'Threads' - A new social media app to rival Twitter...from Meta

Meta has just released a new app - Threads - for sharing up to 500 character-long text posts, with links, photos and videos (up to 5 min) and for joining public conversations. It is a standalone app that you use your Instagram account to log in *BUT* - the app doesn't yet meet EU privacy law so that means most of Europe has no access to it yet. 

Threads and its connection with Instagram
Threads interacts with Instagram, using the same safety and user controls and allows users to follow the same accounts as you do on Instagram and posts can be shared to an Instagram story.  Accounts you've blocked on Instagram are blocked on Threads too. What is different is that you can control who can mention or reply to you.

The flow in your feed works on the same basis as TikTok and Reels, using an AI-driven discovery approach so you will see plenty of posts from accounts you don't follow.

What is so special about Threads?
Meta is focusing on making Threads far more compatible with other online tools, like Wordpress, than the current social media can be, to make connections that aren't yet possible. This could include enabling your Threads content to be transferred to other platforms, people may be able to use and interact without a Threads account and the content reachable from other platforms.

Status today
Threads started rolling out on 5th July 2023 to iOS and Android users in 100 countries and from now Meta expects to roll out more features that make it compatible with other apps. Let's hope the EU can get on board soon and give EU users the chance to keep up!