Threads App News

Threads, developed by Meta's Instagram team, is an innovative platform that provides users with the ability to publish concise updates or posts containing up to 500 characters. Within these posts, users can incorporate multimedia elements such as links, photos, and videos up to 5 minutes in length.

Introduction

Instagram, owned by Meta, has launched Threads, a new app aimed at rivaling Twitter. This move comes as many social media users are searching for an alternative to Twitter, which has faced criticism for its recent changes under Elon Musk's leadership. In a controversial business decision, Twitter started limiting the number of tweets users can read, resulting in widespread dissatisfaction. While alternatives like Mastodon and Bluesky exist, none have managed to match Twitter's popularity among influential individuals in politics and culture.

Recognizing the opportunity, Instagram expedited the release of its Threads app. Originally slated for later this month, the launch was moved up to July 6th, and now it is available today for users in 100 countries (excluding the European Union). Instagram's parent company, Meta, described Threads as an extension of what Instagram does best, allowing users to express their ideas in a positive and creative environment. The company expressed this vision in a blog post on Wednesday, July 5th, writing, “Our vision with Threads is to take what Instagram does best and expand that to text, creating a positive and creative space to express your ideas."

What is Instagram Threads?

Threads, developed by Meta's Instagram team, is an innovative platform that provides users with the ability to publish concise updates or posts containing up to 500 characters. Within these posts, users can incorporate multimedia elements such as links, photos, and videos up to 5 minutes in length. Seamlessly integrated with users' Instagram accounts, Threads allows for effortless sharing of posts to Instagram stories or as links on other preferred platforms. The content displayed in the Threads feed comprises posts from both Instagram and Threads accounts that users follow, accompanied by personalized recommendations to explore new and captivating content. To enhance user experience, Threads offers features such as content filtering and the option to restrict mentions from specific individuals.

While Threads shares some similarities with Twitter in terms of functionality, it also boasts a few distinctive characteristics. The feed on Threads is algorithmic, presenting users with a blend of content from accounts they follow and personalized recommendations, reminiscent of the current Instagram experience. In contrast, Twitter allows users to toggle between algorithmic and chronological feeds, displaying content solely from the accounts they follow. Early screenshots of the Threads app shared with Vox indicate that the overall look and feel of the app closely resemble Twitter's interface.

What sets Threads apart from Twitter is its decentralized aspirations. Meta envisions future compatibility, enabling users to seamlessly connect their Threads posts to other social media platforms like Mastodon. This decentralized approach stands in contrast to Twitter's recent restrictions on free API access for third-party developers. However, Meta has clarified that the interoperability feature is not yet available. For many day-to-day users, their primary concerns revolve around the user base on the platform and the overall ease of use, rather than its interoperability with other platforms.

Who owns Threads?

Mark Zuckerberg-led Meta is the parent company under which the new “text-based conversation app” will function, just like Meta's other products like Facebook and Instagram. Needless to say, Threads will try to appeal to the Instagram user base and use it as a springboard to establish its own market. But Threads' most direct competition is of course Twitter as it will be challenging the monopoly of the Musk-owned platform in the field of microblogging. 

Is Instagram Threads App Free?

Yes, Threads is free to use and can be downloaded from both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. To join Threads, you need an existing Instagram account as the platform requires you to sign in using your Instagram login credentials. Upon launching the app, your Instagram username will be automatically transferred to Threads. While users can create a customizable profile, it's worth noting that UK users under the age of 18 will receive a default private profile. Moreover, you can effortlessly follow the same accounts you already follow on Instagram, allowing you to seamlessly port over your existing following instead of starting from scratch on Threads. When creating a post or "Thread," you can select the intended audience, whether it's your followers or the entire world.

How to Download Threads on iPhone

For iPhone users, the process is relatively simple. You can set the app to download automatically by following these steps:

Open the Apple App Store on your iPhone.

Search for 'Threads' in the search bar.

When you find the Threads app, tap the 'Get' button.

Your iPhone will initiate the loading process and send you a notification when the app is ready to use.

Availability for Android users

Please note that the app isn't currently available in the Google Play Store for Android users. If you're using an Android device, you'll need to keep refreshing the Play Store to try to access the app in the first hours of release.

EU availability note

It's important to mention that Threads won't be available in the EU yet due to regulatory complications. However, if you already have an Instagram account, you won't have to worry about securing your username. Meta has billed Threads as an 'Instagram app,' which means your Instagram username will be reserved for you, and you can easily transfer your Instagram friends and followers to Threads.

Will you need to have a separate Threads account?

The users are not required to have a separate account for using ‘Threads’. Metaverse users who are already using Instagram will be easily able to incorporate their photo-sharing account with the new microblogging site. However, while ‘Threads’ will be closely linked with Instagram, the app will function independently and separately from Instagram. The plus point is, users will not be required to build a community from scratch as the existing communities will be transferred from Instagram. 

How to access Threads without an Instagram account?

Threads by Instagram is designed as a companion app for Instagram and requires an Instagram account to access its features. To use Threads, you will need to sign in with your Instagram account or create a new account if you don't already have one.

How to get the Threads cheat code on Instagram

To make the experience more exciting, Meta has included an Easter egg feature within the Instagram app. By following these steps, you can obtain your own Threads 'cheat code' and share it with your Meta-loving friends:

Open the Instagram app on your device.

Type 'Threads' into the search bar.

Before tapping the search button, you should notice a small ticket icon that says 'Admit One.'

If you don't see the icon, try closing and reopening Instagram or restarting your phone.

At this point, the ticket doesn't have any practical functionality but serves as a visual representation of your Threads username, which coincides with your Instagram username. Additionally, the QR code on the ticket will redirect you to the Threads website if you're using an Android device or to the App Store if you're using an iPhone.

Is Threads similar or different from Twitter?

With more than 2 million downloads in just 2 hours, Threads has already outshined other social media giants. Meta’s new text-based app has been billed as a formidable rival to Twitter, with some techies referring to it as the “Twitter killer.” Functionally, Threads is similar to Elon Musk-owned Twitter, with some major differences. In Threads, the user’s feed will be algorithmic, which means it will include both content that is recommended to you and individuals you follow, similar to how Instagram is now set up. Whereas, Twitter allows its users to switch between an algorithmic and a chronological feed of only the people they follow.

The primary characteristic that distinguishes Threads from Twitter is that it aspires to be decentralized. Meaning that in the future, users will be able to plug their Threads posts into other social media platforms like Mastodon. But the interoperability isn’t ready yet, according to Meta. Another major difference between the two platforms is that Threads will provide users with a 500-character count limit whereas unverified Twitter users have a maximum of 280 characters. However, Twitter Blue customers can boost their character limit to 25,000 for $8 per month.

See List of most followed Threads accounts.

Criticism

However, Threads has also faced criticism. Forrester analyst Mike Proulx suggested that Meta is capitalizing on the current wave of dissatisfaction with Twitter. "While credit should be given to Meta's steadfast test and learn strategy, the company doesn't exactly have a successful track record launching standalone apps outside its core family," Proulx told CNET, referring to apps like Slingshot and IGTV. Furthermore, he observed that the market is saturated with Twitter alternatives like Bluesky, Mastodon, & Hive, leading to fragmentation among users seeking alternatives.