Meta unveiled its latest offering, Threads, an app that could rival Twitter. Mark Zuckerberg, CEO at Meta, introduced Threads as an expansion of Instagram’s successful photo and video-sharing platform, aiming to create a positive and creative space for users to express their ideas.
With Threads, users can seamlessly transition from Instagram to a dedicated space for real-time updates and public conversations. By logging in with their Instagram accounts, users can carry over their usernames and verifications, while also having the option to customise their profiles specifically for Threads. The app ensures accessibility features, including screen reader support and AI-generated image descriptions, mirroring Instagram’s commitment to inclusivity.
Threads also comes with a feed that combines posts from followed accounts on Instagram with recommended content from new creators, for discovery and engagement. Users can share text-based posts of up to 500 characters, accompanied by links, photos, and videos up to 5 minutes long. Moreover, Threads allows for sharing of posts to Instagram Stories or as links on other platforms, broadening the reach and impact of users’ content.
The microblogging platform incorporates robust tools for user control, which will enable users to manage who can mention or reply to their posts, and they can filter out specific words in thread replies. The app also offers familiar safety features such as blocking, restricting, and reporting profiles.
Looking ahead, Meta plans to make Threads compatible with ActivityPub, an open social networking protocol established by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). This compatibility would enable connections with other apps supporting ActivityPub. Meta says it envisions a future where users have more control over their audiences, including the option to transfer their content seamlessly to other services.
Threads is available for download on iOS and Android devices in over 100 countries including India, empowering users to find their communities across various apps. Meta has also promised forthcoming updates, including enhanced recommendations in the feed and a more robust search function to facilitate real-time topic and trend tracking.
Meta stock closed up 3 per cent on Wednesday ahead of the launch, outpacing gains by competitor tech companies as the broader market edged down, noted Reuters.