Meta Takes on Twitter with the Launch of Threads: All You Need to Know!
Photo Cred: Meta

Meta’s newly launched text-based conversation app, Threads, aims to provide a positive and creative space for users to connect, with compatibility plans for open social networking protocols, as Meta seeks to cater to users looking for alternative platforms amidst Twitter’s recent setbacks under Elon Musk’s ownership.

 

Global (06 July 2023) – In a groundbreaking move, Meta, the tech giant formerly known as Facebook, has officially unveiled Threads, a text-based conversation app that aims to provide a Twitter-like experience within the Meta ecosystem.

This exciting development comes as Meta seeks to cater to users who have grown disillusioned with Twitter due to its tumultuous relationship with Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX.

Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO and co-founder of Meta, made the grand announcement of Threads’ debut on Wednesday, signalling the release of this new text-focused messaging app. Threads represent Meta’s ambitious endeavour to tap into the growing demand for alternative platforms in the wake of Twitter’s recent setbacks.

One of the most recent incidents that Meta is hoping will capture a “migration” from Twitter was Elon Musk’s decision to limit the number of daily tweets users can view. While Musk cited concerns about data scraping and system manipulation as the rationale behind this move, many Twitter users expressed their dissatisfaction with these limitations, claiming that it detracted from the overall user experience. The introduction of these tweet limits left Twitter vulnerable to competing apps, such as BlueSky, a social messaging platform supported by Jack Dorsey, one of Twitter’s co-founders. BlueSky says it witnessed a surge in user traffic following Musk’s announcement, prompting the app to pause sign-ups to handle the influx of new users temporarily. BlueSky’s exclusive invitation-only policy became necessary to manage the sudden influx of eager individuals wanting to join the platform.

Meta Takes on Twitter with the Launch of Threads: All You Need to Know!
Photo Cred: Meta

Similar to BlueSky, Threads incorporates decentralized technology that empowers users to take control of their data across other apps that utilize the same underlying software. This decentralized approach aligns with Meta’s commitment to privacy and user empowerment.

While Instagram has long served as a hub for billions of individuals to connect through photos and videos, Threads expands on this concept by providing a “positive and creative space” for expressing ideas through text. By using Threads, you can effortlessly follow and connect with friends and creators who share your passions, including those you already follow on Instagram and beyond. Furthermore, the comprehensive suite of safety and user controls available on Instagram will be integrated into Threads, ensuring a secure and enjoyable experience.

Getting your Threads account:

Getting started with Threads is a breeze—simply log in using your existing Instagram account, and your username and verification will seamlessly carry over. You even have the option to personalize your Threads profile to cater specifically to this new platform.

You can find Good Things Guy on Threads by clicking here.

It’s worth noting that users under the age of 16 (or 18 in certain countries) will have their profiles set to private by default upon joining Threads. You can choose to follow the same accounts you do on Instagram and discover new like-minded individuals who share your interests. Moreover, the core accessibility features available on Instagram, such as screen reader support and AI-generated image descriptions, are also fully enabled on Threads, ensuring an inclusive environment for all users.

Your Threads feed will showcase posts from the people you follow, along with recommended content from new creators you haven’t yet discovered. Each post can contain up to 500 characters, allowing for expressive and comprehensive messages. Additionally, you can include links, photos, and videos up to 5 minutes in length. Sharing your Threads post to your Instagram story or other platforms is a seamless process, enabling effortless content distribution.

“Threads comes equipped with powerful tools that foster positive and productive conversations. You have full control over who can mention or reply to you within Threads. Similar to Instagram, you can utilize hidden word filters to screen out replies containing specific words. Should the need arise, you can unfollow, block, restrict, or report a profile on Threads with a simple tap on the three-dot menu. Notably, any accounts you’ve blocked on Instagram will automatically be blocked on Threads as well.”

“As with all Meta products, safety is a top priority. Instagram’s Community Guidelines will be rigorously enforced on Threads to ensure a safe and respectful community. Over the years, Meta has invested more than $16 billion in strengthening their teams and technologies to protect users, and they remain dedicated to advancing their industry-leading integrity efforts.”

Excitingly, Meta plans to make Threads compatible with ActivityPub, an open social networking protocol established by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). This integration would enable Threads to interact with other apps supporting the ActivityPub protocol, such as Mastodon and WordPress. This compatibility opens up a world of new connections and possibilities, ushering in a future of diverse and interconnected networks. Other platforms, including Tumblr, have also expressed their intentions to support the ActivityPub protocol in the coming years.

Meta is committed to granting users greater control over their audience on Threads. They aim to work closely with ActivityPub to offer users the option to transfer their content from Threads to another service, should they choose to do so. The vision is for compatible apps to allow users to follow and engage with Threads users without requiring a Threads account, fostering an era of seamless interactions and expanded reach. If you have a public profile on Threads, your posts would be accessible from other apps, effortlessly connecting you with new individuals. For those with private profiles, you can approve users on Threads who wish to follow you and engage with your content, similar to the experience on Instagram.

The advantages of open social networking protocols extend beyond user connections. Developers will have the opportunity to create innovative features and experiences that seamlessly integrate with other open social networks. Each compatible app can establish its own community standards and content moderation policies, empowering users to choose spaces that align with their values. This decentralized approach, reminiscent of the protocols governing email and the web itself, holds immense potential for the future of online platforms.

Threads is Meta’s first step toward compatibility with an open social networking protocol, and they hope that by joining this rapidly expanding ecosystem of interoperable services, Threads will help users find their communities, regardless of the app they choose to use.

So what’s next for Threads?

The app is rolling out today in over 100 countries for both iOS and Android users. Meta is also working on introducing several exciting features to enhance your experience on Threads, including improved recommendations in your feed and a robust search function that enables real-time tracking of topics and trends.

Meta is eager to hear your feedback as they continue to develop new features and introduce delightful ways to connect on the app. With Mark Zuckerberg at the helm, Threads promises to be an exceptional addition to the Meta family, offering a vibrant and engaging space for text-based conversations.

Key Takeaways:

  • Threads is a new app developed by the Instagram team, designed for sharing text updates and participating in public conversations.
  • Logging in with your existing Instagram account grants access to Threads, where you can create posts up to 500 characters long, featuring links, photos, and videos up to 5 minutes in length.
  • Meta is actively working toward making Threads compatible with open and interoperable social networks, paving the way for a future shaped by the potential of the internet.
  • Meta is dedicated to user safety, enforcing Instagram’s Community Guidelines on Threads and investing significant resources to protect the community.
  • Threads’ compatibility with ActivityPub holds exciting possibilities, allowing users to connect with other apps and fostering a decentralized approach to social networking.
  • Threads is available for download on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store in more than 100 countries, with Meta planning to introduce new features and gather feedback from users to improve the app’s functionality and user experience.

Sources: Meta 
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About the Author

Brent Lindeque is the founder and editor in charge at Good Things Guy.

Recognised as one of the Mail and Guardian’s Top 200 Young South African’s as well as a Primedia LeadSA Hero, Brent is a change maker, thought leader, radio host, foodie, vlogger, writer and all round good guy.

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