Meta looks to topple Twitter with launch of social media app Threads

Meta’s Twitter rivaling app, Threads, launched Wednesday with CEO Mark Zuckerberg saying 10 million people signed up for the new social media site in the first seven hours.

Threads launched in over 100 countries and has already gained accounts from established brands, which include Airbnb, Netflix and Vogue magazine to name a few.

Zuckerberg has emphasized Threads’ differing approach to microblogging as compared to Twitter, saying Threads will be “a friendly place.”

“That’s one reason why Twitter never succeeded as much as I think it should have, and we want to do it differently,” Zuckerberg wrote.

Threads offers similar features as Twitter, but posts have a higher limit of 500 characters compared to Twitter's 280 character limit. Threads will also be connected with Meta’s other social media sites, which include Facebook and Instagram.

Instagram users will be able to log into Threads with their existing Instagram accounts and follow the same accounts on the new site. New users who aren’t on Instagram will have to create an Instagram account, according to AP News.

Data collection and privacy concerns have been raised against Threads.

The app could collect a range of personal information and “sensitive info,” including browsing and search history, location data, health, financial, contacts and purchases, according to its data privacy disclosure on the App Store.

Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey was quick to point out Threads’ access to its users' data in a tweet saying, “All your Threads are belong to us,” with a screenshot of the privacy disclosure. Elon Musk replied “yeah” to the tweet.

Threads has not launched in the European Union due to the site's non-compliance with the EU’s strict data privacy rules.

Analysts remain uncertain on the future of Threads, citing Meta’s history of starting standalone apps that were eventually shut down.

“Meta is banking on a moment in time amidst peak Twitter frustration. However, this window of opportunity is already flooded with Twitter alternatives including Bluesky, Mastodon, Spill, Post.News and Hive, which are all competing for Twitter’s market share,” said Mike Proulx, research director at the global market research company Forrester.

Twitter has made several changes that have triggered backlash since Musk acquired the company last year, the most recent being limiting the number of tweets people can view per day to try to halt unauthorized scraping of potentially valuable data. Twitter is also requiring paid verification for users to access TweetDeck.

Musk has continued his verbal sparring match with Zuckerberg, which could result in a sanctioned fight between the CEOs. 

“It is infinitely preferable to be attacked by strangers on Twitter, than indulge in the false happiness of hide-the-pain Instagram,” Musk tweeted.