Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has officially launched its Twitter competitor, Threads, worldwide, including in India. The standalone app is now available for free download on Google Play for Android devices and the Apple Store for iPhones. Although Meta positions Threads as an extension of Instagram, it functions as a distinct platform with features directly inspired by Twitter. Users can create connected posts similar to twitter threads. To attract Instagram users, verified accounts on Instagram automatically receive a blue tick on Threads upon signing up.
Obtaining Meta’s Threads is a simple process. Users can download the app from Google Play or the Apple App Store and log in using their Instagram credentials. If you are already logged in to Instagram, Threads will only require permission, eliminating the need to provide login details again.
While Instagram is primarily focused on photo-sharing and multimedia, Threads is geared towards text-based conversations. In essence, Threads resembles the earlier version of Twitter. Each post can contain up to 500 characters, along with links, photos (up to ten per post), and videos of up to 5 minutes in length. Users have control over who can reply to their Threads posts. By tapping the three-dot menu, users can unfollow, block, restrict, or report profiles on Threads. Accounts blocked on Instagram will be automatically blocked on Threads as well.
Currently, some features are missing from Threads. GIFs cannot be added, and there is no “close friend” feature. Importantly, direct messaging (DMs) and posting stories are not yet available on Threads.
Meta intends to make Threads compatible with ActivityPub, an open social networking protocol developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), which regulates current open web standards. Threads would be able to communicate with other applications that implement the ActivityPub protocol, such as Mastodon and WordPress, as a result of this interoperability. It would allow for innovative relationships that are now unavailable on most social applications. Platforms such as Tumblr have also said that they want to implement the ActivityPub protocol in the future. Threads also has a dedicated website, although it is not yet operational.
Adam Mosseri, the chief of Instagram, expressed hopes that Threads would serve as a platform for public conversations, with a strong focus on the creator communities already thriving on Instagram. Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, mentioned that the app incorporates the best elements of Instagram while offering a fresh experience for exchanging texts and ideas.
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