Twitter Killer or Supporter: Will Meta’s Threads Go to Shreds?

In response to the prevailing discontent surrounding Musk's recent policy alterations, Meta introduced its groundbreaking Threads app just mid of last week and it bore a striking resemblance to the renowned Twitter platform. But whether this new offering emerges as a formidable contender to Elon Musk's dominion over the social media realm or not, is still very much up in the air.

Based on the number badges appearing on Instagram profiles, indicating when someone joined Threads, there are over 100 million accounts on Threads over the past few days. Meta’s take is that it is a “friendlier” social media platform.

What’s the Difference Between the Threads and Instagram Experience?
Threads, an innovative creation from the Instagram team, sets itself apart by venturing beyond the realm of visual content that characterises its parent platform. While Instagram fosters connections through captivating photos and videos, Threads embarks on a mission to elevate the level of engagement with text updates.

This distinct app strives to carve out a separate and inclusive sphere, dedicated to facilitating real-time updates and fostering public conversations. With the capacity to share posts spanning up to 500 characters, Threads empowers users to seamlessly incorporate links, photos, and videos up to five minutes long, enriching their expressive repertoire.

The Digital Jabs
Almost synchronously with the app's launch, an intriguing move unfolded on social media. Mark Zuckerberg, making his first foray into the realm of tweeting since 2012, shared a widely circulated meme featuring two Spider-Men locked in a gaze, subtly hinting at a playful jab towards his rival, Elon Musk.

In the wake of Mark's tweet, a swift retaliatory move unfolded as Elon delivered a jab of his own on Instagram.

The ongoing rivalry between these influential figures and their respective companies has been no secret, with Meta's Chief Product Officer, Chris Cox, boldly positioning Threads as "our response to Twitter." He further elucidated that this innovative offering will seamlessly facilitate the transfer of Instagram users' followers and vital user information to the new app, an endeavour aimed at empowering individuals seeking a fresh digital experience.

In a seemingly derisive tone, he also dismissed Elon's approach to managing Twitter, asserting that Meta has been receiving feedback from creators and public figures expressing a desire for a more balanced and judiciously governed platform. Moreover, reports suggest that Mark is actively engaging celebrities and influencers to endorse this nascent venture, which has already garnered the moniker "Twitter killer" from some observers.

Elon Musk, in a characteristically enigmatic manner, ventured to make cryptic pronouncements about Meta's future endeavours. He alluded to Meta's potential to clandestinely manipulate the content individuals are exposed to, leaving us to ponder the implications of such influence over information flow. Additionally, he expressed his opinion on the Threads logo, drawing attention to its resemblance to a tapeworm.

Twitter’s co-founder Jack Dorsey also took a shot at Mark in his tweet.

What Do You Do When All Else Fails? Threaten Legal Action
Threads emerges as a comprehensive emulation of Twitter's framework, raising questions about its timing, considering the recent tumultuous trajectory of the latter, largely influenced by Elon's interventions since assuming control.

Thus, it comes as no surprise that Elon perceives potential legal ramifications in this context. In a notable occurrence, Semafore has reported that Alex Spiro, Twitter's Chief Legal Officer, dispatched a strongly-worded letter to Mark Zuckerberg.

Alex affirmed that, “Twitter intends to strictly enforce its intellectual property rights, and demands that Meta take immediate steps to stop using any Twitter trade secrets or other highly confidential information.”

The letter asserted that Meta has allegedly recruited numerous former Twitter employees who possess intimate knowledge of the social media giant's trade secrets and closely guarded confidential information. Moreover, it claimed that these individuals were specifically tasked with developing Meta's Threads app, which is purported to bear a striking resemblance to Twitter's core functionalities.

Meta spokesperson retorted in response to that accusation, “No one on the Threads engineering team is a former Twitter employee: that's just not a thing".

In response to discussion of the letter, Elon expressed that "competition is fine, cheating is not".

Threads’ Feature or Lack Thereof, Sparked Discontent Among Many
Threads users are finding themselves taken aback by an unforeseen consequence when attempting to sever ties with this burgeoning social media platform. The revelation that permanently deleting a Threads account entails sacrificing their Instagram presence as well has left many in a state of disbelief.

While a temporary deactivation option exists for Threads profiles, a complete deletion requires bidding farewell to both interconnected platforms. As an alternative approach, Instagram offers guidance suggesting users opt to delete individual posts, set their profile to private, or employ blocking mechanisms to manage their interactions.

The repercussions of this revelation have rippled across the Twittersphere, triggering a deluge of complaints and expressions of frustration. In fact, one user aptly likened the situation to a "saw trap," alluding to the unexpected entanglement and ensuing predicament faced by those seeking to extricate themselves from the Threads-Instagram amalgamation.

Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri took to Threads to clarify the situation with regard to account deletion.

He added in a separate post that they need time to introduce other features that are missing as of now. Even Elon could not pass up on criticising the flaws.

That Did Not Stop Prominent Figures and Celebrities to Join the Threads’ Army
Within the vibrant Threads community, prominent figures from various domains have claimed their digital presence. Notable personalities such as Chris Hemsworth, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Oprah Winfrey, Shakira, Selena Gomez, Will Smith, and many more, have all joined the ranks of Threads' active user base.

Last Friday, Singapore's Prime Minister (PM) Lee Hsien Loong, also stepped into the realm of Threads, making his debut on this innovative platform. In a remarkable gesture, PM Lee extended an open invitation to all, beckoning them to partake in an exciting contest. The prize? An opportunity to attend this year's highly anticipated National Day Rally in person, a truly momentous event for Singapore.

The entries’ deadline is 23 July and only responses selected will receive invites to the rally.

Even a number of politicians have flocked to Threads like Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.

Scammers Alert: Even Bad Actors Want in on Some Action
It appears that scammers have swiftly seized the opportunity to exploit the platform, no surprise there. Alarm bells are ringing within the Crypto Twitter community, as several high-profile users have already sounded the alarm on imposter accounts emerging on Threads.

In a disconcerting trend witnessed over the past few days, numerous figures within the Crypto Twitter sphere have stepped forward to denounce the presence of fake accounts on Threads, with individuals finding themselves subjected to impersonation or witnessing their own identities being falsely represented.

Although thus far, those affected Thread accounts have managed to steer clear of sharing any scam or phishing links, instead predominantly focusing on sharing crypto-related content. But who knows?

But Not Everyone is Itching for Action
It is obvious that Elon is not the only high-profile Twitter user not on Threads. Some big names like Barack Obama, Justin Bieber, Cristiano Ronaldo, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Lionel Messi, and others, are not on Threads or have not created profiles on the app.

So What’s the Purpose of Threads?
The freshly launched app has not introduced novel features or established competitive advantages. It seems like its hasty relelase without the inclusion of functions already ingrained in other platforms leaves users questioning its value proposition. Curiosity looms: Could Threads be Mark Zuckerberg's personal salvo against Elon Musk, considering the long-standing tensions between the two influential figures?

So can Threads scale to Twitter's level and beyond, or is it going to be another Meta offering that launches to great fanfare then withers and gets shredded?