Threads (social network) Explained in Detail

Threads is a relatively new social network that allows users to share text, images, and videos in a unique, chronological format. It's a space to share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas with others.

Threads is designed to be a more casual and conversational space compared to other social media platforms. It's meant to feel like a chat with friends, where you can share your thoughts and see how others respond in real-time.

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Threads is a text-based social media app launched on July 5, 2023, by Meta.

It's connected directly to Instagram, which means if you're already active on Instagram, you can easily set up an account on Threads.

Threads looks a lot like Twitter, which has led some people to speculate that it might put Twitter out of business.

The truth is, we don't know how Threads will affect Twitter long-term.

If you're already active on Twitter, you can keep using that account while still establishing a presence on Threads.

If you're not already active on Twitter, you should definitely set up an account on Threads.

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Development and launch of Threads was a rapid process, with the app being developed in just five months using the Jetpack Compose framework.

The project, codenamed "Project 92", was spearheaded by Instagram's head Adam Mosseri, who aimed to create a separate app for Instagram Notes, an upcoming text-based feature designed for Instagram. The team grew to fifty-six people by the app's launch, with a focus on agility and building features like searching for content later.

The app was initially intended to be released in January 2023, but the release date was pushed back several times, with the final launch happening on July 6, 2023.

Threads officially launched in one hundred countries, with a user base of 2 million users within 2 hours of its launch, growing to 30 million users within a day, surpassing the previous record set by ChatGPT.

Here's a rough timeline of Threads' user growth:

The early active user numbers of the platform were not sustained, and the user base plummeted more than 80% to 8 million daily active users by the end of July 2023.

To join Threads, you need to link it to your Instagram account, which instantly connects you with accounts you already follow on Instagram.

You'll see all those accounts in your Threads feed, along with suggested content picked by the Threads algorithm.

A thread is another word for a discussion or a post with a series of replies, and you can post individual pieces of text or media, known as a post.

You can also respond to someone else's post or thread with a reply, or share their post to your profile with a repost.

If you want to share someone's post with your own thoughts, you can use a quote.

The platform relies on a largely text-based medium, similar to Twitter, and you can post photos, carousels, links, and videos up to 5 minutes long.

Here's a quick breakdown of the social media lingo on Threads:

Threads was launched in one hundred countries, but its user growth was short-lived. The app's user base plummeted more than 80% to 8 million daily active users by the end of July 2023.

The app's launch was met with controversy, as lawyers representing Twitter threatened legal action against Meta Platforms, alleging that the company had used trade secrets to develop the Threads app. This led to a significant drop in user engagement.

Within a day of its launch, Threads garnered thirty million users, surpassing the previous record set by ChatGPT and making it the fastest-growing platform in history. This rapid growth was short-lived, however.

Threads has the same community guidelines as Instagram, banning content such as nudity, sexual intercourse, and recreational drugs. This aligns with Instagram's strict policies on user-generated content.

The web version of the Threads app was launched on August 22, 2023, giving users another way to access the platform. However, this expansion was met with delays in other regions, including the European Union.

Threads was launched in the European Union after a five-month delay due to privacy concerns raised by regulatory firms and the tight integration between Threads and Instagram accounts. The delay was a significant setback for the app's global expansion.

Here are the user growth milestones for Threads:

Threads will be temporarily shut down in Turkey from April 29, 2024, due to local rulings on its data-sharing with Instagram. This decision affects users in Turkey and highlights the complex issues surrounding data privacy and sharing.

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Threads offers seamless integration with Instagram, allowing users to share the same username, profile picture, and display name across both platforms.

By default, Threads accounts mirror Instagram accounts, but users can customize their profile picture and display name if they prefer.

You can choose which Instagram accounts you follow will automatically be followed on Threads, making it easy to sync your social connections.

If you decide to delete your Threads account, you no longer have to worry about losing your Instagram account too, a change that was implemented in December 2023.

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You can create a Threads account by logging in using your Instagram credentials, tying the two accounts together. This is because Threads is closely integrated with Instagram.

By default, your Threads and Instagram accounts share the same username, profile picture, and display name, although you can customize the profile picture and display name.

If you follow someone on Instagram, you can choose to automatically follow them on Threads as well. This is convenient if you already know and follow them on Instagram.

Users who created a Threads account had to delete their associated Instagram account if they wanted to terminate their Threads account, which was a major drawback. This issue was resolved by December 2023, allowing users to delete or temporarily disable their Threads account without affecting their Instagram account.

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Threads has been working towards supporting the ActivityPub protocol, which would make it interoperable with other apps like Mastodon and WordPress.

In July 2023, Meta stated that Threads would eventually support ActivityPub, but it wasn't until early 2024 that they started implementing it, starting with making posts from select accounts accessible to users of ActivityPub platforms.

