Meta’s Twitter Competitor, Threads, Set to Launch on July 6th
Speculations regarding Meta’s development of a Twitter alternative have been circulating for some time, and now it seems we have a more concrete idea of when it will be released. A listing for the app called Threads has recently appeared on the iOS App Store, suggesting that its estimated release date is July 6th. Initial reports had suggested that the microblogging service could have been available by the end of June, but that did not come to fruition. However, its potential arrival comes at a time when Twitter users may be more open to trying out alternatives.
One of the reasons for an increased openness to alternative platforms like Threads is Twitter’s recent implementation of limitations on the number of tweets that unverified accounts can read per day. CEO Elon Musk took to the platform to announce that verified accounts, which are predominantly paying users, would be permitted to read 6,000 posts daily, while unverified and non-paying users would be limited to only 600. Musk explained that this measure was initiated to combat data scraping and system manipulation. However, the restriction has caused issues for regular users who may easily exceed the 600-post limit, effectively locking them out of their feeds.
Meta has described Threads as “Instagram’s text-based conversation app,” hinting at a more casual and conversational approach to microblogging. Screenshots posted on the app listing showcase familiar features, such as the ability to keep users’ existing Instagram handles and the option to follow the same accounts they already follow on the photo-sharing platform. This offers a significant advantage over other Twitter competitors, as users will automatically have a pre-existing following and circles on the new app. Additionally, Threads will offer various privacy settings, allowing users to choose who can see their posts, whether it be anyone, the profiles they follow, or only the accounts they mention. Users will also be able to engage with posts through actions like liking, sending, and sharing.
Previous reports had mentioned Meta’s intention to create a decentralized Twitter alternative compatible with Mastodon, a federated social networking service. However, it remains unclear if this is still the case for Threads when it finally launches. Fortunately, we won’t have to wait much longer to find out, as the release is just a few days away.
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