Building on its already successful and dominant content-sharing platform, Instagram has unveiled its latest product release, Threads.
Threads is where communities come together to discuss everything from the topics you care about today to what’ll be trending tomorrow. Whatever it is you’re interested in, you can follow and connect directly with your favorite creators and others who love the same things — or build a loyal following of your own to share your ideas, opinions and creativity with the world.
Threads.net
After its launch on the evening of Wednesday, July 5th, the platform has already surpassed 30 million sign-ups in less than 24 hours, according to Mark Zuckerberg, hinting that updates and new features are already in the works.
Threads offers a new way for users to stay connected, share moments, and have enhanced communication in close-knit circles with a focus on simplicity and privacy. While there are certainly more updates and features to come, let’s delve into this exciting addition to the Instagram family.
Join the Conversation, Get Started With Threads
It’s easy to get started with Threads. Simply use your Instagram account to log in. Your Instagram username and verification will carry over, with the option to customize your profile specifically for Threads.
Everyone who is under 16 (or under 18 in certain countries) will be defaulted into a private profile when they join Threads. You can choose to follow the same accounts you do on Instagram and find more people who care about the same things you do.
Your feed on Threads currently includes threads posted by people you follow and recommended content from new creators you haven’t discovered yet. Posts can be up to 500 characters long and include links, photos, and videos up to five minutes in length. You can easily share a Threads post to your Instagram story, or share your post as a link on any other social media platform you choose.
Privacy and Security on Threads
As always, privacy and security remain hot-button subjects for all social media platforms. Given the recent news of Twitter regulations, Threads has made its intentions clear that privacy and security are still of the utmost importance for their new app.
Threads was built to facilitate positive and productive conversations. Here are some of the features the platform has in place:
- Controls to determine who can mention you or reply to your threads;
- Hidden words to filter out threads that contain certain words;
- Ability to unfollow, block, restrict, and report profiles similar to the capability on Instagram; and
- Enforcement of Instagram’s Community Guidelines on content and interactions in the app.
Since 2016, Instagram has invested more than $16 billion dollars dedicated to teams and technologies that are needed to protect users with a focus on advancing industry-leading integrity efforts and investments to protect the community.
Advertising on Threads
While the platform is barely a day into the game, marketers are already paying attention in hopes of being able to advertise on the platform similar to other Meta products. When setting up your account, it is noted that Threads will “use your Threads and Instagram information to personalize ads.” This has many marketers hopeful that advertising capabilities will be available in the near future.
What’s Next for Threads?
Not only has Zuckerberg foreshadowed there are more features and product updates already in the works, but the head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, posted a thread hinting at some of those changes that are already in the works!
Some buzz has already started about competitor, Twitter, and how this new Threads app will hold up against the social media giant. Only time will tell, but Threads is definitely going to give Twitter a run for its money after the quick adoption of this new platform has skyrocketed.
With the release of Threads, Instagram has once again demonstrated its commitment to providing innovative and user-centric features. By emphasizing privacy, selectivity, and seamless sharing, Threads offers a fresh way to connect and communicate virtually. Whether it’s capturing and sharing fleeting moments or keeping each other updated on our activities, Threads amplifies the intimacy and authenticity of our interactions.
As we delve deeper into the digital era, products like Threads will redefine the way we stay connected, bridging the gap between physical and virtual communication. As an Instagram user, you now have the power to curate your communication experience, cultivating stronger bonds with your closest connections.
