Meta’s newly launched Threads app has garnered ten million users within its first seven hours, according to CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
Threads, described as “Instagram’s text-based conversation app,” was introduced by the Facebook-owner, a day earlier than its scheduled release date.
Zuckerberg’s inaugural post on the app welcomed users with the message “Let’s do this” and an accompanying fire emoji.
He also humorously referenced the rivalry between Meta and Elon Musk’s services by sharing a popular Spiderman meme on Twitter.
Threads bears a resemblance to Twitter, allowing users to post messages, like, reply to, and repost others’ messages. Notably, Instagram users can quickly follow the same accounts on Threads, facilitating the swift buildup of follower bases. Meta employed Instagram’s vast user base to create anticipation for the app by introducing cheat codes that allowed users to sign up for early downloads.
According to a blog post by Meta, posts on Threads can contain up to 500 characters, links, photos, and videos up to five minutes long. However, it lacks direct messaging capabilities. The app is available in over 100 countries through both Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store.
The launch of Threads arrives at a critical juncture for Twitter, as Elon Musk’s alterations to the platform have led to advertiser defections and user dissatisfaction. Musk’s decision to limit free accounts, restricting them to reading 600 tweets per day, sparked significant backlash.
Given the potential migration of users from Twitter, some social media users are referring to Threads as a “Twitter killer.” While Threads is a standalone app, users can conveniently log in using their Instagram credentials and follow the same accounts, making it an easy addition to the routines of Instagram’s over two billion monthly active users.
Ahead of the launch, Meta’s stock experienced a three percent increase on Wednesday, surpassing gains made by rival technology firms.
