Threads vs Twitter; Clash of the Titans

Introducing Threads: Mark Zuckerberg's Latest Social Media Platform that Rivals Twitter

In the ever-evolving world of social media, competition between these tech giants seems fierce and never-ending. On July 5th, Meta, the parent company of Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, unveiled Threads, a conversation-based app that bears a striking resemblance to Twitter. With its similar format and functionality, Threads has quickly gained attention and is being hailed as the potential "Twitter killer."

If you're already a Twitter user, you'll feel right at home on Threads. The app operates on the concept of threads, allowing users to connect and engage in ongoing conversations. This feature has been the backbone of Twitter's success, and Threads aims to replicate that success in its own unique way.

The launch of Threads not only intensifies the competition in the social media landscape but also fuels the ongoing rivalry between Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk. These two tech moguls have been at odds for nearly seven years, clashing on topics ranging from artificial intelligence to space exploration. Recently, their feud has escalated to the point where they even threatened to settle their differences in a cage fight.

Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter for a staggering $44 billion in October 2022 triggered a series of changes that didn't sit well with its user base. The introduction of unpopular alterations, including algorithm tweaks, an overhaul of the verification program, and the implementation of tweet reading limits, left Twitter users disenchanted. Seizing the opportunity, Threads entered the scene and quickly amassed an astonishing 10 million users within the first few hours of its launch. In just 24 hours, that number skyrocketed to over 70 million registered users. These remarkable figures pose a serious threat to Twitter, which took a staggering 780 days to reach such a milestone when it initially went live in July 2006.

Mark Zuckerberg's launch of Threads has undoubtedly disrupted Elon Musk's perceived monopoly over the micro-blogging concept. With its growing user base and comparable functionality, Threads has positioned itself as the sole rival to the social media giant. The battle for supremacy in the micro-blogging world is far from over, and it remains to be seen how these two tech titans will continue to compete in the months and years to come.

What is THREADS ?

Threads, a recently introduced application developed by Meta, is a text-based platform that directly competes with Twitter. Its primary focus is on facilitating the sharing of brief text snippets within a conversational environment. This standalone platform, backed by Mark Zuckerberg, is closely integrated with Instagram, necessitating users to have an Instagram account in order to register.

Mark Zuckerberg articulated his vision for Threads in an official post subsequent to its launch, expressing the desire to establish an inclusive and friendly public space for discussions. The intention is to leverage Instagram's core strengths and create a novel experience centred around text, ideas, and open conversations.

In addition to accommodating posts of up to 500 characters, Threads enables users to share photos and videos of up to five minutes in duration. Currently available in over 100 countries, with plans for further expansion, However, it should be noted that Threads is not currently accessible within the European Union.

Whether you're a content creator or simply enjoy sharing your thoughts, Threads provides a new and separate platform for real-time updates and engaging public conversations. With its unique features and close ties to Instagram, Threads offers users a fresh way to connect and communicate with others.

How do you create an account?

Threads is seamlessly connected to your Instagram account, allowing you to easily create an account by logging in with your existing Instagram credentials. This integration ensures that your Instagram username and verification status automatically transfer to Threads, providing a seamless transition between the two platforms. Moreover, Threads offers you the flexibility to personalize your profile specifically for this new app, giving you the opportunity to make it uniquely tailored to your Threads experience.

How many users are currently on Thread?

Within hours of launch, Threads cross-marked 10 million signups, and in less than 48 hours after launch, it passed 70 Million signups breaking ChatGPT’s record of the fastest app to reach one million active users.

How to delete your Threads account?

You can deactivate your Threads account, but to delete the account completely, you must delete your Instagram account, according to Meta’s “Supplemental Privacy Policy”. 

Some missing features on Threads?

• A “Following” feed
• Support for GIFs
• Full web version support
• Editing posts
• Inline translation
• Support for user-generated Alt image text
• Hashtags

How is Threads different from Twitter?

Currently, there are no paid tiers and ads on the app. However, your verification mark from Instagram is carried over — even if you have paid for Meta Verified. Users can take advantage of their Instagram network to find people to follow.

Other key differences between Twitter and its rival Threads

• Spaces

Twitter has a Spaces feature that allows users to have live audio conversations that anyone can join in and listen to, but Threads does not.

2. The search bar

While the search bar of Twitter allows you to search for Twitter users, explore trendy topics around the world and in your immediate environment and find trendy videos, the Threads search bar only enable you to search for users to follow.

3. Engagement/reaction icons

Under posts on Twitter, there are options to like, comment, retweet, see the number of views, bookmark, and share the links, but for Threads, you can only like, comment, repost, or share the link.

4. Direct Message

While Twitter has a direct message option for chatting privately with your followers, the Threads App does not have this.

5. Account Creation

You can’t sign up on Threads unless you have an Instagram account. While setting up your Threads account, the app asks you to select the Instagram account through which you would like to sign up. This prerequisite might not (or might) work in Meta’s favor, as it would give Threads access to only the existing user base of Instagram.

Meanwhile, Twitter has no underlying requirement. It’s a standalone app where you can sign up directly.

6. See what’s Trending

Twitter, as we know gained immense popularity as a go-to platform for staying updated with global news and trends. One of its prominent features is the "Trending" tab on the homepage, where you can explore a list of hashtags and topics that are currently popular. This feature has become Twitter's star attraction because it's the go-to tool for users to explore and jump into the hottest trending discussions.

In contrast, Threads, at present, does not offer a similar feature. The app lacks a dedicated tab to provide users with important news and updates.

7. Blue Badges

Unlike other platforms like Twitter and Instagram, where obtaining verification and the blue badge often comes at a cost, Threads  on the otherhand, offers a unique advantage. When you join Threads, your verified status from Instagram seamlessly carries over, including the prestigious blue badge. This means that if you are already verified on Instagram, you are automatically verified on Threads at no extra cost.

KEY INSIGHT 

On a closing note, upon thoughtful evaluation of both Elon Musk's Twitter and Meta's threading app, it is important not to jump to hasty conclusions. The new platform is still in its early stages of launch, leaving much to be discovered from Meta's offerings. As users, we eagerly anticipate what Meta has in store, as we suspect that we have only scratched the surface of its capabilities. However, instead of dwelling on speculations and uncertainties, let us focus on the present reality: the future lies in threading.

Jeff Brown, PhD

Founder & Chief Investment Analyst