Threads, Meta’s new platform that attempts to compete with Twitter, received 10 million sign-ups in just seven hours of its launch today. “Threads just passed 2 million sign-ups in the first two hours,” Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg posted earlier. “Just passed 5 million sign-ups in the first four hours…,” he posted in the update. Opinions are sharply divided on whether it will outperform Twitter.
Opinions on whether Threads will outperform Twitter are mixed. Some believe its ties to Instagram, which give it a ready user base, will be advantageous, particularly at a time when Elon Musk and new Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino are attempting to revitalize the struggling company. Others, on the other hand, believe that Twitter has a news-oriented perspective that Instagram, which is largely a visual network, would struggle to replace.
Meta aim to compete with Twitter’s user base, emphasizing kindness and friendly conversations
In fact, Meta just needs one-fourth of its Instagram users to join Threads in order to compete with Twitter’s user base. In response to a question on whether Threads can overtake Twitter, Zuckerberg stated, “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.”
Earlier, he introduced Threads as an “open and friendly public space for conversation”. He added that the idea is to “take the best parts of Instagram and create a new experience”. “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 are available in the app store now,” he said. In response to a user’s question about whether Threads can focus on kindness, Meta CEO said, “We are definitely focusing on kindness and making this a friendly place.” Interestingly, Zuckerberg returned to Twitter after 11 years to post a meme following the debut of Threads.