Threads: Trending Social App or the next Myspace?
What exactly is Threads?
Threads is a text-based conversation app developed by Meta that launched on July 5, 2023.
If you’ve already had a chance to check it out then you’ll notice the Threads experience is a lot like Twitter. Both platforms offer a feed of text-based posts that allow users to follow what’s going on in the world and start their own conversations.
When you join Threads, your feed will consist of accounts you follow on your Instagram along with suggested content from creators the Threads algorithm thinks you may like. You get up to 500 characters per thread and the ability to add photos, videos, and links.
Instagram post by Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, announcing the launch of Threads
If you’re wondering how to get started I promise it’s the easiest thing to do, just follow these simple steps and you’re ready to start posting. But it’s important to note that you need to have an Instagram account in order to join Threads.
Download the app: Head to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and search for “Threads, an Instagram app” to download and install the correct app. Threads is free to use.
Create your account: Unlike most social media platforms Threads is linked to your existing Instagram account so you don’t need to sign up from scratch. Just click on your username at the bottom of the welcome screen.
Note: If you manage multiple Instagram accounts, you can link each to their own Threads account. Just click Switch Accounts at the bottom of the screen to toggle back and forth.
Fill out your profile: This is pretty straightforward and you can either enter new details or import your existing Instagram bio.
Choose your privacy settings: On this screen, you’ll select from two privacy options either for a public or private profile.
Import the accounts you already follow: Since Threads is so closely linked to Instagram, you’ll have the option to auto-follow the accounts you currently follow on Instagram.
Agree to terms of use
See told you it was easy.
How Does It Work?
As mentioned above as of right now Threads is extremely similar to Twitter with just a few variations. Let’s look into how you can use threads and the main takeaways for getting started.
One of the main differences that Threads have with Twitter is that since it’s connected to your Instagram, you already have a following base built in. This is great because you don’t have to go look for the accounts you already follow on Instagram that you would also like to follow on Threads. And if there are those you follow who don’t have a Threads account yet they will be listed in a pending section until they sign up.
Another key takeaway about this platform is that the character count you’re allowed per post is almost double what Twitter allows. This is ideal for many users as longer posts make it easy to express a complete thought or tell more detailed stories without making your followers dig through multiple posts to get all the information.
The user interface for this app is super straightforward and follows the same look and feel with Instagram icons so nothing new to get used to here.
A heart to like the post.
A quote bubble to reply directly to the thread. (On Instagram, tapping this icon opens the comment section.)
A repost button. Tapping this allows you to either repost the thread directly to your Threads profile or quote the thread while adding your own thoughts.
A paper airplane to share the post on another platform. Tap this to add the thread to your Instagram Story or feed, post it on Twitter, copy the link, or share via other means.
Image via @marketingmillenials on Threads
Threads also seems to be the new heir apparent to Instagram so they’ve made it incredibly easy to share content across platforms.
You can add your own post or any public thread to your Instagram Story.
Just click the paper airplane at the bottom of the thread, select Add to Story, and Instagram will launch automatically. From there, you can edit the post or share it directly with your followers.
There are a few other features as well that are similar and differ from Twitter like how if you’re verified on Instagram, you’ll be verified on Threads but as a visual learner myself here is a comparison guide to see just what you’re getting with each platform.
*Unless users have a Twitter blue subscription
What updates have come out since Threads was announced
Since the app launched there have been a few updates to come out and both the Threads account on Instagram and Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram, are quick to share guides and tutorials to help users navigate the platform and boost performance.
Here is a quick list of some of the new updates that Threads will be releasing this week.
Customizable Feed - You will now have two ways to customize your feed. The For You feed includes a mix of posts from profiles you follow and recommended accounts, Following shows you posts by those you follow, starting with the most recent.
To switch from For you to Following, tap on the Threads icon at the top of your feed and swipe.
Translations - Posts are now translated automatically. If you see a post in a different language, tap at the bottom right to view it in your own language.
New ways to filter notifications - You will now be able to filter notifications in your Activity feed - including follows, quotes, and reposts.
New Follow Button - Your list of followers will now include a new Follow button.
“Approve all” - If your account is private you can now approve all follow requests with one click.
In addition to the new features that were announced on Tuesday, you can also check out this “Hidden Gems” video Mosserri posted on July 12th for a more in-depth look at Threads.
Threads “hidden gems” video by Adam Mosserri, head of Instagram.
The future of Threads - how’s it looking so far
While all of the updates and differences I have featured throughout this article seem great and there has definitely been a lot of buzz around Threads since its launch, everything may not be as great as it seems.
In a post by Forbes, released on July 25th, Threads has seen a sharp turn in activity over the last couple of weeks with its engagement dropping by 70% since those first initial days. However, as big as that number is it’s actually not surprising.
Like with anything new, there’s excitement right at first as most users want to know what the big deal was. So while the initial signup numbers looked promising it appears that’s the only thing most users did - signed up. It also didn’t hurt that the signup functionality of this app was made extremely easy due to the integration with Instagram.
But just because those numbers have dropped now doesn’t mean that Threads won’t have a promising future. It appears that most people have hopped into the same “let’s see what happens” boat. The promise of new features and the push to be on the same playing field or even better than Twitter make this an interesting waiting game for those who are avid social media users.
Not to mention, now with the rebrand of Twitter to ‘X’ who knows what could happen between these text-based conversation apps? It seems only time will tell which one is going to gain the popularity of the masses.
We hope this article proved helpful and you now have a better understanding of the Threads app. If you’re one of the many who are interested in Threads and have an account or are looking to join make sure to give us a follow or find us by username, @revkeyads.
