Back in 2016, I took my first steps into the world of Twitter, and ever since, I’ve become an active and dedicated user, spending approximately 10 hours on the app every week. There’s no denying that Twitter has had a profound impact on my life, and I’ve come to appreciate it for various reasons. However, with the recent changes on the platform since the Musk takeover, many Twitter users, myself included, have grown dissatisfied. So when Meta introduced Threads, their competitor to Twitter, my interest was piqued. After spending a few days exploring Threads, I’m convinced that Meta has the potential to dominate the realm of social media and communication apps, and I’m excited to be on board.
What is Threads? Essential Information Before You Join
Threads is a text-centric social media platform, designed to coexist alongside the photo and video-focused platform, Instagram. It is owned by Meta, the parent company of Facebook. Meta boasts an impressive portfolio of popular social media and communication apps, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and now Threads.
While Meta promises future compatibility with open and interoperable social networks built on the ActivityPub protocol, such as Mastodon, this functionality is currently absent. Fediverse integration is not yet available.
Threads: Launch and Availability
Threads was launched on July 6, 2023, and is available for both Android and iOS users. However, there is no web app or website available at launch. Although you can view posts and profiles through the web URL, accessing your timeline directly is not possible. It is expected that Meta will release a functional web app or desktop app for macOS and Windows as the platform evolves in the coming months. Threads is available in over 100 countries upon its launch, but it controversially excludes the entire European Union due to regulatory concerns.
Threads Basics: User Experience and Tweeting (or Threading?)
As a Twitter alternative, Threads draws heavily from Twitter’s core concepts while leveraging its Instagram roots. The user experience (UX) is relatively straightforward, featuring five tabs in the navigation bar: Home, Search, New Post, Activity, and Profile.
The Home page can be a bit overwhelming, displaying recommended threads from all public profiles on the platform, rather than just the people you follow. While the algorithm does a decent job of balancing this content, a cleaner Home page featuring only content from your followers would have been preferable.
Similar to Twitter, threads and their replies can include text, links, photos, videos, or any combination. However, GIF support, hashtags and thumbnail previews for links are not yet available. Posts can be up to 500 characters, up from Twitter’s 280 character limit while videos can have a maximum length of 5 minutes.
What Are Posts on Threads Called?
Posts on Threads are simply referred to as “threads,” playfully alluding to the tweet threads popular on Twitter. Thus, every post on Threads is a thread, and a group of threads is still referred to as a thread. The act of posting on Threads hasn’t been officially branded yet, so you can call it “posting,” while early users are divided between calling it “tweeting”, “threading” and “stringing”
Who Can Join Threads?
Anyone with an Instagram account can create a Threads profile. However, it’s worth noting that while you can independently deactivate your Threads profile, you cannot delete it without deleting your entire Instagram account. Keep this in mind before joining and investing in the platform.
Threads and Instagram: Cross-Play and Integration
Upon signing up for Threads, you will notice its close ties to Instagram. You’ll need to select an Instagram profile to create your Threads account, and you can import your Instagram bio and link. Verified Instagram accounts also get their checkmark carried over to the threads app.
Threads offers an option to automatically follow everyone you follow on Instagram, populating your feed right from the start. However, exercise caution, as the content focus and quality differ between the two platforms. Maintaining variety and diversity between your Instagram and Threads experiences is recommended.
Once you join Threads, a temporary badge appears under your Instagram profile, linking to your Threads profile. This feature simplifies the process for your Instagram followers to find your Threads profile. Additionally, your Threads profile includes an Instagram icon, providing direct access to your connected Instagram profile.
Threads facilitates quick sharing options to post your threads as Instagram posts or stories, as well as Twitter.
While sharing threads to Instagram uses the unique Threads splash screen background for posts and stories, clicking on threads shared as Instagram stories directs users to the thread within the Threads app. Unfortunately, this direct linking functionality is unavailable for threads shared as Instagram posts.
When you block a user on Instagram, Threads also blocks them, as the blocklist is shared between the platforms. Given that Threads is a Meta app, we can expect further integration with Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp in the future.
Threads and Privacy
Similar to Instagram and Twitter, Threads provides the option to choose between a public or private profile during account creation or in the profile settings. If you’re under 16 (based on the age you declared on your Instagram account), your Threads profile will be private by default, even if your Instagram account is public. You have the freedom to switch to a public profile at your discretion.
Meta has provided a helpful table highlighting the differences between public and private profiles on Threads. These privacy controls affect third parties on the platform. However, questions regarding privacy from the platform itself arise due to the extensive permissions requested by the iOS and Android apps.
While Threads excludes the entire European Union at launch due to regulatory concerns, questions regarding data collection arise once the platform expands into these regions. Meta’s data collection practices, combined with their extensive access to user information across platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and now Threads, raise legitimate concerns. As a for-profit company, Meta’s ultimate goal is monetization, and users should be mindful of the data they provide.
My Experience with Threads: The Good, the Bad, and the Work in Progress
After just a few hours of using Threads, I was hooked—a feat that other Twitter alternatives had failed to achieve. I’ve experimented with Mastodon and the Truth App but non of these apps were able to retain me past a day of usage. While these alternatives offered improvements over Twitter, they lacked a critical mass of users. Twitter’s success stemmed not only from its features but from the people it attracted and retained. Once the user base grows, brands, public figures, and advertisers follow suit.
