Meta Threads updates — Instagram launches new Twitter rival app – but comes with key warning despite 10million sign ups
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META'S new app Threads is now available in over 100 countries and is rivaling Twitter - but there is a warning that might sway users.
Meta's Threads app is billed as a "text-based conversation app" by Meta, which also owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
"Threads is where communities come together to discuss everything from topics you care about today to what'll be trending tomorrow," according to the app's description.
The software is linked to Instagram and includes microblogging features akin to Twitter.
Threads has already logged 10million sign-ups in its first four hours of operation, according to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
However, Threads' potential downfall could be its privacy settings as it's currently asking to share sensitive data in order to log on. The U.S Sun has reached out to Meta for comment on this matter.
The launch comes after Musk bought Twitter for $44million in October 2022 and has had its users divided over the drastic changes since Musk bought the app.
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Users continue to react to Threads
More people are reacting to the launch of Threads.
What's to come to Threads
Direct messaging, trending topics, and a "improved" search tool are all in the pipeline.
“Threads is for public conversations,” Instagram chief Adam Mosseri said in a .
“We’re hoping to bring some of what we’ve built for photos and videos on Instagram to Threads with text.”
Compatibility with ActivityPub
Meta is also aiming to make Threads compatible with ActivityPub, a decentralized social networking protocol, per .
This protocol is part of the Fediverse, a new and growing movement that allows information to travel across social media platforms and other services.
“This would make Threads interoperable with other apps that also support the ActivityPub protocol, such as Mastodon and WordPress — allowing new types of connections that are simply not possible on most social apps today,” the company said, per the outlet.
“Other platforms including Tumblr have shared plans to support the ActivityPub protocol in the future. “
Musk on the rate limit, continued
New unverified accounts, however, were limited to 300 per day.
It was later reported that he had expanded these limits, giving verified accounts a limit of 10,000 posts, unverified accounts 600, and new unverified accounts 500 posts a day.
In response to the backlash over the limits that had been set, Musk, musician Grimes' ex, joked that people will now be able to "touch grass again."
He retweeted a picture of grass on his Twitter account, in reference to the phrase "touch grass" which encourages people to get off their phone and get outside more.
Musk on the rate limit
Musk first spoke out about the Twitter outages on Saturday, July 1.
In a tweet, he told his followers that he had temporarily limited how many posts an account could reach a day.
He explained that this was "to address extreme levels of data scraping and system manipulation."
Elon, who has nine children, initially stated that verified accounts were limited to reading 6000 posts per day, while unverified accounts were allowed to read 600 posts.
What ‘rate limit exceeded’ means, continued
No new tweets will show on your home feed, and will you not be able to read any replies to tweets that have already loaded on the feed.
You will also not see any tweets when visiting somebody's page once you've exceeded your limit.
Users have expressed concern over what the exact limits of the new protocols are.
For example, if the amount includes tweets that somebody scrolls past on their home feed, the limit could get used up very quickly.
What 'rate limit exceeded' means
Many Twitter users have complained of receiving a "rate limit exceeded" message on their accounts.
The notification also states: "Please wait a few moments then try again."
Due to Tesla boss Musk's new limits, the number of tweets that each user can see in a day has been restricted.
If you see the "rate limit exceeded" message it means you will not be able to read any more posts that day.
Twitter's new 'rate limit exceeded' feature
Twitter owner Elon Musk confirmed on Saturday, July 1, that the app had instituted a new rate limits feature.
He has since decided to increase the limits twice.
At the time of writing, verified accounts have a limit of 10,000 posts, while unverified accounts have 600.
New unverified accounts can read 500 posts a day.
Musk, who stepped down as CEO of Twitter earlier in 2023 but still owns the app, initially said the limits were temporary but he did not say when they would be reversed.
Drastic changes made to Twitter by Musk
After Elon Musk acquired Twitter in 2022, he made some controversial changes that not all users are happy with.
One of the most controversial amendments was making people pay for a blue verified checkmark on the app.
The move was designed to bring in more cash to the social media company.
But instead, it meant bots and bad actors could impersonate political figures and massive companies to spread false statements.
Musk also has a different approach to how the platform can be used compared to the previous people in charge.
Users face trouble when deleting Threads
An early adopter said they had already canceled their Threads account, but in the process had to close their Instagram account as well.
Emily Hughes tweeted: "I deactivated my Threads account already but it turns out you can’t delete your Threads account without also deleting your Instagram account so maybe just don’t sign up!"
