Meta Rolls Out Instagram Threads, New App to Compete Twitter
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United States – Meta is rolling out a new app that may kill Twitter, known as Threads. It is closely linked with an account on Instagram.
To access the cheat code, all you have to do is type 'threads' or 'thread' into the Instagram search bar and you'll see a small pink ticket emoji saying 'admit one'.
Furthermore, Threads has an edge, backed by Meta and Instagram's massive user base of over two billion monthly active users worldwide.
In a post on the Threads account on Wednesday, Mark Zuckerberg said, "I think there should be a public conversation app with over one billion people on it. Twitter has had the opportunity to do this but hasn't succeeded. Hopefully we can do it," he wrote.
Well, here are the things to know about Threads:
Built by Instagram, Threads is positioned as an app where people can have real-time public conversations with each other. The platform also helps boost Instagram, which is an image-sharing app in the Meta product suite, "The idea is to build an open and friendly space for the community," Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram said in an interview.
Instagram has tied Threads tightly. Those interested in signing up for the new app are required to have an Instagram account. Also, the Instagram username will be the same as the name for the Threads account.
Users can directly import the list of people they follow on Instagram into Threads if they wish. Users who are verified on Instagram will also be verified on the new app. Users can then set their accounts to private or public.
Threads look similar to Twitter in many ways. Users can post mostly text-based messages to a scrolling feed, which followers can see and users can reply to. People can also post photos or videos on this app.
But there are differences with Twitter. It does not currently support direct messaging, a feature that Twitter offers. Instagram says it will add the feature to Threads if new users request it.
Threads app is available to download for free from Apple's App Store and Google Play Store for about 100 countries. Meta has plans to expand it.