Chaos really is an opportunity and a ladder to climb on when it comes to pragmatic Silicon Valley men. Seeing the situation X (formerly Twitter) has been under for the past few months ever since Elon Musk joined it has been going under a rebrand as I am writing this blog, now it’s officially called “X” and the logo of the bluebird engraved in people’s mind is also gone but as they say have your millions you will never have the streets so it’s still Twitter in peoples conscious. Many users were outraged and irritated at these changes, in come Zuckerberg like a knight in shining armor hearing those pleas presenting Threads Meta’s alternative to Twitter.
In this blog, we will discuss what Threads is, how it works, how similar is to Twitter (now ‘X’), its pros and cons, its future and which among the two platforms is a better option. So, let’s get started;
What is Threads?
Rather than me trying to explain what Threads is why not hear from the man who announced it. As Mark Zuckerberg put it “Threads by meta an app built by the same team behind Instagram meant for sharing with text.
How does it Work and Is Threads Similar to Twitter?
Threads works in a similar fashion as Twitter. It lets you post with the option to add pictures/videos as media. Both Twitter and Threads are there to generate text-based content and discourse of ideas.
Some the features or things you need to know about Threads are as follows
- Threads by Instagram require an Instagram account. Your username and handle will be the same for both profiles. If you already have an Instagram account you can easily patch that up on sign up.
- Threads has a limit of 500 characters which is higher than Twitter for a common account.
- Links, pictures and videos up to 5 minutes can be shared on a single post.
- You can make a public or private account in setting. You can choose whether only your followers can reply to you on posts or everyone.
Threads Algorithm
As Threads is designed by the same team as Instagram, much like its parent Threads algorithm is designed to keep a healthy balance between content discovery and post rankings. The algorithm does not prioritize sharing posts from the profiles you follow and rather focuses on showcasing you content from unknown users. This way it allows you to interact with a wider range of people and diverse opinions rather than just your friends. 
What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Threads?
- Advantages:
- Simple and Easy to Use
Starting to use a new app can be a mix of excitement and irritation if the layout and the working are different than those you have used before. Threads on the other hand are easy to use and simple to navigate.
- Focus on Text
Much like its competitor Twitter, Threads is meant for sharing with texts. Even though you can add media (Links, Photos and Videos) the focus of the app is on text-based discourse of ideas.
- Integration with Instagram
One of the advantages of Threads is its integration with Instagram allows people to easily convert your Instagram following to Threads. Integration has also made the Login process easy.
- Potential for Creating Niche Communities
It has been a month since Threads is out, it is in its early stages with fewer people, This gives you the opportunity to create communities such as fan accounts for your favorite book series. With consistent posting such ventures could be immensely successful. You can buy likes and followers from quality sources to boost your Threads profile.
- Disadvantages:
- Lack of Popularity
One of the disadvantages of Threads is that it is a relatively newer app in comparison to its rival which has been around for almost 17 years. It is going to take some time for Threads to find its footing and make a name for itself.
- Limited Functions
As the app is relatively new currently it has fewer features in comparison with Twitter. Being a new app listening to feedback from users it can work on providing them with essential features over time.
- Dependence on Instagram
Dependence on Instagram could be a hurdle in its massive growth as many people detest the Instagram world of aesthetics and glamor. The requirement of having an Instagram to have an account at Threads is inconvenient and a liability for people.
- Privacy issues
As Threads account is created with an Instagram profile so many people from Instagram including your family and friends now have access to your thoughts and opinions which you might not be comfortable sharing with them. This lack of anonymity is a hurdle in people’s way of freely expressing their opinions. On Twitter one can make an account with none of the people from your intimate daily life knowing.
Can I Use Threads If I Don’t Have an Instagram Account?
As answered above, you cannot use Threads without having an Instagram account. Threads only works in integration with Instagram.
What is the Future for Threads?
100 million users joined Threads in just 5 days of its release; this shows that there is great potential for the app to grow over time. What social media experts predict for Threads is that it is not going to become a Twitter 2.0 or take the place of Twitter 1.0, not Twitter 2.0 because if people are not getting a similar experience, they will jump shift and find alternatives, the drop in the users showed that. Not Twitter 1.0 because Twitter has a massive user base and many people are reluctant to build themselves from scratch on a newer platform.
To sustain itself in the long run Threads need to offer its user unique experience and features which are exclusive to them.
- So, Which Platform is Better: Twitter or Threads!
It depends upon your priorities but objectively speaking currently Twitter (now ‘X’) is in the lead in comparison to Threads as Twitter has a massive user base built over years and offers more features. Threads on the other hand shows immense potential and can build itself over time. As a content creator, it would be beneficial to keep on using your Twitter profile as it is but having a Threads profile is not going to hurt you. Focus on developing your user base on Threads over time. To build a popular profile on Threads you can buy likes and followers from quality sources.
FAQ’s
Q: What is Meta’s Twitter rival Threads?
A: To simply put, Threads by Meta is an app meant for sharing with text.
Q: Is Threads competing with Twitter?
A: Threads is relatively very young compared to Twitter and shows great potential of growth in future. On its release it got 100M users in 5 days.
Q: Who is better: Twitter or Threads?
A: Currently Twitter (now ‘X’) is better than Thread as it has a large user base and offers more features.
Wrapping Up
Threads by Meta is a great alternative to the constant rebrand chaos Twitter is under. It is easy to use and integrated with Instagram. It has a higher character limit compared to its competitor Twitter. The requirement of having an Instagram account to use Threads is inconvenient for people looking forward to joining Threads.
In comparison with Twitter, currently, Twitter is in the lead as it offers more features and has a higher user base but Threads shows immense potential for growth in the future. Threads need to offer a unique exclusive experience to sustain an audience over a period of time. Thanks for reading!
