I am not a big fan of Threads. Although it hit 100 million users in five days, I believe this is mainly due to the bandwagon effect that often happens with trending new things. One of the main reasons I dislike Threads is because it is almost like a complete copy of X (previously known as Twitter). In fact, X has even filed a lawsuit against Meta, Mark Zuckerberg’s company, claiming that they hired former employees to create a “copycat” app.”
Threads may have had a rocky start, but I will still like to nurture it a bit. Since its existence, Meta has had a habit of asking its users for features they’d like to add before it shows up on the platform. The app recently introduced a “Following” Tab, which was highly requested by users. Both iOS and Android versions of the app now have this feature. The CEO quoted a user who asked for this feature, showing how much it was wanted by the community.
A Business Insider report also confirmed that Instagram’s Threads was taking note of user feedback and planning to introduce several exciting updates. The report rumoured the addition of a long-awaited DM (direct messaging) system, Trends & Topics, and improved search capabilities as the forthcoming features.
The company, in a blog post yesterday, promised it was introducing a few new Threads features this week. The announcement reads:
We heard ya.
We’re introducing a few new Threads features this week:
Two ways to customize your feed
Translations
New ways to filter notifications
A new follow button
“Approve all” follow requests
Everything you need to know
The announcement’s tone is friendly and inclusive, directly addressing the users and making them feel involved.
This incident showcases the contrasting views on social media between two Tech Leaders – Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg. Prior to the launch of Instagram Threads, the two billionaires playfully exchanged a challenge for a potential cage fight. When Zuck’s Instagram Threads was introduced, it seemed to have a significant impact on Elon Musk, leading him to accuse Mark of unfair tactics.
Elon Musk has faced criticism for his actions, being known for speaking out against COVID-19 lockdowns, promoting conspiracy theories, and making controversial statements that have led to accusations of antisemitism and transphobia.
While he has made significant contributions in the technology space, his initiatives often revolve around his ambitious goals and self-centeredness. An example of this was the recent rebranding of Twitter into X, where there were some haphazard actions.
TechCrunch reported two issues: first, the company failed to secure intellectual property rights for the X brand, and second, they didn’t obtain a permit before removing the Twitter sign from their San Francisco headquarters. However, the most significant oversight was not attempting to secure the @x Twitter handle, which was originally owned by Gene X Hwang of Orange Photography. This created quite a mess!
Throughout all this, Zuck observed Elon Muk’s inconsistency. One recent incident involved Muck publicly criticising the thicker bars on the new “X” logo, only to later mention that it will be reworked. His tweet stated, “The logo will evolve over time,” indicating that it wasn’t a well-thought-out process.
In contrast, Zuckerberg, known for his reserved and introverted nature, launched Threads because he saw an opportunity. Despite reports of decreased user engagement, I believe the platform has the potential to succeed as a regular social media platform, not necessarily as a competitor to Twitter (apologies, X). The future is uncertain, and Threads might just grow to become the preferred text-based platform.
If you are new to the Threads platform, you might want to check out this dictionary to catch up on the newly introduced social media terms such as “Thread”, and “Quote”; used on the platform.
