💾 TECH

Threads, Threads, Threads! Here’s everything you need to know

What is Threads?

On Wednesday, July 5th Meta launched Threads secretly. The official launch was scheduled for the 6th but according to some people, Meta decided to quietly launch their new app a day early in order to reduce the number of people signing up at the same time & avoid potential bugs.

If you haven’t had the chance to check it out yet, Threads is Meta’s microblogging social media app similar to Twitter.

If you’ve ever used Twitter then the layout and UX of Threads will feel very familiar, maybe too familiar… more on that later 👀

How does the algorithm work?

Currently, the algorithm is actually a bit of a mess.

When you log into Threads (which you do using your Instagram profile) you will see a home screen full of threads from people you may not follow or may have never even heard of before.

Even when you do start following people, you will still mostly see random people’s threads.

I think this algorithm is likely a temporary way for Meta to ensure that no one joins Threads and hears crickets, and will eventually be replaced by a new more tailored algorithm.

Why this matters?

Right now is a great time to start posting on Threads since you may get more visibility on your posts!

One important thing to note is that people are quickly growing their followings on Threads because when people log in for the first time they are prompted to follow all of their existing Instagram follows.

So if you already have a large following on Instagram, it’s a lot easier to grow your following on Threads.

How to use Threads

The big question many people have is what is the best way to actually use Threads. Is it just another place to post the same thing you post on Twitter?

We still don’t know.

Every platform whether it’s Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn has its own vibe, and just because Threads looks like Twitter doesn’t mean the audience on it will be the same.

For one, a majority of the people on Threads will be Instagram users, and that will immediately create a different vibe on Threads.

What I’ve noticed is a lot of big creators planning to use Threads as a more creative and personal space.

Now this may be because these creators already have large audiences on other platforms (Sahil has over 970K followers on Twitter & Justin has 447K on LinkedIn) and they want a platform where they can post without a strategy.

Or this could be the Threads vibe, a place where you truly microblog and share behind-the-scenes content as opposed to the overproduced content we are so used to seeing on Instagram.

Zucks did say that he wants Threads to be a positive place and that one of the reasons Twitter struggled to reach its potential is that it became too divisive.

Only time will tell!

FAQ

Is there a DM feature?

Currently, there is no DM feature on Threads, you need to go to Instagram. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is added in the near future as Meta ads more features to Threads.

How do you get Threads?

Currently, it’s not connected to Instagram, it’s an entirely separate app that you can download on Apple and Android devices. Once you download the app you log in using your Instagram profile.

One important note. Once you connect Threads to your Instagram you can’t ever delete your Threads account without also deleting your Instagram account.

What kind of content can you post?

You can obviously post written content, up to 500 characters per thread, along with photos & videos.

Is there a desktop app?

At the moment you can’t access Threads from the computer, only the mobile app but that will likely change soon.

What about search?

One of the big missing pieces in Threads is some sort of “explore” tab where you can find people based on your interests. At the moment you can only search for people by their username.

So for example, if you type ‘remote’ into the Threads search bar you will only find people who have the word ‘remote’ in their username.

🚨 WORD ON THE WEB (THREADS EDITION)

• 🏛️ Twitter threatens to sue Meta over Threads: According to Twitter’s legal team, Meta poached top talent and used them to copy Twitter’s layout to create Threads. This will be a tough batter for Twitter and in order to win, they will have to prove that Threads actually uses IP (code) as opposed to just using the same idea.

• 🇪🇺 Why Threads isn’t available in the EU. Threads launched on Wednesday in over 100 countries including the UK, but Meta has no launch date for the EU due to worries regarding the bloc’s privacy regulations.

• 📈 Threads hit 70 million users in just 2 days. Threads is now the fastest downloaded app in history after receiving 30m downloads in the first 24 hours and then more than doubling on day two. For reference, it took Twitter 4 years to hit 70m users.

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