Gamechanger for social media?
Threads is a new app from Meta, developed by Instagram, to share text updates and participate in public conversations. The app was released in 100 countries on July 5 and saw 5 million signups within the first four hours. Threads is not available in Europe.
Getting started with Threads is easy, and the app is tightly integrated with Instagram. Signing in is done with the existing Instagram account, and the username and verifications are carried over. There is an option to customize the profile specifically for Threads.
As on Instagram, Threads allow users to follow, connect with, and share interests with friends and creators, including the people they follow on Instagram and beyond.
Users under 16 (or under 18 in certain countries) have a private profile by default when they join threads. Key accessibility features available on Instagram, such as screen reader support and AI-generated image descriptions, are also enabled on Threads.
The feed on Threads contains posts from people you follow, as well as recommended content from new authors. Similar to Instagram or Facebook, the feed content is determined by the algorithm. Posts can be up to 500 characters long and contain links, photos, and videos up to 5 minutes long. Threads posts can be easily shared in Instagram Stories or shared as links on other platforms.
Media and experts consider Threads a competitor to Twitter, but the app offers more than that. Threads has tools that enable "positive and productive conversations. Users can control who can mention or reply to them in threads. Hidden words can be added to filter unwanted replies. Profiles can be blocked, restricted or reported, similar to Instagram.
Meta plans to make Threads compatible with ActivityPub, an open protocol for social networking. This could make Threads interoperable with other applications that use the ActivityPub log support, such as Mastodon and WordPress. This would enable new connections that are not possible with most social applications today. Other platforms like Tumblr also have plans to support the ActivityPub protocol.
Threads' collaboration with ActivityPub allows users to transfer their content to another service when they stop using it. In addition, posts on Threads are accessible from other apps. Threads is the first app from Meta to be compatible with an open social networking protocol.
That's why Threads has the makings of a gamechanger. This assessment is based on what is known so far. Unfortunately, the app cannot be tested in Europe yet.
