Within hours of its launch, Threads, Meta’s rival to Twitter, has already attracted over 10 million sign-ups, according to Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of its parent company Facebook.
Threads poses the biggest challenge to Elon Musk’s ownership of Twitter, as it aims to replace the iconic social media platform that has faced significant struggles.
The app was made available on both the Apple and Android app stores in 100 countries at 23:00 GMT (4:30 am IST) on Wednesday, with no ads for now.
In a post on his official Threads account, Zuckerberg wrote: “10 million sign-ups in seven hours.”
Celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, and Hugh Jackman, as well as media outlets like The Washington Post and The Economist, already have active accounts on the platform.
Zuckerberg personally spent the initial hours of the platform’s launch engaging with new users.
In response to American MMA fighter Jon Jones, he wrote, “One thing that’s up is the number of world champion MMA fighters on Threads, especially now that you’re here!”
In another reply, he stated, “Round one of this thing is getting off to a good start.”
Zuckerberg also took the opportunity to take a jab at Musk, his bitter rival, with whom he has even offered to engage in a physical fight.
In his first tweet in over a decade, Zuckerberg posted a meme featuring Spiderman pointing at Spiderman, which seems to indicate the similarities between the two platforms.
On Threads, he mentioned, “It’ll take some time, but I think there should be a public conversations app with 1 billion+ people on it. Twitter has had the opportunity to do this but hasn’t nailed it. Hopefully, we will.”
Twitter currently boasts over 200 million daily users.
Being Kind
Threads is positioned as a spin-off of Instagram, which already has an existing user base of over two billion, thereby sparing the new platform the challenge of starting from scratch.
Zuckerberg is utilizing Musk’s tumultuous ownership of Twitter to promote the new product, with hopes that Threads will become the primary communication channel for celebrities, companies, and politicians.
Strategic financial analyst Brian Wieser stated on Substack, “It’s as simple as that: if an Instagram user with a large number of followers such as Kardashian or a Bieber or a Messi begins posting on Threads regularly, a new platform could quickly thrive.”
Jasmine Engberg, an analyst from Insider Intelligence, added that Threads only needs to attract one out of four Instagram monthly users to achieve the same level of success as Twitter.
Engberg said, “Twitter users are desperate for an alternative, and Musk has given Zuckerberg an opening.”
Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, informed users that Threads aims to create “an open and friendly platform for conversations.”
“The best thing you can do if you want that too is be kind,” he said.
Under Musk’s leadership, Twitter has witnessed a decrease in content moderation, resulting in glitches and impulsive decisions that have driven away celebrities and major advertisers.
Musk brought in advertising executive Linda Yaccarino to address the situation, but even she hasn’t been immune to his unpredictable actions.
Last week, the Tesla CEO announced that he was limiting access to Twitter to prevent AI companies from using the site for data collection for training their technology.
Musk further angered dedicated Twitter users by declaring that the TweetDeck product would only be available to paying customers.
EU Concerns
Meta also faces criticism, particularly in Europe, where its handling of personal data has raised concerns. This is crucial for targeted advertisements, which play a significant role in the company’s billions of dollars in quarterly profits.
Mosseri expressed regret over the delay in launching Threads in the EU but stated that waiting for regulatory clarity from Brussels would have resulted in a significant number of additional months of delay.
“I was worried that our window would close because timing is important,” he added in an interview with tech news site Platformer.
Meta was cautious due to a new law called the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which imposes strict rules on internet companies recognized as “gatekeepers.” One rule restricts platforms from sharing personal data between products, which could potentially be the case with Threads and Instagram.
Previously, Meta faced backlash for doing exactly that after acquiring the messaging app WhatsApp. European regulators will be closely monitoring the company to ensure that it does not engage in illegal data transfers with Threads.
A Return to Twitter?
Globally, the Threads hashtag on Twitter has generated over a million tweets, with many users jokingly suggesting a return to the platform.
One user shared a video of a man sprinting, accompanied by the comment, “10 minutes into Threads app. Me coming back to Twitter.”
Another user posted an image of Homer Simpson running back and forth between the Twitter and Threads logos.
By midday local time on Thursday, Threads became the top trending topic on Japan Twitter, although many users expressed concerns about data privacy.
One user remarked, “Threads is run by Meta, isn’t it? It will definitely leak your real name or the game you are playing, or put you in the list of your workplace company friends.”
Another user stated, “Meta loves to collect private information, and I don’t trust the way it treats private information. I also have the impression that this is a company hated by the EU, so I’m reluctant.”
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Deepak Sen is a tech enthusiast who covers the latest technological innovations, from AI to consumer gadgets. His articles provide readers with a glimpse into the ever-evolving world of technology.