Threads has the potential to unite these essential elements on an established platform, setting it apart from other alternatives. Although Threads currently offers basic functionality, it holds the promise of becoming the dominant Twitter alternative.
The Good
Threads successfully attracts users by offering familiarity and simplicity. Leveraging Instagram, the platform brings over users with just one click, simplifying the onboarding process. Threads automatically imports your Instagram bio and link, eliminating the need to create a new username and password or configure your bio and profile picture. Meta recognizes the pain points of users and streamlines the experience, making joining Threads effortless.
Consequently, as soon as you entrust Meta with your data, you find yourself surrounded by your favorite creators and their text-based content. You already have a group of people to follow, and if your existing followers sign up, they have the option to follow you during registration. Threads provides a ready-made community on a silver platter.
Simplicity defines the Threads app at this stage. There isn’t much you can do wrong—posting, reposting, liking, and sharing are actions familiar to everyone. The algorithm remains a mystery, and no one knows which types of content work best.
Threads also lacks brand presence, promotions, and impostors attempting to impersonate influential figures with paid blue ticks. Currently, there are no ads, making the platform more attractive and enjoyable for users. Additionally, the absence of explicit content aligns Threads with Instagram’s community guidelines, making it easier to navigate and appealing to advertisers, offering hope for long-term viability.
Considering Threads is only in its initial release, Meta has done an excellent job of providing a solid foundation for the platform.
The Bad and the Work in Progress
Despite its strengths, there are a few downsides to Threads. The Home timeline can be confusing and lacks clear organization. It presents a single, extensive list of posts from everyone you follow, mixed with recommended content. Users would benefit from options such as chronological sorting and the ability to create lists. Additionally, a dedicated “following” tab to view posts exclusively from people you follow, without algorithmic suggestions, would greatly enhance the user experience.
Threads currently lacks features such as hashtags, direct messages, multi-account support, a web app, and live audio broadcasting. The absence of a drafts feature and the inability to save drafts may also pose challenges for users. Overall, Threads is not yet a complete Twitter alternative.
It’s important to note that Threads is in its early stages, and progress and improvements are expected. Given Meta’s dedication to their products, it is unlikely they will abandon the platform during its initial growth phases. However, as Threads continues to expand, new social media challenges will inevitably arise, and Meta will need to address them.
Threads vs. Twitter: Key Differences and Which Platform is Superior
Threads was specifically designed to compete with Twitter, and while it shares many similarities, its maturity sets it apart.
Shared Features
- Ability to post text, photos, videos, or combinations thereof.
- Timeline view featuring recommendations from creators you don’t follow.
- Privacy controls for profiles and replies.
- Paid subscription programs for verification.
- Blocking and reporting profile functionality.
Differences
- Tweets on Twitter have a default character limit of 280 (10,000 for Twitter Blue subscribers), while Threads only allows 500 characters per post.
- Threads lacks a drafts feature.
- Twitter enables the creation of lists and offers more extensive account filtering options. Threads only provides a singular timeline where all posts are displayed.
- Meta’s new app does not currently support alt-text, although it claims to generate AI-driven image descriptions.
- Threads adheres to Instagram’s community guidelines, resulting in less NSFW content compared to Twitter.
- Instagram maintains identity-based verification, which carries over to Threads. Twitter no longer offers identity-based verification for non-government figures.
- Threads allows control over who can mention you, while Twitter does not offer this level of control.
- Twitter features advanced search capabilities, while Threads currently only offers basic search functionality.
- Threads lacks Community Notes to combat misinformation, a feature that is available on Twitter.
- Twitter offers live audio broadcasting through Twitter Live, while Threads does not provide a corresponding feature.
- Twitter has a mature desktop website and tools like Tweetdeck, whereas Threads lacks these features.
- Threads does not currently support hashtags for tracking trending content.
Is Now the Right Time to Leave Twitter and Join Threads?
Considering Threads’ popularity within the first few hours of its launch, it’s evident that there is a strong demand for a Twitter alternative. This may come as a surprise to users of other Twitter alternatives, highlighting the power of the Meta brand. Attracting 10 million sign-ups within seven hours, excluding the EU, is a remarkable feat for any app developer or SaaS founder.
While Threads is still in its early stages, it holds the potential for significant growth in popularity and features in the coming months. Unlike Google, Meta is renowned for its unwavering dedication to its products and is highly unlikely to abandon Threads during this crucial phase of expansion. If you are comfortable with Meta’s data practices, now is an opportune time to join Threads and cultivate your presence alongside the platform.
In contrast, Twitter’s recent policy changes under Elon Musk have left many users confused and frustrated. The platform’s rules can change unpredictably. While Twitter will remain active, it is likely to experience a significant exodus as users recognize the polish and commitment Meta brings to its social networks.
If you expect Threads to be radically different from Twitter, you may be disappointed. However, as a competitor to Twitter, Threads has shown great potential as a text-based social media platform. It offers hope to those seeking a popular alternative to Elon Musk’s Twitter, especially with Meta’s track record of success.
