Developed by Meta, “Threads” – the newest Instagram feature – has gained considerable momentum, amassing an astounding 10 million registrations in just seven hours. However, its unique connection to Instagram brings along an intriguing twist.
Read more about its peculiar policy, Zuckerberg's first reactions, and the feature's competition with Twitter.
What Is “Threads” And Can It Compete With Twitter?
Threads is a text-based messaging application emerging as a formidable competitor to Twitter, the social media giant owned by Elon Musk. Instagram, the popular photo-sharing platform with an impressive user base of over 2 billion, introduced the feature to more than 100 countries on a recent Wednesday.
Given the platform's unique features and swift adoption, Threads may quickly become a prominent alternative to Twitter. But some things need to be clarified about its policy – for use and account deletion.
The Peculiar Threads' Policy
The promising new platform, Threads, comes with an interesting stipulation. To terminate a Threads account, users need to delete their corresponding Instagram account. As Meta explains in its “Additional Privacy Policy”, the rationale behind the rules is the inherent connection between a Threads user profile and its Instagram counterpart. This news has come as quite a surprise for many users.
Clarification On Thread's Account Deletion
Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, clarified the account deletion policy after user feedback and said users can deactivate their Threads account, set their profile to private, or delete all their Threads posts without deleting their Instagram account.
However, due to the current single account structure, deleting one implies deleting the other – until someone comes up with another solution.
What Mark Zuckerberg Has To Say About Threads
In a post on Threads, Meta's co-founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, unveiled his vision for the new app: “a platform that fosters public conversation on a grand scale, something he believes Twitter failed to accomplish”.
By early Thursday, Threads had already attracted 10 million registrations, an achievement that Zuckerberg acknowledged with a surprise emoji. This swift adoption rate has rendered the feature the fastest-growing consumer service to date.
The Brand's Faith In Threads
Several well-established brands, such as Netflix, Amazon, NFL, and Pepsi, have already registered on Threads. But industry giants like Google, Apple, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Disney are notably missing.
Will they enjoy the new application? We don't know.
Anyway, Threads, with its swift expansion and compelling features, has made a grand entry into the social media landscape. Despite a few initial hiccups, such as its unique account deletion policy, it has demonstrated a promising start. As the platform continues to evolve, the world watches keenly to see how it reshapes (or not) the realm of social media.