By March 21, 2024, Threads introduced a "beta" feature that allowed public accounts to be visible on the fediverse, and users could see the number of likes they received, but not boosts or replies.

As of December 2024, users from the fediverse can follow Threads accounts, and Threads users can follow users in the fediverse outside of Threads.

This integration is a step towards giving users more control over their audience on Threads, allowing them to transfer their content to another service if they choose to stop using Threads.

The public API was launched in June 2024, allowing developers to build tools to publish posts and retrieve engagement insights, but not yet delete posts.

Importing accounts from Instagram is also possible, as Threads is connected to the platform, and users can automatically follow accounts they already follow on Instagram with a profile on Threads.

Threads is now available in more than 100 countries, including iOS and Android devices. You can access the platform in many parts of the world.

The platform was initially not available in the EU due to privacy concerns, but Meta launched it in December 2023 with some limitations. Users in the region can browse the social network without an account, but they can't publish or interact with posts.

You can customize your Threads experience by pinning search terms and tags as feeds. This feature allows you to tailor your content to your interests.

To use Threads, you can download the app on iOS and Android in over 100 countries. The platform is currently available worldwide except in the EU until December 2023.

You can browse the social network without an account, but you won't be able to publish or interact with other posts.

You can now pin search terms and tags as feeds on Threads, allowing you to tailor your experience to your interests.

This feature is a game-changer for users who want to stay up-to-date on specific topics or communities.

Threads is also testing a way to create custom feeds by adding specific profiles and terms to a new feed, giving you even more control over what you see.

You can now set any feed to default on Threads, moving away from the algorithmic "For You" feed that was previously the default.

Meta took inspiration from rival social network Bluesky and created its own version of "Starter Packs" - lists of people to follow based on different themes.

This feature is a great way to discover new accounts and communities that align with your interests.

By adding your interests to your profile on Threads, you can direct users to active conversations about the topic and connect with like-minded individuals.

You can't send a message to users on Threads. This is because the goal is to "not build yet another inbox and instead let people send threads to other apps."

Importing your followed accounts from Instagram to Threads is a breeze. You can choose to automatically follow any accounts you currently follow on Instagram that have a profile on Threads.

This feature is especially useful if you have a large following on Instagram and want to bring them over to Threads without having to manually add them one by one.

By default, accounts you follow on Instagram will carry over to Threads, unless you choose to opt out. This means you'll have a seamless transition to your new Threads account.

As long as the accounts you follow on Instagram have a profile on Threads, they'll automatically be added to your Threads following list.

As of November 2024, Threads has more than 275 million monthly active users. This is a significant milestone for the platform.

After its launch, Threads grew rapidly, reaching 100 million users after five days. This impressive growth was likely due to the platform's initial popularity.

However, third-party observers claim that the number of daily active users has dropped by 20% after the initial five days. This decline suggests that user engagement may be decreasing.

Moreover, the average time spent on the app has decreased significantly, from around twenty minutes per user on July 6 to just under three minutes on August 1. This drastic drop in engagement time is concerning.

The loss of 80% of its users is a major challenge for Meta's Threads. This decline in user base is a significant setback for the platform.

You can easily manage your accounts on Threads, thanks to its seamless integration with Instagram.

By default, your Threads and Instagram accounts share the same username, profile picture, and display name, although you can customize the profile picture and display name.

If you've already followed accounts on Instagram, you can import them into Threads with just a few clicks. This way, you can connect with the same people you already follow on Instagram.

You can choose which Instagram accounts you want to follow on Threads, either by selecting them one by one or by opting for automatic follow. This makes it easy to build your Threads network without having to add each person manually.

However, be aware that until December 2023, deleting or disabling your Threads account would also delete or disable your Instagram account. Thankfully, this is no longer the case, and you can now manage your accounts independently.

Threads was officially opened to the public on July 5, 2023, as a competitor to X, formerly known as Twitter.

Over 100 million people started to use the app within five days of its launch. The app allows Instagram users to access it by logging in to their accounts.

Access to Threads is currently blocked in Iran, China, and Russia, although it's available to the public everywhere else.

The app is still inaccessible in Europe, waiting for the European Commission to give out regulatory clearance after reviewing its data policies.

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Meta's Threads launched in July 2023 with a bang, attracting 275 million monthly active users within its first year. This rapid expansion was a significant milestone for the platform.

However, despite the initial growth, Threads struggled to retain users. By July 17, 2023, the number of daily active users on the platform had fallen by 70% from its peak on July 7.

The decline in users continued, with the daily number of users on Threads falling by over 80% by mid-August 2023. This was a stark contrast to the platform's initial success.

