Threads App: A Threat to Twitter’s Reign?
Meta cofounder, chair, and CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently caused quite a stir in the tech world with the launch of Threads, a Twitter-like app designed specifically for Instagram users. This move led to a heated battle with Twitter owner Elon Musk, who threatened to sue. It seems like the culmination of a long-anticipated showdown between the two tech giants.
Threads gained immense popularity immediately after its release on July 5. It quickly started trending on Twitter and became the top free app on both the App Store and Google Play. In a matter of hours, the app reached millions of sign-ups, catching up to some of the biggest social media platforms. Zuckerberg has been actively documenting Threads’ impressive growth on his Threads page, reporting staggering numbers of users within a short period.
Comparatively, Threads has achieved in days what took ChatGPT months to accomplish. With its current growth rate, Threads may soon surpass all previous records in terms of user acquisition. One factor that has contributed to Threads’ success is its integration with Instagram. With over two billion monthly active users, Instagram’s extensive user base has provided a strong foundation for Threads to thrive upon. The seamless transfer of followers from Instagram to Threads has further fueled its exponential growth.
Prior to Musk’s acquisition, Twitter lagged far behind Instagram in terms of user count. Recent changes to Twitter’s platform, such as the removal of legacy verifications and the introduction of tweet limits, have caused several prominent users to migrate to Instagram. Notable personalities like Cristiano Ronaldo and Taylor Swift now have significantly larger followings on Instagram than on Twitter.
While not all influencers and celebrities have joined Threads yet, the Kardashian family has wasted no time in establishing their presence. Khloe, Khourtney, and Kim Kardashian have already amassed millions of followers on Threads. Additionally, popular YouTuber Mr. Beast, who is referring to himself as the Future Threads CEO, has garnered over 3.4 million followers after offering to give away a Tesla to one lucky follower. Influencers like Marques Brownlee, with millions of followers across social media, have also embraced Threads early on.
Discussions on Threads have been vibrant, especially due to the absence of bots. Mashable founder Pete Cashmore noted that Threads could potentially reach the active user count of Twitter within a week. However, the challenge lies in retaining these users and sustaining engagement, as previous Twitter clones faced fatigue from users and eventually faded away. Many creators express concern about creating content for yet another platform that could potentially fizzle out.
Nevertheless, being an early adopter of a social network has its advantages, such as the opportunity to engage with a close-knit community. As the weekend approached, venture capitalist Carter Reum shared a serene photo of Paris Hilton browsing through AI and leadership books in an airport bookstore. Kindred Ventures founder Steve Jang posted a meditative image of a Buddha sculpture with a retro TV in the background.
For those looking for interesting people to follow on Threads, here are a few notable individuals to get started. Feel free to share your favorite accounts in the comments:
