Instagram Threads is a new conversation-based social media platform, which was launched by Instagram in the UK on July 6th, 2023. In just 5 days it amassed over 100 million active users.
Designed as a companion app to Instagram, Threads allows users to engage in private and public conversations in real-time. With its robust search function and privacy features, Threads offers a unique user experience that aims to foster productive discussions and meaningful connections.
Given that the platform is one of the few new social media platforms to launch recently, over the first weekend many users responded positively to the lack of nastiness and bots on the platform. Time will tell whether this remains, but so far users are warming to the new platform.
Part of the initial success is down to the app’s compatibility with Instagram and its followers, allowing users to share a mix of posts, including thread posts, which are continuous updates on a particular topic or discussion.
With a focus on privacy (a key requirement given previous privacy issues at Meta) and fostering a sense of community, Instagram Threads offers a brand-new social media platform for users to have public discussions and engage in real-time conversations.
Threads is a platform that offers a dedicated space for real-time updates and public conversations, designed for both creators and casual users. Instagram’s aim, is to ensure Threads is compatible with open and interoperable social networks which will help shape the future of the Internet.
On a daily basis, Instagram connects billions of people through photos and videos. Threads builds on Instagram’s strengths by adding text, creating a positive and creative platform for expressing ideas.
Just like Instagram, Threads lets you follow and connect with friends and creators who have similar interests, even beyond Instagram, offering various safety and user controls for their convenience.
Advantages of Using Instagram Threads
Instagram Threads offers several advantages for users, making it a valuable addition to the social media platform.
One key advantage is its seamless integration with Instagram’s close friend list. This integration allows users to easily share photos, videos, and status updates only with their closest friends, creating a more intimate and personal experience, especially given the platform is new with limited features.
This ironically, has enhanced the user experience by providing a dedicated space for private conversations and enabling users to stay connected with their inner circle.
Features of Instagram Threads
Instagram Threads offers a variety of features that set it apart as a unique and user-friendly social media platform. Some of them are similar to Twitter, which has resulted in Elon Musk (the owner of Twitter), accusing them of using fired employees to refine Threads (revenge, a dish best served cold?).
It’s early days and the lack of features makes the platform appealing to many.
Features include:
- Your user or business profile (which can be imported from Instagram and set to a public profile or private profile).
- The ability to log in using your Instagram account.
- You can post content up to 500 characters in length with photos, links and videos (but only currently a maximum of 5 minutes in length).
- A familiar feed which shows posts from accounts across the social network from users you follow.
- Prioritise and filter what you want to see.
- A search bar.
- The ability to make posts with images and videos in a very simple manner.
- The ability to respond to posts (in a thread unsurprisingly!).
- The ability to review your activity by viewing replies, mentions and verified.
- Threads posts can also be shared as Instagram Stories posts too.
- The ability to set who can reply, being anyone, profiles you follow or mentions only.
Notably missing at the moment is the use of hashtags to contextualise information. No doubt features such as these will be launched in due course, but presently this keeps the interface and post layout incredibly clean.
Benefits of Using Instagram Threads
Instagram Threads offers a range of benefits that enhance the overall user experience and allow for more meaningful and productive conversations on the platform.
With its robust search function and real-time updates, users can easily stay connected with friends and have access to a wide range of content. The privacy features, such as private profiles, also ensure that users have control over who can see their posts and engage with them.
Currently, Threads is providing a unique and engaging social media experience, fostering connections, promoting inclusivity, and enabling users to express themselves creatively.
It also seems to be a platform steeped in humour, especially in the direction of Twitter. If you like dry humour, there’s a lot of it on there currently, especially big brands that adopted the platform early and enabled them to get a foothold into the new Threads world.
Instagram Threads is currently providing users with easier access to the content they want to see, offering a streamlined and personalized experience. The app allows users to customize their feed, filter content, and prioritize specific threads, ensuring that they only view the most relevant and engaging posts.
With Instagram Threads, users have the ability to create a filtered feed, where they can choose specific accounts or threads to follow. This feature enables users to curate their feeds based on their interests and preferences, ensuring that they see the content that matters most to them.
FAQs
Here are some common questions relating to the new Instagram Threads social media platform:
What is Instagram Threads?
Instagram Threads is a new social media platform developed by Instagram that allows users to interact with each other in a more personalized way. It allows users to post and share content up to 500 characters, create threads, filter content, prioritize specific posts and engage with verified accounts.
Is Instagram Threads free?
Yes, the app is currently free for anyone who has an active Instagram account.
Currently, hashtags have not been added to Instragram Threads, but this may change in the near future as the app, as of early July 2023, is in its early iteration so this may change soon.
Is Instragram Threads Part of Meta?
Yes, Threads has been developed by Meta in direct competition with Twitter.
What’s the Controversy with Threads and Twitter?
Since Elon Musk took ownership of Twitter, the platform has suffered outages, a lot of criticism, problems at the company and a general feeling that Twitter is not what it once was. This caused Mark Zuckerberg to release Threads earlier than planned to capitalise on Twitter’s misfortune.
The two platforms are very similar in that users can quote, post and reply to microblogs and even the design and layout are similar. For this reason, Elon Musk is taking them to court.
Threads is also being called the “Twitter Killer” by media outlets such as CNN and others. Depending on how this plays out, the days for Twitter may be numbered proving to be a poor $44 billion investment by Musk.
Summary
In summary, Instagram Threads revolutionizes the way users consume content by offering a customizable and filtered feed. With the ability to prioritize threads and personalize their content consumption, users can easily access the most relevant and engaging posts, enhancing their overall Instagram experience.
The upcoming cage fight between Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Meta and Elon Musk, the owner of Twitter just heated up a notch! With Twitter having around 353.9 million active users and Threads already surpassing 100 million in 5 days, it could be the end of the road for Twitter soon.
