the inability to delete the app. To do so requires deleting the Instagram app completely, according to Meta’s "Supplemental Privacy Policy." However, Mosseri announced that the company is working on the possibility of deleting the account separately.
Unfortunately, Meta's Instagram and Facebook follow the same data harvesting practises as other major social media platforms like TikTok and Twitter.
The question is what Meta has in mind for Threads to ensure it doesn't collapse like other apps that didn't last. Not long after Elon Musk bought Twitter, the question was: will this affect Twitter, and what are their plans?
