Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, revealed that the newly-launched Threads app garnered an impressive ten million user registrations within its initial seven hours.

Positioned as a "friendly" competitor to Twitter, which was acquired by Elon Musk in October, Threads has the potential to attract dissatisfied Twitter users who are displeased with recent platform updates. With a character limit of up to 500, Threads offers numerous features akin to Twitter.

Earlier, Mark Zuckerberg expressed his belief that maintaining a "friendly" platform will be crucial to the success of Threads. However, Elon Musk responded by stating that he prefers dealing with attacks from strangers on Twitter rather than participating in the false happiness portrayed on Instagram.

When questioned about whether Threads could surpass Twitter in size, Zuckerberg acknowledged that it will take time but expressed his vision for a public conversation app with over 1 billion users. He also commented on Twitter's missed opportunities in achieving this goal, expressing hope that Threads will fare better.

Critics of the app have raised concerns about the amount of user data it might utilize. According to the Apple App Store, this could potentially include health, financial, and browsing data linked to users' identities.

Threads is currently available for download in more than 100 countries, including the UK. However, it has not been released in the EU yet due to regulatory considerations.

Expanding Instagram's Essence into Text-based Conversations

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, introduced the new Threads app as an "initial version" with plans for additional features, including the capability to engage with users on other social media platforms like Mastodon.

Before its launch, Meta stated that their vision for Threads was to leverage the strengths of Instagram and extend them to text-based interactions.

Although Threads operates as a standalone application, users are required to log in using their Instagram accounts. Their Instagram username is carried over to Threads, but there is an option to customize their profile exclusively for the app.

Meta assures users that they will have the choice to follow the same accounts they do on Instagram. Furthermore, the app offers the flexibility to maintain privacy on Instagram while being publicly visible on Threads.

The release of the Threads app follows scrutiny of Meta's business practices, including recent criticism from whistleblower Frances Haugen, who accused the company of prioritizing profits over safety and raised concerns about content moderation on the platform.

Additionally, Meta faced a major scandal involving the unauthorized access of Facebook users' personal data by third parties, including Cambridge Analytica, a British political consultancy.

In response to this controversial history, Elon Musk made a playful remark on Monday, expressing relief that Meta is being run sensibly.

While alternatives like Bluesky and Mastodon exist, they have struggled to gain significant popularity. Threads, however, holds a notable advantage due to its integration with Instagram and its vast user base, which comprises hundreds of millions of users.

A Versatile App

On Threads, users have the option to seamlessly share posts between the app and Instagram, allowing for the inclusion of links, photos, and videos of up to five minutes in length.

However, a few early users encountered issues with uploading images, suggesting initial technical challenges that need to be addressed.

Users are presented with a feed of posts, referred to as "threads" by Meta, featuring content from accounts they follow as well as recommended posts.

The app provides control over mentions, allowing users to manage who can mention them and filter out replies that contain specific words.

Functionality such as unfollowing, blocking, restricting, or reporting other profiles is also available. Notably, any accounts blocked on Instagram will automatically be blocked on Threads as well.

While Meta emphasizes its connection to Instagram, media coverage has highlighted the app's resemblance to Twitter. Some investors have even dubbed Threads as a potential "Twitter killer."

Elon Musk, the CEO of Twitter, recently imposed limitations on the number of tweets users can view per day, citing concerns over excessive "data scraping." This move was part of Musk's efforts to encourage users to subscribe to Twitter Blue, the platform's subscription service. Additionally, Twitter has announced that its widely used user dashboard, TweetDeck, will soon be accessible only through a paywall.

Since Musk assumed a prominent role in Twitter, many users have expressed public dissatisfaction with the platform and his leadership, citing erratic behavior and political perspectives. In a light-hearted exchange last month, Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, jokingly entertained the idea of a cage fight. Interestingly, Zuckerberg's initial posts on Threads showcased his interest in mixed martial arts.

While Threads is available in the UK, it has yet to launch in the EU due to regulatory uncertainties surrounding the EU's Digital Markets Act. Meta is actively exploring options to introduce the app in the EU. The Digital Markets Act establishes guidelines governing how large companies like Meta can share data between their owned platforms, which includes the data sharing between Threads and Instagram. Meta maintains a strong commitment to safeguarding privacy, considering it a fundamental aspect of their business.