It’s been a shaky 8 months for us Twitter users. Since Elon Musk took over the platform we’ve had change after change and almost all of it has been confusing, odd or just out-right terrible. So understandably, we’ve all been keeping our eyes open for an alternative.
First was Mastodon. Many of us opened accounts to check things out. Its concept of a decentralised social media platform was appealing to some. But as it turns out this just led to a fragmented social media and the concept of joining particular servers was confusing for people just looking for a Twitter clone.
Next came BlueSky, which as of the time of writing hasn’t actually been fully launched. So far only those with invites can join the Beta. This has created an air of prestige but let's not forget that Google+ started that way too, so it’s not exactly a sign of wide acceptance. However, BlueSky is currently being led by Jack Dorsey, the guy who made Twitter in the first place so it still has some potential. We’ll just have to wait and see.
Finally, we come to Threads. Threads seemingly came out of nowhere to take over the conversation. A Twitter clone courtesy of Meta that has already gained millions of downloads in its first day. Which means the fight between Musk and Zuckerberg has officially left the boxing ring and headed to our phones.
A Threads First Look
Threads has been labelled as “an Instagram app” and right now only Instagram users are able to create a Threads account. This doesn’t seem to have affected the sign-up rate though, after all there are over 2 billion Instagram users! And if anything, this has helped Meta because it makes the sign-up process pretty seamless.
When you first open the app it asks if you want to import your Instagram tag/ name. Then it asks if you want to import the same bio and follower list. At the moment it seems like your Threads account is locked-in to whatever your Instagram account is called. We'll have to wait and see if this changes in the future.
On the surface Threads looks very similar to Twitter. You can post text up to 500 characters, attach images, videos, GIFs and links.
Replies and likes seem to work like Twitter as well. In fact the main focus for Threads' marketing is all about conversations and sharing your thoughts and opinions.
The one thing missing from the content side is hashtags. This might be because Threads is in its very early days and the functionality just hasn’t been implemented yet. But it does feel odd to not see the familiar blue text everywhere!
While we’re on the subject, here’s a rundown of Twitter features that aren’t in Threads (for now).
Chronological feed. Right now you can only see an algorithmic based feed like Twitter’s “For You” tab.
Lists. For power users, lists are essential for organising Twitter feeds. And while we’re making requests, a Tweetdeck style option to see feeds side-by-side on desktop would be nice!
Desktop app. We’re in a mobile-first world so it makes sense that Threads launched on Android and iOS to start with.
Search and Topics. This is an odd one to be missing. You currently can’t look for keywords or browse topics.
Final Opinion
Despite its current lack of certain features, we’re hopeful that Threads has finally given us a real Twitter competitor. Right now there are party vibes on Threads as brands and marketers embrace this new space.
It’s too early to recommend a tailored marketing strategy, so the best course of action for now, will be to copy what you’re doing on Twitter minus the hashtags. For brands not already using Twitter, we’re not sure how good this new platform will be yet. For now we recommend waiting to see where things go with Threads. Meanwhile we’ll be doing a lot of experimenting and… Threading? Posting?
If you’re thinking of taking the plunge, come find us there @mediaangelsuk And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram or Facebook to keep up with the latest tips and digital marketing advice.
Comments