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Threads by Meta launched in July 2023 is the most awaited competitor of Twitter. Threads is linked to your Instagram account, and you can easily share posts from Threads to your Instagram story or feed.
Key Takeaways of Threads
- Text updates: You can post short text updates up to 500 characters long.
- Photos and videos: You can also post pictures and videos that are up to 5 minutes long.
- Real-time chat: You can have real-time conversations with your friends and family.
- Personalized feed: Your feed will show posts from people you follow on Instagram and Threads, as well as recommendations for undiscovered content.
- AI-powered features: Threads uses AI to help you discover new content and people and to keep your feed organized.
Threads is still in its early stages, but it has the potential to be a popular social media app. If you’re looking for a more personal and intimate way to connect with friends and family, Threads is worth checking out.
Here are some additional things to know about Threads:
- The app is only available for iOS and Android devices.
- You must have an Instagram account to use Threads.
- Threads is not a replacement for Instagram. It is a separate app that is designed to be used alongside Instagram.
If you want to try Threads, you can download the app from the App Store or Google Play.
How does it work: Differences in Threads and Twitter
Threads provide a Twitter-like microblogging experience.
When you open the app, you’ll find buttons to heart, repost, reply to, or quote a “thread,” along with counters displaying the number of likes and replies a post has garnered. Posts are restricted to 500 characters, surpassing Twitter’s 280-character limit, and can encompass links, photos, and videos of up to five minutes in duration.
Unlike Twitter, Threads doesn’t appear to employ hashtags and lacks a feature enabling users to search for specific text or phrases. It also permits sharing up to 10 photos in a single post, matching Instagram’s limit, in contrast to Twitter’s cap of four images.
Source: Quora
Where is Threads available?
Threads is now available in the Apple and Google Android app stores across 100+ countries, including the UK, Australia, Canada, and Japan.
Some individuals have raised concerns about a potential clash of cultures between Instagram and a Twitter-like service.
Is Meta taking over?
Meta’s Twitter clone does indeed give the sensation of using Twitter itself. The features—likes, retweets, and following—are almost identical to those of the long-standing microblogging platform. However, as Twitter has become increasingly clunky and less user-friendly since Musk took over, the ability to open an app and smoothly see and engage with content felt like a breath of fresh air.
Source: Quora
This is the user experience that Meta is banking on, openly acknowledging that the turmoil within Twitter has created an opening for a new product in the market. In an interview with The Verge, Adam Mosseri, Instagram’s head of product, stated that the company recognized a need for a new platform due to the recent “unpredictability” on Twitter.
“Obviously, Twitter pioneered the space, And there are a lot of good offerings out there for public conversations. But just given everything that was going on, we thought there was an opportunity to build something open and something good for the community that was already using Instagram.”
Like other products under Meta’s roof, Threads offers a disconcertingly seamless integration with existing platforms. Creating an account allows you to follow your current circle from Instagram, and your followers will likely receive notifications about your new account and posts, enticing them to join as well.
Source: Meta
Privacy concerns of Threads: Does it collect your data?
Threads gather user data similar to what Twitter collects, including
- user-generated content,
- contact details,
- search and browsing history,
- device identifiers,
- purchase records, and
- financial information.
However, there are longstanding concerns regarding privacy. Watch Dogs have raised various issues about Threads as the tech giant strives to bring more users into its ecosystem. According to the app’s data privacy disclosure on the App Store, Threads has the capability to collect a wide array of personal information, including health data, financial details, contact lists, browsing history, search history, location data, purchases, and “sensitive information.”
Why is Threads not working in Europe?
Due to privacy concerns, Threads is currently unavailable in the European Union, which has stringent data privacy regulations. Although the company plans to expand the app’s availability to more countries, it cites regulatory uncertainty as the reason for delaying its launch in Europe.
To address user safety, Meta has emphasized implementing measures on the new app, such as enforcing Instagram’s community guidelines and providing tools to control who can mention or reply to users.
How to open a Meta Threads account if you live in Europe
Threads is unavailable to use in Europe, but if you are curious to know how it works and want to connect to the world, there is an easy way to do so. Using a VPN can help you open your Threads account safely, without being banned.
Here’s how:
- Download and install the PureVPN app.
- Sign in using your credentials.
- Connect to the country’s server where Meta Threads is available. Enjoy!
What do people think about Threads?
People have mixed reactions about Threads, many have embraced it openly and some think that it is not worth it. We can hold our verdict for a few months to decide. Former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is not happy with the data collection of Threads.
Also, Twitter is obviously not very happy about the competition and will respond in some way.
Political Analyst Garland Nixon tweeted that Meta Threads has a policy of censorship from day 1, but looks like he is not aware of other privacy concerns.
According to Roensch Capital, Meta is stealing information through Threads. In a recent tweet:
Thoughts about Meta Threads decentralization
Before the app was launched it was believed to be decentralized, and users could control their privacy issues. On release, we could see that the app is not decentralized. Future versions might work on decentralized social networking protocols.
In a nutshell…
Meta Threads is what everybody is talking about. Being a cyber security writer, I am not really happy with the privacy policy of Threads, but on the whole, I have enjoyed the experience Threads has offered. Competitions take you over, if you do not act in time. Twitter is at threat, but only time will decide if it will exist or be replaced.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. You can not delete your Threads account until and unless you delete your Instagram account. You only have the option to deactivate your Threads account, but not completely delete it.
Yes. To use threads you must have an Instagram account as the app is linked to it.
More than 30 million people have signed up to Threads to explore what it offers. The news was given to me on Meta some hours after the launch.
The app does not comply with GDPR regulations and is banned in Europe for now. You can access Threads in Europe by using a VPN.
PureVPN
July 12, 2023
10 months ago
