A new social media app called Threads has launched today (Thursday, July 6) providing an alternative to Twitter.
The app, created by Facebook and Instagram owners Meta, went live in the UK at midnight on Thursday.
CEO of Meta, Mark Zuckerberg, claims 10 million users signed up to the platform within its first seven hours.
He pitched the app as a "friendly" rival to Twitter, which was bought by Elon Musk in October last year.
How to sign up for Threads
Threads is an app that can be downloaded for free on the Apple and Google Play app stores.
It allows you to sign up using your Instagram login, and you’ll be able to follow all the accounts you already follow on Instagram on Threads automatically as they join, The Guardian reports.
You can send posts of up to 500 characters, including images, gifs, and videos of up to five minutes in length.
Additionally, you can quote a thread similar to quote tweeting, but there is not a direct message function.
Will Threads be a threat to Twitter?
When asked on Threads whether the app will be "bigger than Twitter", Mr Zuckerberg said: "It'll take some time, but I think there should be a public conversations app with 1 billion+ people on it.
"Twitter has had the opportunity to do this but hasn't nailed it. Hopefully we will."
He also said keeping the platform "friendly... will ultimately be the key to its success" BBC News reports.
In response to this Mr Musk said: "It is infinitely preferable to be attacked by strangers on Twitter, than indulge in the false happiness of hide-the-pain Instagram."
It is infinitely preferable to be attacked by strangers on Twitter, than indulge in the false happiness of hide-the-pain Instagram
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 6, 2023
Earlier this week, social media consultant and industry analyst Matt Navarra told the PA news agency the app is the “first credible threat” to Twitter.
He said: “I think that Threads is the first real, credible threat to Elon Musk’s Twitter.
“Users of Twitter are desperately looking for an exit from the platform to escape, and the existing options of rivals are fairly limited.
“They all have the same big problem, which is you have to start from zero – it’s a network that is completely new."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel