SAN FRANCISCO, USA – Meta, the company behind Facebook, is set to launch a new app called Threads that directly competes with Twitter.
The app, which is currently available for pre-order on the Apple App Store, is scheduled to go live on Thursday, July 6, 2023.
Threads, described by Meta as a “text-based conversation app,” exhibits a user interface that strikingly resembles Twitter.
It will also be integrated with Instagram, giving it instant access to a massive user base.
Screen captures of the Threads app reveal a dashboard akin to Twitter.
The description on the App Store suggests that Threads is designed for communities to come together and discuss various topics ranging from current interests to trending subjects.
The launch of Threads signifies an escalating rivalry between Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, and Twitter’s owner, Elon Musk.
In a seemingly satirical exchange last month, the two tech moguls agreed to a physical fight, though the seriousness of this arrangement remains doubtful.
Elon Musk, known for his candid social media presence, responded to a tweet about Threads by saying, “Thank goodness they’re so sanely run,” seemingly taking a jab at Zuckerberg.
In parallel developments, Twitter recently announced that TweetDeck, a popular user dashboard, will become a paid feature within 30 days.
This change is part of Musk’s effort to encourage users to subscribe to Twitter Blue, Twitter’s subscription service.
Additionally, Twitter restricted the number of tweets that users could view, citing concerns about extreme “data scraping.”
Meta’s Threads app is expected to be a free service, and it appears that there will be no limitations on the number of posts a user can view.
However, being a Meta app, Threads will also collect data from users’ phones, including location data, purchases, and browsing history.
Meta is not the first company to attempt to rival Twitter.
Several other apps resembling Twitter have emerged in recent times, such as Donald Trump’s Truth Social and Mastodon.
Another app called Bluesky reportedly witnessed a surge in traffic following Musk’s recent decision to restrict Twitter usage.
However, Threads could pose the most formidable challenge Twitter has faced to date. Mark Zuckerberg has a track record of adopting features from other platforms and integrating them successfully within Meta’s ecosystem.
For example, Meta’s Reels is widely considered a TikTok clone, while Stories bears resemblance to Snapchat.
With the backing of Meta’s resources and immediate integration with Instagram, Threads has a significant advantage compared to other Twitter alternatives that had to build user bases from scratch.
As Elon Musk’s decisions continue to polarize Twitter users, Mark Zuckerberg aims to capitalize on any discontent by offering Threads as a viable alternative platform.
