Meta, the owner of Facebook, has launched its new app called Threads, which aims to rival Twitter. The app is live from today, Thursday and is currently available for download on the Apple App Store and Playstore. Threads will be integrated with Instagram and features a dashboard that bears similarities to Twitter. Meta describes Threads as a “text-based conversation app.”
This move intensifies the ongoing rivalry between Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Twitter owner Elon Musk. The two recently engaged in a lighthearted agreement for a physical fight, although the seriousness of their intentions remains unclear.
Elon Musk made a sarcastic remark on Twitter about Threads, referring to Meta as being “sanely run,” which seemingly takes a swipe at Mark Zuckerberg.
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In response, Twitter announced that TweetDeck, a popular user dashboard, will transition to a paid service within 30 days. This is part of Musk’s efforts to encourage users to subscribe to Twitter’s premium service, Twitter Blue. Musk had previously limited the number of visible tweets for users, citing concerns about excessive “data scraping.”
According to Meta’s Threads app, it appears that Threads will be offered as a free service without restrictions on post visibility. The app’s description on the App Store highlights that Threads is a platform where communities can engage in discussions about various topics of interest.
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Screenshots from the app show a user interface that closely resembles Twitter. Threads will also collect data from users’ phones, including location data, purchase history, and browsing habits.
In recent years, several apps similar to Twitter, such as Donald Trump’s Truth Social and Mastodon, have emerged. Another comparable app, Bluesky, reported a surge in traffic following Musk’s move to limit Twitter usage.
However, Threads could pose the most significant threat to Twitter. Mark Zuckerberg has a history of adopting successful ideas from other companies and making them work. Meta’s Reels, similar to TikTok, and Stories, resembling Snapchat, are examples of this approach.
Meta has the resources to compete with Twitter effectively. By integrating Threads into the Instagram platform, it will be connected to hundreds of millions of user accounts. This provides Threads with an advantage compared to other potential rivals that would have to start from scratch.
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While Musk has received praise for his commitment to free speech, he has also alienated some users. Mark Zuckerberg hopes to attract enough disenchanted Twitter users to create a genuine alternative platform with Threads.
