Introducing The New Social Platform Threads

Introducing Threads

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Today (6th July) has seen the launch of a brand-new social media platform by Meta, the owners of Facebook and Instagram. Threads which have launched in 100 countries is seen as Meta’s attempt to create an app similar to Twitter, which has been shrouded in controversy since Eon Musk’s $44bn takeover in 2022.

Here is our guide to using the new app.

Pre-Requisites/Installation

At the moment you will need an existing Instagram account in order to access Threads.

Once downloaded from your app store you will be able to sign in with your Instagram credentials, then you will get the option to import your bio and Instagram followers into Threads, or you can create a new bio. If you do import your followers, anyone who already has a Threads account will get a notification to follow you and also anyone who joins the platform later on will receive a notification straight away.

The Interface

As the app is similar to Twitter the interface is very similar in design and your homepage will display a feed of posts by people you follow, as well as companies and other posts you may be interested in.

Under each post are four icons which will be familiar to Twitter users – Like, Comment, Repost and Share.

The first three work in the same way as Twitter with repost also allowing users to repost the exact post or to add a quote with their own thoughts. However the Share option has a range of additional integrations with Instagram.

With the share options, you can post your threads content to your Instagram Feed, or to your stories. There is also an option to send your content to Twitter as well as to share externally to other social media apps.

In the centre of the app menu you also have the option to create new Threads. Threads are similar to Twitter in that they have a character limit but it is a more generous 500 characters, compared to Twitter’s 280. Posts can include links, up to 10 photos and videos up to five minutes in length – Links will also automatically have a preview like they do on Facebook.

Search

Threads also has a search tab to find accounts to follow – unlike Instagram and Twitter however Hashtags are currently not searchable and do not link when you type them in the posts.

The platform also currently lacks a text search function so you cannot search for threads around a specific topic like you can on Twitter.

Key Differences/Considerations

The app has only just been launched and whilst missing features are going to be implemented in the future, at the moment there are several key differences from other social media apps.

      1. View posts from accounts you follow accounts only: One of the features many users highlighted was missing in the first 24 hours since launch is the apps news feed is currently generated by an algorithm to show highlights of recent posts. Some users have highlighted they prefer the time based feed of Twitter which is also what made it a popular platform for breaking news, as well as wanting an option to view posts only from accounts they follow. Some clients use social media as a way of keeping up to date with their industry so this could be impactful if it is being used in a research capacity.

      1. Hashtags: Hashtags were Twitter’s invention and are a searchable word in your content highlighted by a hash (#) sign at the beginning. They have become very popular and pretty much every social platform uses them. However, at the moment hashtags do not work on Threads although this will be a feature added in the future, according to a post by Instagram’s Head of Product, Adam Mosseri.

      1. Missing web interface: Whilst Threads does have a website (threads.net), at the moment you cannot post, repost, like or comment and can only read content on here. Mosseri has said this will be implemented at a later date but the focus is on building the mobile app.

      1. You can’t delete your Threads profile without deleting Instagram: Your Threads profile is currently tied to your Instagram profile and you can’t have one without the other and you can’t delete your Threads profile without deleting your Instagram. This has been thought of in the industry as a key way to help the app get its first users as people can connect to their followers from Instagram but not being able to delete it may give users pause for thought in the future.

      1. EU availability: Currently due to GDPR concerns the app is not available in EU countries right now. Mosseri said it will be working for a European launch but the app has not been released in the region yet because of “complexities with complying with some of the laws coming into effect next year,” apparently a reference to the EU’s Digital Markets Act. This will of course have a big impact if you target the EU market with your products and services.

      1. DM’s: At the moment you cannot DM anyone you follow on Threads, although if you follow them on Instagram as well you can DM them through that app.

      1. Language Translation: Currently posts in different languages do not translate and at the moment it is unclear if this will change, although it is likely it will in order to follow other apps which offer this feature. However this could be a problem if you are looking to target an international audience.

      1. Post Editing: Once a post is live it cannot be edited. This is similar to Twitter with the option to edit Tweets being a paid for feature the majority of users don’t have but it would be a nice to have in the future.

    1. Gifs: Also missing at the moment is the ability to share GIF’s directly in the app. Though a GIF can be downloaded manually and shared, most smartphones have a GIF shortcut which does not work in app. This is similar to Instagram as you cannot share GIF’s there either in the comments and can only post them to your feed if they are converted into a video format.

Overall the app does feel like it is one to watch in the social media space and with a reported 30m new users within the first 24 hours it could be the next big thing in the industry. If you would like us to help with your social media strategy, then please speak to our team on 01384 455 141 and we will be happy to assist you.