Meta, the organization we know for Facebook and Instagram, has released a new social media platform, Threads. While we might bring up a handful of new platforms, we are very excited to discuss this one! As of July 6th, the second day of its release, it has received 30 million sign-ups, and that number is only expected to climb. With that many downloads, there is no way we can’t talk about it!
So, let’s get into it– Threads.
What Is Threads?
Threads have been in the works for three months. Mark Zuckerberg has mentioned his work on a new platform, and as of the beginning of July, it was finally released by Meta’s Instagram team. The team has been mulling over the idea of simplifying Instagram, but without the want to change what is working, developing a new app was the best solution.
Users on Threads can publish posts up to 500 characters, photos, and videos up to five minutes long. The app is directly linked to your Instagram, allowing you to easily share your Thread posts to your Instagram story if you choose. At first glance, the platform will look very text-based, very similar to Twitter. While looking like Twitter, it integrates Instagram’s aesthetic and navigation system.
How to Use Threads
You will need an Instagram account in order to use Threads. When you first open the new app, you will be asked to log in to your Instagram account, and it will take your username from Instagram and make it your username for Threads. Your followers will all carry over, too. (No need to build your platform all over again!) The people you follow will also transfer over to Threads, allowing you to continue to see their feeds on the sister app.
You can then post a “thread” and choose whether the public or just your followers see it. You can comment, repost (rethread), like, and report posts you see and you can even filter specific words from your feed and restrict who is allowed to mention you.
Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, stated, “The idea is to hopefully build an open, friendly space for communities,” in a recent interview about the new Threads app.
Threads vs. Other Platforms
Threads was created out of the thought of making a more user-friendly real-time communication app. Yes, Twitter exists, but as many people are seeing Twitter in a different light these days, Meta took advantage of the swayed opinions to produce Threads in the nick of time. Both Threads and Twitter are conversational platforms, bringing a more text-based look to social media. Twitter is more established, but Threads has a lot of potential to grow just as big or even bigger.
Threads and Instagram have become sister platforms, but if you want something that is more picture-based, Instagram is your best bet. It could be simpler to stay with the tried and true app if that is already what you enjoy.
Threads and Facebook could be seen as similar, but the target audience and generations of people on them will be vastly different as time progresses. With these two platforms, it might be neat to try them both out and see what is getting a higher engagement rate.
Then, Threads and TikTok are two platforms I would say are the least similar. One is text-based, while the other is short-form video-based. TikTok continues growing in popularity and has taken the social media world by storm since its inception, but these two platforms contribute vastly different things to their audience. It does not mean one is better than the other, but it simply means acknowledging what you want to do more and who you are trying to reach.
Should You Consider It?
Like any new platform, it is best to research, wait, and see if it is what you are looking for. With the rumor that Threads will take over Twitter, it could be good to get a headstart on the app and get to know it now while it is still new. However, when it comes to digital marketing and utilizing social media for your business, you want to ensure it is worth your time and money. Is text-based media what your business needs?
Threads also currently do not have ad capabilities, but that does not mean they never will.
Instagram’s goal for creating Threads was to start having platforms work with each other rather than against each other. Since your followers on Instagram connect to you on Threads, you don’t have to spend time building up your name again and again like you do starting other platforms. The Instagram team hopes to make this a more normal thing with social media, helping influencers and businesses have a more stable outreach on social media.
Ultimately, Threads is a very exciting new platform that could be added to your digital space! If you have any questions or wish to learn which platforms you could be utilizing, contact the team at Lillian James Creative.