Threads, Meta’s new platform that aims to take on Twitter, saw 10 million sign ups within just seven hours of launch today.
“Meet Threads, an open and friendly public space for conversation. Our vision is to take the best parts of Instagram and create a new experience for text, ideas, and discussing what’s on your mind. I think the world needs this kind of friendly community, and I’m grateful to all of you who are part of Threads from day one. Threads is available in the app store now,” said Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
“Threads just passed 2 million sign ups in the first two hours,” Zuckerberg posted earlier. “Just passed 5 million sign ups in the first four hours…,” he posted in the update. The latest post marks the crossing of the 7-million mark.
Responding to a question on whether Threads can become bigger than Twitter, 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.”
Opinions are sharply divided on whether Threads will outperform Twitter. According to data, Meta just needs one-fourth of its Instagram users to join Threads to rival Twitter’s user base.
Threads allows users to post up to 500 characters, and has many features similar to Twitter.
Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, called the new app an “initial version”, with extra features planned including the ability to interact with people on other social media apps like Mastodon.
On Threads, posts can be shared to Instagram and vice versa and can include links, photos, and videos of up to five minutes in length.
Unfollowing, blocking, restricting or reporting other profiles is also possible, and any accounts users block on Instagram are automatically blocked on Threads.
On the same day Threads launched, Zuckerberg returned to Twitter after 11 years to drop a meme. He shared a meme, showing a man dressed as spiderman pointing at another. The image is from the 1967 Spider-Man cartoon “Double Identity” in which a villain attempts to impersonate the hero.
