​Everything you need to know about Threads, an app by Instagram

Things have gone fast: Meta is launching Threads, an app by Instagram, this week. This app should be some kind of answer to Twitter: or rather, an alternative to it. Partly because of this, Zuckerberg and Musk will soon enter the ring together (although that is of course first to see, then to believe): there has been so much hassle at Twitter since Elon Musk has held sway, that people at Meta thought: we see our chance. That opportunity comes in the form of Threads, an app that has many links with Instagram, but is still a separate app.

Threads, an Instagram app

You can currently already find threads in the app stores of Google and Apple and you can also see what the app will look like (see also the images in this article). The idea is that we will soon start Threading en masse. A Thread is the equivalent of a Tweet (or post..) and you can actually put a lot of text in it, because that is what Threads is mainly based on. You can give a post a heart (like), an answer (with the chat bubble) and post it on your own feed (two arrows) or share it further (the paper plane). They are all icons that we know from Instagram and that’s the idea: this way you can take your followers from Insta into this new app, but only if you want to.

The app is not called Threads, an Instagram app in the app stores for nothing: the similarities are clear. The idea is that people you have blocked on Instagram, for example, will also be blocked in this app, making it a pleasant experience and not having to set everything up again. Of course, the app comes at the right time now that Twitter is imposing all kinds of limits and paywalls. And the fact that you can also use it quite easily by logging in with your Instagram account also makes it a bit more accessible. You can simply take your name, profile picture and account name with you and so can your followers.

Text-based conversations

The App Store description reads: “Say more with Threads – Instagram’s text-based conversation app. Threads is where communities come together to discuss everything from the topics you care about today to what will be trending tomorrow. Whatever it is you’re interested in, you can instantly follow and connect with your favorite creators and others who love the same things – or build your own loyal following to share your ideas, opinions and creativity with the world .”

Threads will be officially announced on Thursday and again, the timing couldn’t be better. The only question is whether Meta will soon have another goose with the golden eggs, or whether Threads really has to stand in line, behind alternatives such as Bluesky and – albeit with a slightly different set-up – Mastodon.

Laura Jenny

When she’s not tapping, she’s traveling around the wonderful world of entertainment or some cool place in the real world. Mario is the man of her life,…