What You Need to KnowA meta manager introduced his Twitter rival to employees during a company meeting. The new app will be based on Instagram and is said to be called “Threads”. Instagram has reportedly contacted a number of celebrities and public figures to become the app’s first users.
Previously, there were rumors that Instagram was developing a text-based app that would compete with Twitter, and now new information has given us a glimpse of the interface and more details on features.
The screenshots shared by Meta’s Chief Product Officer Chris Cox during a company meeting and obtained by The Verge show that the upcoming Twitter rival has the same user interface as Instagram. Codenamed “Project 92,” it’s expected to be a standalone app and could see the light of day later this month.
It also appears to have a number of features similar to Twitter, such as: B. Thread replies, a heart reaction, a share button and a repost option. Previous reports suggested users could post text messages up to 500 characters long (which is little compared to Twitter’s character limit), as well as photos and videos.
(Image credit: The Verge)
Users can log in with their Instagram credentials and their account information, such as their bio, will be transferred. According to The Verge, it will be known publicly as “Threads” and will be decentralized due to its integration with the ActivityPub protocol. This means users can seamlessly transfer their accounts and followers to other platforms that support ActivityPub, such as Mastodon.
The goal is to provide users with an app that offers “security, ease of use, [and] Cox was quoted as saying. The meta manager also said, “We’ve heard from creators and public figures who are interested in having a platform that is sanely run and that they believe they can trust and rely on. ” for distribution.”
Cox’s comments were seen as a covert criticism of Twitter, which has been criticized for its handling of misinformation and abuse. Twitter has also faced financial challenges and its share price has fallen significantly in recent months.
The development of Instagram’s text-based app comes at a time when Twitter faces increasing competition and business challenges. Twitter’s user growth has stagnated in recent years and the company has been criticized for its slow pace of innovation.
Instagram hopes its new app will appeal to users looking for a more text-based social media experience. The app could also help Instagram attract new users who aren’t currently on the platform.
Cox also confirmed that Meta has been in talks with celebrities and public figures like Oprah and the Dalai Lama to become early adopters of the app. Given Meta’s access to billions of users through its suite of social media apps, the company definitely has the upper hand in this race.
