Another Showdown? Meta Looks to Overthrow Twitter with Threads

In an intriguing twist of events, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, unveils its latest innovation set to challenge Twitter's domain.

Introducing Threads, a microblogging app, scheduled to hit the digital landscape on 6 July 2023. However, there is a curious twist to access this information on the Apple App Store. For some reason, the launch date of 6 July is only visible when viewing the app's page on an iPhone.

Yet, the intrigue does not end there. For those eager to be among the first to experience Threads, there's a clever workaround: preload the app onto your iPhone ahead of the launch date.

While Apple users have this perk at their disposal, the Android community finds themselves facing a different scenario. The Threads app is currently only accessible through the Google Play Store via a web browser. Unfortunately, Android users don't have the option to preload the app yet.

What is Threads?
Threads will be seamlessly integrated with Instagram, promising a dynamic user experience. That means that users can seamlessly continue their social journey as they can follow the same accounts they cherish on the photo-sharing platform, all while retaining their existing usernames.

The sneak peek screenshots showcase a sleek dashboard reminiscent of Twitter's interface.

Over the past few days, Meta has stirred curiosity by appearing to release an early version of the Threads app on the Play Store, exclusively available to selected European countries. Striking screenshots of the app's user interface reveal a familiar Instagram-style font, alongside the seamless option to log in using existing Instagram accounts. This thoughtful integration aims to make it effortless for users to bring their cherished followers to this new platform. The question is, when will the Threads app enjoy a full-scale global launch, starting with its debut in the United States and other select countries?

The Vision Comes to Live
In the description for the Threads app on the Apple App Store, it explains that, “Threads is where communities come together to discuss everything from the topics you care about today to what’ll be trending tomorrow. Whatever it is you’re interested in, you can follow and connect directly with your favourite creators and others who love the same things — or build a loyal following of your own to share your ideas, opinions and creativity with the world.”

Code Name “Project 92”
Since early January, the dynamic team at Meta has been hard at work crafting the much-anticipated Threads app, operating under the code name "Project 92." Insights from Meta's Chief Product Officer, Chris Cox, reveal fascinating details — during a compelling preview of the app, he confirmed the chosen name and shed light on the inspiration behind Threads. Evidently, creators and public figures have voiced their desire for a meticulously managed platform that caters to their needs.

Is Twitter’s Recent Woes Beneficial to Meta’s Threads Launch?
Meta proudly labels Threads as a "text-based conversation app," sparking curiosity about its unique features and potential impact on the social media landscape. This move marks yet another significant development in the intense competition between Meta's visionary leader, Mark Zuckerberg, and Twitter's founder, Elon Musk. And the timing could not be more interesting, considering Twitter's recent move to limit users' access to posts following Elon Musk's announcement as the executive chair.

In a significant move last week, Elon Musk unveiled measures to curb data scraping on the platform by imposing limitations on the number of daily posts accessible to each user. These restrictions seem to prioritise verified users who subscribe to the monthly fee, potentially creating a divergence of experiences for different user segments. The announcements did not go over well with Twitter users and ad experts, sparking a fierce backlash, expressing that doing so would undermine new CEO Linda Yaccarino, who started in the role last month but has been largely invisible.

A puzzling situation emerged for users who found themselves outside the realm of Twitter's logged-in community, as they encountered an unexpected barrier preventing them from accessing tweets. Instead, they were redirected to a signup page, leaving them curious about the motivations behind this restriction.

In response to the speculation, Elon stepped forward, attributing the usage limitations to concerns regarding artificial intelligence companies scraping the platform's content. These alleged issues reportedly took a toll on Twitter's hosting capabilities, leading to the implementation of these measures.

Adding an intriguing twist to the unfolding narrative, Insider's recent report reveals an unexpected silence from both Linda and Elon regarding the tweet limit situation within Twitter's internal discussions. It seems that questions posed by Twitter staff in the company's Slack platform have been met with mysterious silence, leaving them pondering the implications.

As if that was not bad enough, Twitter's announcement on Monday took many by surprise, as the beloved feature, Tweetdeck, will soon transition into a subscription-only service starting next month. This move raises eyebrows and sparks curiosity about the motivations behind this strategic decision.

And just today, Twitter unveiled a restriction for users: the all-new TweetDeck will be granted solely to verified users only. Users can delve into the functionalities of the new TweetDeck by selecting the enticing option, "Try the new TweetDeck," providing them with access to their saved searches and workflows. But the catch is that after 30 days, only Twitter Blue users will retain continued access, making it an exclusive feature for Twitter Blue subscribers.

Interestingly, Elon Musk seems to be charting a unique course, choosing to forgo introducing new paid features to monetise Twitter and, instead, opting to put previously free features behind a paywall. The implications of this approach are far-reaching, impacting both the user experience and the platform's dynamics.

As Mark Zuckerberg's highly anticipated Threads app gears up for its launch, users find themselves at an opportune moment. As of now, it seems from Meta's Threads app that the service will be free and there will be no restrictions on how many posts a user can see.

If the new platform refrains from offering paid services for an extended period following its launch, it could present a compelling alternative for those seeking to escape the constraints of subscription fees.

Cue the Mocking
Jack Dorsey, the co-founder and former CEO of Twitter, has cast a spotlight on the privacy practices of Mark Zuckerberg's Threads app. Dorsey's comments have raised significant questions about the app's approach to safeguarding user privacy. A revealing screenshot shared by Dorsey underscores potential concerns, showcasing how the app may be gathering user data, including contacts, location, sensitive information, purchase details, and browsing history.

The juxtaposition of these two tech giants in the realm of user privacy adds an extra layer of complexity to the already competitive landscape of social media platforms. As the industry grapples with data protection and user trust, we find ourselves inquisitive about how Threads will address these privacy concerns and navigate the delicate balance between data collection and user experience.

Is This Another ‘Cage Fight-in-the-Making’?

That said, the ongoing woes at Twitter and growing discontent with Musk’s leadership mean that there has arguably never been a better time for Meta to launch a Twitter competitor.

The stage is set for an intense showdown between these social media giants. Will Meta's Threads seize the opportunity to revolutionise the landscape and address users' concerns about data privacy and scraping thus becoming a formidable challenger to Twitter?