Meta officially launched its Twitter competitor, Threads, in early 2023. It has come up in a time of great change, social upheaval and world tech overload. However, Threads is very much the new kid on the block.
Meta Platforms is where it all started. It is also known as Meta, and formerly named Facebook, and or TheFacebook, Inc. Thi is an American multinational technology conglomerate based in Menlo Park, California, which was spearheaded by Mark Zuckerberg.
Using AI over algorithms and giving more freedom to the user, Threads is a contender. It is possible to have more accounts and media than many other known sites from Instagram to Twitter.
Threads is best described by Meta as “a new, separate space for real-time updates and public conversations.”
Let’s learn more about Threads and what it offers!
1. What is Threads exactly doing compared to every other social media site
To know what Threads means to know why you would be on here in the first place. It is billed as a mix between Instagram and Twitter if you can imagine such a thing for social media.
In summary, Threads is a social media app that is based on writing and posting text posts of up to 500 characters. In general, with Posts, you are able to feature photos, short videos, and links. For many people, this may seem similar to Twitter, but there are some differences.
Threads is a new social media app developed by Meta, meaning that it falls under the same umbrella as Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp.
The Threads app was programmed and built by the Instagram team. The intent of the app is to share text updates and join and be a part of public conversations..
Overall, Threads is a newer social media app, which was developed by Meta. It is related to the group of related social media giants like Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp.
2. Threads is very similar to Twitter in many ways
For many first time users, Threads is similar to Twitter. How and why? Well, Facebook/Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg revealed himself on Twitter. Because he had not posted in a long time, Zuckerberg made a public tweet about the famous meme showing two Spider-Men directly pointing at each other. Clearly, this is more than symbolism for Threads.
Firstly, Threads and Twitter have interfaces that look almost the same. So, users can share and post their thoughts through a text box. Like Twitter, Threads offers the opportunity to customize your content. As well,Threads and Twitter offer very comparable engagement features. For example, both sites give the users the ability to like, comment, repost, and share content.
Outside of the initial comparison, there are differences. For example on Threads you can
post up to 500 characters long compared toTwitter's 280 character limit. Moreover, you can share longer videos. Lastly, photos are given more freedom because they are not cropped for the platform like Twitter, which crops photos for posting on the site.
3. When Threads started it was available only on iOS and Android, but not in the EU
Eventually, Threads made it into the European Union, EU, marketplace. However, initially, Threads was stalled due to digital rights and privacy issues. Despite Threads debuting in at least over hundred countries, including the US and UK, the European Union delayed it.
Essentially, it was EU competition rules that initially delayed Meta’s new Twitter rival back. The very act that delayed everything was called the Digital Markets Act (DMA). This act from the EU was originally designed to stop Big Tech from bulking and building up on data, users and service information and data collecting.
In the EU, The Threads site has a “Use without a profile” mode. This is for this market because it would not require users to log in or connect through Instagram. In general, the Digital Services Act is what could have stopped Threads. EU laws in place had responsibilities expected for online social media platforms to better protect those users and their rights overall.
4. Threads may gather sensitive data more than most social media sites
Threads is not alone in being too keen on data and rummaging through data law loopholes. Why? Because Threads is fairly open about collecting your personal data. However, they may be wanting to collect your data more than the average social media site.
When you set up an account with Threads beware of the sensitive data revealed as well as the privacy issues as well. Why? Because even if you delete and let go of your Threads account in the future it would mean you’d have to delete your Instagram account. That is a lot of information at stake in general.
You are warned in the App Store's ‘privacy' page lists of the complete data Threads collects and uses. This is all used in its highly targeted advertising overall. In comparison, Twitter does also collect many of the same data sets and information. This information includes your search history, location and browsing history.
Moreover, Threads even goes to the extreme with your financial info, background information, and gender data.
5. Threads is available and downloadable for Apple and Android Phones
If you are curious about getting Threads, you can easily get Threads for your phone as an iPhone or Android user. This app is meant to be used with your Instagram login. Also, you are able to support and post 500 type character text updates. As well, you can add photos, and videos.
