Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, has just launched a brand new app called Threads. And guess who they're targeting? Elon Musk's troubled platform, Twitter! This new app is causing quite a stir, with five million people signing up in just four hours. Why? Well, Threads promises longer posts, some famous faces supporting it, and it looks a lot like Twitter.
Big names like Billboard, HBO, NPR, and Netflix wasted no time in creating accounts as soon as Threads hit the app stores. And it's not just them—celebrities like Shakira and Gordon Ramsay are backing the app too. Rumor has it that even Oprah Winfrey and the Dalai Lama might join in. To get started on Threads, you'll need an Instagram account, and if your favorite accounts have joined the app, you can follow them there too.
Why did Meta create Threads? Well, Twitter has been going through some rough patches lately. They put limits on how many tweets you can see, blaming it on companies collecting data for artificial intelligence. Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, didn't hold back in addressing these issues. He believes there should be a public app where over a billion people can have conversations, and Twitter missed the mark. He's hoping Threads can fill that void.
People have had mixed reactions to Threads. Some are cautiously optimistic, while others are genuinely excited. Many love how easy it is to use, and some even think Elon Musk should be worried. Interestingly, most of the chatter about Threads happened on Twitter itself. The hashtag "#Threads" was trending on Wednesday evening—talk about irony!
Here's a surprise twist: Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk might have a cage fight over Threads. Yes, you heard that right! They haven't set a date yet, but this rivalry just got intense.
What exactly is Threads? According to Meta, it's a new app for real-time updates and public conversations. It takes the best of Instagram and adds text, creating a positive and creative space to share ideas. Twitter has about 250 million users, while Instagram has a whopping 2 billion.
But Meta doesn't want Threads to be just another app. They want it to work with other social networks, like Mastodon, which lets you transfer accounts to different services. Meta's goal is to connect different networks and let Threads users interact with people who don't even have Threads accounts.
Meta is serious about safety too, especially for young users. In the UK, all Threads users under 18 automatically have private profiles, only visible to approved people. And here's a surprise: Threads won't have ads—at least not for now. You'll see a mix of recommended content and posts from the people you follow. Meta doesn't have plans to let you limit your feed to only the people you follow, though. And don't worry about your Instagram username—it'll stay the same on Threads, so no one can steal it.
While Threads is getting a lot of attention, there are already plenty of Twitter alternatives out there, like Hive, Bluesky, and Mastodon. Some experts think this might just make things more confusing for people looking for alternatives to Twitter. But one thing's for sure—Threads has definitely shaken up the social media world.
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