The number of daily Android users on Threads also plummeted, dropping by 79% from 49.3 million to 10.3 million by mid-August 2023.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg downplayed the decline, calling it "normal" and stating that retention would improve as new features were added to the platform.

Despite this, Threads still had a long way to go to match the cultural impact of Twitter, now rebranded as X. The platform's user-friendly environment and safer space for brands and creators were notable advantages, but it lacked the dynamic energy that characterized Twitter's earlier years.

Here's a comparison of Threads' user growth with X's traffic:

As you can see, X still had a significant lead in desktop visits, but Threads' Android mobile app usage showed a notable increase.

Threads was widely anticipated to be the "Twitter Killer" app before its launch. This suggests that many people were expecting it to be a major competitor to Twitter.

Data collection policies of Threads have received criticism from experts, who are concerned about their vast scope and Meta's previous controversies related to handling user data. This criticism is not surprising, given the company's history.

Vice reported criticism around Threads' account deletion policy in July 2023, which at the time did not allow users to delete their Threads account without also deleting their Instagram accounts. This lack of control over one's data is a major issue for many users.

The Wall Street Journal raised concerns about the potential presence of Russian and Chinese government propaganda and disinformation on the platform in July 2023, due to Threads not labeling state media accounts. This is a serious issue that needs to be addressed.

Access to Threads is currently blocked in Iran, China, and Russia, which suggests that the platform is not available in certain countries. This may be due to various reasons, including government restrictions or concerns about the spread of misinformation.

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On July 5, 2023, Meta's Threads was officially opened to the public, launched as a competitor to X, formerly known as Twitter.

Instagram users can access the new app by logging in to their accounts.

Over 100 million people started to use the app within five days of its launch.

The app is still inaccessible in Europe, waiting for the European Commission to go through "data policies" and give out the "regulatory clearance".

American and Meta had a bit of a rocky start with the launch of Meta's Threads. American Threads, a women's fashion brand, forced Meta to change the name to "@threadsapp" in their Instagram account.

The brand didn't let the issue linger, and the retailer renewed its account username, effectively resolving the matter.

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Threads is still a relatively new platform, and like any new platform, it has its limitations. One notable missing feature is Full Fediverse integration, which would allow for seamless interaction with other social media platforms.

Direct messages are also not currently available on Threads, which might be a drawback for some users who are used to private conversations on other platforms.

Some features are in the works, like scheduling posts, but for now, users will have to plan ahead and post at the right time. Scheduling posts is coming soon, so stay tuned for that update.

Here are some of the key limitations of Threads:

You can post 500 characters in one post on Threads. This is a decent limit, allowing you to share a bit of information or a short story.

The app supports images, videos, and GIFs in your posts, making it easy to add some visual interest to your content.

A Thread post can include up to 10 media items, giving you plenty of room to share multiple images, videos, or other media types.

As of July 17, Threads had to tighten up on rate limits due to spam attacks, so be mindful of how many posts you view.

As I dug deeper into the limitations of Threads, I noticed that there are several features missing from the platform. Full Fediverse integration is one of them, which means users can't seamlessly interact with other platforms in the Fediverse ecosystem.

Currently, there's no support for lists, which can be a hindrance for users who want to categorize their conversations or content. Scheduling posts is also not available, although it's mentioned to be coming soon.

Direct messages are another feature that's missing, making it difficult for users to have private conversations. Support for third-party clients is also not available, which might limit users' options for accessing Threads on different devices or with different interfaces.

Here are some of the missing features in a concise list:

Threads Software and Meta have a complicated history. Threads Software Limited, a small company in the UK, has been using the "Threads" logo for over a decade.

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Meta, the owner of the Threads social network, launched its own Threads service in July 2023, which led to Threads Software's Facebook account being shut down. This move was seen as a serious threat to Threads Software's business.

Threads Software refused Meta's bid for the "threads.app" domain, stating it was not for sale. The company even went as far as requesting an injunction in the UK High Court if Meta didn't stop using the name "Threads".

Threads' data collection practices are linked to Instagram, as you're using an Instagram account to log in to the app. This means that the data collected by Threads is part of your Instagram account.

Meta's deputy chief privacy officer, Rob Sherman, has explained that the app's privacy labels on the App Store are similar to those of other Meta apps, including Instagram. The labels indicate that the social app receives information you share within it.

The categories of data listed in the App Store are shared with Threads, which is part of your Instagram account. This includes any info you share within the app.

Threads Software, a small UK-based company, has been at odds with Meta over the use of the "Threads" name. Meta's Threads was launched in July 2023, despite Threads Software's warnings of potential lawsuits.

The company's managing director, John Yardley, stated that taking on Meta was not an easy decision, but their business now faces a serious threat from the tech giant.

Threads Software refused Meta's bid for the "threads.app" domain, asserting that it was not for sale.