'Twitter is slowly killing itself'
Twitter users have taken to the platform to share their thoughts about what's going on with the app and the all-new Threads medium.
'I think my app is bricked'
Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez claimed the app had broken for her mid-post.
How Threads works, continued
Posts are limited to 500 characters, more than Twitter's 280, and can include links, photos, and videos as long as five minutes.
Individual threads show up in the app's main feed, where they can be liked, re-posted, and replied to, reported.
The launch was initially scheduled for later this month but was recently moved up.
It came as many Twitter users have complained about Musk's leadership and the frequent changes he has made to the platform after purchasing it last year.
How Threads works
Since Threads is tethered to Instagram, new users won't have to start a separate account to access the platform.
But those who don't already have an Instagram account will have to start one to join Threads.
The platform has been described as a fusion of Twitter's dashboard and Instagram's comment section.
'Let's build something great together!'
Zuckerberg added in a string of posts on the platform: "Glad you're all here on day one. Let's build something great together!
"The vision for Threads is to create an open and friendly public space for conversation.
"We hope to take what Instagram does best and create a new experience around text, ideas, and discussing what's on your mind."
'Twitter killer'
The Threads app has officially launched and has seen more than 10million people join already.
The app has been referred to as "Twitter Killer" as it's a direct competitor of Elon Musk's social media platform.
"Let's do this," Mark Zuckerberg wrote in his first on the platform.
"Welcome to Threads," the entrepreneur added, with a fire emoji.
"Threads just passed 2million sign-ups in the first two hours," Zuckerberg said in an on Wednesday night.
Just hours later, the Facebook founder was claiming that more than 5million users had already signed up, and later, over 10million.
Mark Zuckerberg memes it out
Mark Zuckerberg posted on his new app and said: "10million sign ups in seven hours."
He also shared an image, aimed at his opponent Elon Musk, of two cartoon Spidermans pointing at each other he claimed Threads could see one billion users join.
Users say 'Twitter is dead'
Fans have shared their thoughts and one penned: ";Twitter is dead now for real."
Another commented: "Twitter is dead so check out my thread, not even going to lie Thread is the most unhinged fun app I've ever used."
"Twitter dead I'm off this, we on Threads now", agreed a third.
"Twitter is dead, long live threads," wrote a fourth.
Elon Musk throws jab at Threads
Tech competitor Elon Musk tweeted about Threads and wrote: “It is infinitely preferable to be attacked by strangers on Twitter, than indulge in the false happiness of hide-the-pain Instagram.”
Everyone is talking about the new app, and "Threads" became the top trending word on Twitter today.
Privacy collection
Threads' potential downfall could be its privacy settings as it's currently asking to share sensitive data in order to log on.
The Apple App Store released a list of the data Threads will be collecting upon download of the social media app.
Threads will be collecting an extensive amount of data upon downloadCredit: Apple App Store How threads differs from Twitter
Though Threads is set to have a Twitter-like feel to it, many have wondered about the differences they'd see.
On July 3, 2023, Musk announced users would need to be verified to use TweetDeck which means they'll have to pay to verify their accounts.
Additionally, users now have a limit of tweets they can view a day on Twitter.
Threads, on the other hand, is being marketed as free giving customers the freedom to microblog as they wish without any fees.
Instagram guidelines to filter into Threads
Users might want to head into the settings to add any extra tweaks, such as blocking specific people or certain words.
However, any accounts a user has blocked on Instagram will automatically be blocked on the new app.
Instagram’s safety guidelines will be enforced on the new platform, Meta said.
Instagram guidelines to filter into Threads
Users might want to head into the settings to add any extra tweaks, such as blocking specific people or certain words.
However, any accounts a user has blocked on Instagram will automatically be blocked on the new app.
Instagram’s safety guidelines will be enforced on the new platform, Meta said.
Threads links to Instagram
Opening up the app should show a user’s existing Instagram account, alongside the option to choose a new one, and clicking that begins the process of getting started.
From there, users can customize their profile for Threads, choosing a name and adding a bio, or importing it from Instagram.
The app will then ask about privacy settings and ask whether you want to follow accounts from Instagram, before opening up and getting started.
Downloading Threads
Threads is now out for both iOS and Android, and downloading them should be straightforward.
Its full name is “Threads, an Instagram app” and it is readily available on both platform’s stores.
The Threads app is currently available to download on Apple's App Store as well as the Play Store for Android users.
As it will link to Instagram, users will keep their usernames and be able to follow the same accounts on the Threads app.