You start the process by going to the Google Play Store or Apple App Store and downloading Threads. It would be considered an Instagram app. In general, with the Threads app, you are able to download Threads easily enough. There are ways to sidestep the Google or Apple store process.
Lastly, you are able to download the Threads app directly just within the Instagram platform. When downloading anything for your iPhone or Android device remember that any Threads app must be associated with Instagram and its parent company Meta.
6. Threads utilizes Artificial Intelligence to rank posts in its feed
It is incredible to think that the Threads’ feed is ranked by an AI system, but it is overall. All in all, Thread’s most up to date news on their ranking system is that Threads is not explicitly bringing up the word ‘algorithm’ at all.
Overall, with artificial intelligence the (AI) system would show what content that you see on your Threads feed. Each account has posts selected, ranked, and ultimately delivered by an (AI) system. In particular, the AI system, using multiple machine learning models, works together to give and provide your Threads experience.”
Now more and more social media apps utilize reactive machine learning AI, but not the way Threads does overall. Why? Because Threads is the first app to not use what we call an algorithm. Instead, Threads utilizes AI because the AI revolution with ChatGPT and more has been more accepted and popular.
7. Threads and Instagram are related and closely connected overall
Threads and Instagram are closely linked and this could confuse people or even mislead some. Why? When you are already compared to a bigger site like Twitter or Instagram you have to be careful either way. The benefit is that when you are using your Instagram account you can then easily set up an account for Threads.
The connection and fusion between the apps does not end there. Why? Because you can share or post a thread to Instagram Stories as well or even do DMs, which are direct messages. Moreover, you can even control who can reply.
Threads and Instagram live together if you want to with your accounts. For example, you can post Instagram stories, Reels, or even do captions. So, your Instagram handle or alias would transfer over to Threads. Moreover, with Threads you can follow all the same accounts that you already follow on Instagram.
More importantly, please do remember that deleting your Threads account then it would mean removing your Instagram account. Threads and Instagram are joined at the hip!
8. Engagement potential makes Threads unique and stand out
Being able to do more with Threads is part of the appeal with Threads. Overall, you are able to do a lot more in terms of posting media like photos and especially videos. Threads is a great site to promote professionally across different industries and subjects through varying accounts.
What is very cool is that with Threads you can include text and links next to up to as much as ten photos. Moreover, you can add and include videos up to 5 minutes in length.
From there you are able to post on threads, which would put forth and show a mixture of posted content on Threads. As well, this type of real engagement like Instagram would for Threads users be specialized and ultimately quite fast.
9. It is possible to use multiple accounts on Threads
You have many options to use and act within different spheres on social media. With Threads, you have the ability to to have multiple accounts if need be as well.
Basically, this is one of things that can make Threads stand out because you can navigate through multiple accounts. You can do this all without needing to have users be required to log out each time. Moreover, you don’t need to do any sort of switch from the main login screen for any purpose.
With influencers, you as a social media promoter or marketing leader can easily switch between multiple accounts. Although not as smooth as Instagram yet, Threads allows users to switch only requiring just very few clicks to log in and out of different accounts.
10. Threads uses a more algorithm and approach compared to other social media sites
What we know about the Threads algorithm compared to other similar sites is how it relies on unknown variables. Essentially, the Threads algorithm in the way it shows what on the feeds would dictate what content you see all together.
In terms of what to expect, the founders of Facebook/Meta have yet to share too many details overall. In general, the thing about the Threads algorithm is more about what content you should be able to see.
The Threads strategy is unique because there are innovative ways Meta has created a unique experience for users. The algorithm was developed by the Head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri. His vision meant that the algorithm would not be strongly dependent on ranking posts.
Instead Threads would recommend posts from various random accounts. These would basically be the accounts you do not follow. All in all with Threads it is about an account feeling like you need to follow a certain number of people to get the algorithm working and functionable.
