Meta, the parent company of Facebook, is gearing up to challenge Twitter with the launch of its new application called Threads. The launch is scheduled for Thursday, and the app is currently up for pre-orders on the Apple App Store, where it will be integrated with Instagram.
The Threads app, with a layout and features reminiscent of Twitter, is described by Meta as a “text-based conversation platform”. This step marks the latest chapter in the ongoing rivalry between Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Twitter’s Elon Musk. A month ago, both tech moguls agreed to a boxing match, but it remains unclear whether they were actually serious about this proposal. Musk’s sarcastic comment on a tweet about Threads, “Thank goodness they’re so sanely run,” appears to be a jab at Zuckerberg.
In related news, Twitter announced that its popular feature, TweetDeck, will become a paid service in the next 30 days. This is part of Musk’s drive to attract users to the Twitter Blue subscription service. Over the weekend, he limited the number of tweets users could see, justifying it as a measure against excessive “data scraping”.
From what is known, Meta’s Threads app will be a free service without restrictions on the number of posts users can view. “Threads is where communities converge to converse on anything and everything, from the current topics you’re passionate about to the trending topics of tomorrow,” states the app’s description on the App Store. Similar to Twitter in appearance, Threads will also gather data from your phone, including location, purchase, and browsing history. Twitter-like apps such as Donald Trump’s Truth Social, Mastodon, and Bluesky have popped up in recent years. After Musk’s weekend restriction, Bluesky reported record-breaking traffic.
However, Threads might pose the most significant challenge Twitter has encountered yet. Zuckerberg is known for effectively adapting ideas from other companies. For instance, Meta’s Reels is considered a clone of TikTok, while Stories mirrors Snapchat.
Meta, with its vast resources, has a strong footing to compete against Twitter. Threads will be linked to the Instagram platform and, thus, will be connected to hundreds of millions of existing accounts. This gives it a significant advantage over other potential competitors who start from scratch. Despite some applauding Musk for his dedication to free speech, he has also lost favor among some users. Zuckerberg aims to entice these disillusioned Twitter users, hoping to build a robust alternative to the platform.
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