In the ever-turbulent arena of social media, a new competition is looming. Mark Zuckerberg, head of Meta, the parent company of Instagram, is preparing to launch a serious alternative to Twitter, called Threads. The move goes against Zuckerberg’s past reluctance to compete with Twitter, but that’s changed. Following the radical transformations initiated by Elon Musk, the new owner of Twitter, the space is now ripe for the arrival of a serious competitor. Here’s everything we know about Threads, Meta’s next big thing, detailing its origins, features, and launch context.
what is Threads ?
Threads is an upcoming social media application launched by Instagram (part of Meta, formerly Facebook). In the growing ecosystem of social applications, Threads seems to want to establish itself as a serious alternative to Twitter, by offering a space dedicated to sharing texts, discussions and the creation of online communities.
In what context Threads is launched?
The Threads story begins with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who has always had a keen interest in Twitter. An acquisition attempt has even been made in the past, but without success. Since then, the idea of directly competing with Twitter has always been avoided…until now.
The situation changed dramatically when Elon Musk took over Twitter. The transformations it has brought to the social network, particularly in terms of monetization and moderation, but also the great saga of badges and that of APIs, not to mention the mass layoffs, have led to a degradation of the user experience and to the remoteness of many advertisers and more and more users. The lack of viable alternatives to Twitter, exacerbated by the complexity of platforms like Mastodon, then created a space that Threads intends to invest.
Why the name Threads ?
Threads is a brand already owned by Meta, which previously launched an app under that name. Inspired by Snapchat, the original app aimed to enable seamless sharing of data with a close circle of friends. Despite its failure, Meta decided to use the name for this new project, taking a completely different view.
When Threads will be launched?
Meta announced the launch of Threads for Thursday, July 6, 2023, the date of availability announced on the App Store. A website, threads.net, has also gone live, but so far it only has a homepage and a download link.
Will it be available in France?
For now, the availability of Threads in France is not confirmed on the Play Store and App Store pages. However, it is possible that this will change before the official launch. Otherwise, using a VPN could be a solution to access the application.
However, new information could temper our enthusiasm: according to information reported by The Independent, the DPC did not actively block the launch of Threads, Meta’s new social network, in Europe. However, it would appear that Meta has not yet prepared Threads for a launch compliant with European Union data protection regulations and GDPR in particular. The service is not ready to launch in Europe. The reasons are largely related to data protection issues. Let’s take a look at this complex situation and the obstacles Threads must overcome to win over Europe.
What can we expect?
According to the description provided on the App Store, Threads aims to be a space where communities can discuss the topics that matter to them. Unlike Twitter, where engagement is often driven by clashes between different groups, Threads emphasizes harmonious discussions between like-minded people and passions.
What’s the link with Instagram?
According to information unearthed in the APK of the app by 9to5Google, Instagram and Threads accounts may be linked. It will thus be possible to automatically follow on Threads the people you follow on Instagram, and to transfer your followers from one platform to another. The username and profile picture will also be synced between the two apps.
What is Fedivers?
The Fediverse (or Fedi) is a network of independent social media servers that can interact seamlessly, much like telephone numbers. Threads users will potentially be able to connect to the Fediverse and interact with users from other platforms, including Mastodon.
Do you use Google News (News in France)? You can follow your favorite media. Follow Frandroid on Google News (and Numerama).