The Rivalry Unfolds: Introducing Threads, Twitter's Direct Competitor
As a long-time Twitter user, I have witnessed significant changes since Elon Musk's acquisition of the platform. Twitter's policies have undergone drastic transformations, with a recent development being the launch of Threads, a direct competitor to Twitter. Introduced under Meta's umbrella on July 6th, Thread has emerged as a textual conversion hub for Instagram users. Within a day of its launch, Thread managed to attract over 30 million users, making it a hot topic of discussion. Today, I will delve into the advantages and disadvantages of this so-called rival to Twitter.
Advantages:
1. Bid Farewell to Hard Content:
Threads, Meta's new offering, is designed specifically for entertainment purposes, steering away from political and controversial content. It has been reported that the app primarily focuses on entertainment, deliberately avoiding political opinions. This aspect resembles Instagram's content filtering, making it appealing to those seeking to avoid hard-hitting content.
2. Seamless Connection with Instagram Friends:
Thread simplifies the process of connecting with your Instagram friends. Finding and connecting with friends on Instagram is hassle-free, and you can switch to private mode if you wish to share content exclusively with them. This ease of connection between platforms is another significant advantage.
3. Built on Top of Instagram:
For Instagram users, Thread will feel familiar due to its close integration with the platform. The user interface and other elements bear a striking resemblance to Instagram, making Thread user-friendly and intuitive.
4. Additional Features:
Thread offers several other noteworthy features, including a post word limit of 500 words, the ability to share up to 10 photos, and videos of up to 5 minutes in length.
Disadvantages:
1. Absence of Hashtags:
Twitter users accustomed to hashtags and trending topics will miss this aspect in Threads. The platform discourages the use of hashtags and trending news, which can be seen as a drawback. It is hoped that Thread will introduce changes in the future to allow users to view trending content.
2. Lack of Content Customization:
One major downside of the Threads app is the absence of content customization. Instead, the platform relies on machine algorithms to recommend content to users. Unlike Twitter, where users have the freedom to choose the content they wish to see, Thread's recommendation algorithm filters content for users, which may not align with their preferences.
3. Privacy Concerns:
If you are a user of Meta's Facebook or Instagram, you may be familiar with their privacy policies. Unfortunately, Threads follows a similar path, collecting various user data to tailor the experience and serve targeted ads, which is the main source of income for the platform. Patrick Johnson from the private tech company Disconnect has expressed concerns about Thread's data collection, including details about users' devices (model number, screen resolution, and time zone) and installation-related identifiers. Recently, the European Union imposed a substantial fine of $1.3 billion on Meta for its unlawful utilization of sensitive information, including health data and user behavior patterns, to target ads towards individuals. This incident has raised significant concerns regarding privacy and the ethical handling of user data.
4. Account Deletion Complications:
Deleting your Threads account proves to be a hassle, as it is directly linked to your Instagram account. To remove your Threads account, you would need to delete your Instagram account, which may be inconvenient for users seeking to disengage from the platform.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Threads arrival as a direct competitor to Twitter has sparked considerable interest among the public. While it offers advantages such as a focus on entertainment, seamless integration with Instagram, and a familiar user interface, it does have its downsides. The absence of hashtags, lack of content customization, privacy concerns, and account deletion complications pose challenges for users. It remains to be seen how Threads will evolve and address these issues to gain a competitive edge in the social media landscape.
Try out the new threads application:
Play Store : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.instagram.barcelona&hl=en_US
Apple Store : https://apps.apple.com/us/app/threads-an-instagram-app/id6446901002
Sources
Personal Experience
Threads app history : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Threads_(app)
Privacy policy : https://help.instagram.com/515230437301944
Europe's take on Meta : https://www.euronews.com/next/2023/05/22/us-tech-giant-meta-fined-a-record-12-billion-in-europe#:~:text=Meta%20has%20been%20ordered%20to,breaching%20EU%20data%20protection%20rules.