Threads is currently available as a free download.
Facebook and Instagram’s parent company, Meta, has introduced Threads, a new social media app aimed at challenging Twitter’s dominance in the market.
According to the Apple app store, Threads, a text-based platform, made its debut on July 6, 2023.
As users increasingly search for alternatives to Twitter, which has faced significant changes under Elon Musk’s ownership, Threads enters the scene.
Since Musk acquired Twitter in 2022, the platform has experienced substantial transformations, including staff layoffs, restrictions on tweet visibility, and the introduction of paid subscriptions for verification.
As a result, some users have abandoned the platform in response to Elon Musk and his decisions.
Promoted as “Say more with Threads – Instagram’s text-based conversation app” in the Apple app store, the app’s description highlights its purpose of fostering community discussions around various subjects.
It enables users to connect with their favourite creators and like-minded individuals, while also providing the opportunity to build a following to share ideas and opinions with a wider audience.
Alongside the Apple app store, the app can also be found in the Google Play store.
The app store listing for Threads emphasises that users can log in using their existing Instagram accounts, suggesting that no other account creation method is available.
Threads is currently available as a free download.
? Threads is here – a new app where you can share updates and join convos ?
Use your Instagram account to log in and get started ? https://t.co/eEyTigO7WB pic.twitter.com/mCNsx33ZVg
— Instagram (@instagram) July 5, 2023
However, it is likely to introduce a service called Meta Verified, which was previously launched for Facebook and Instagram in the UK back in May 2023.
This service comes with a price tag of £9.99 per month when purchased through the website or £11.99 when subscribed directly through the iOS and Android apps, taking into account the share that Apple and Google receive from app payments.
By subscribing to Meta Verified, users can have their identity verified and benefit from “proactive account monitoring” to counteract any spoof accounts falsely claiming to represent them.
According to Meta’s chief product officer, Chris Cox, the coding for the new app began in January 2023.
He said: “We’ve been hearing from creators and public figures who are interested in having a platform that is sanely run, that they believe that they can trust and rely upon for distribution.”
Cox claimed that renowned personalities like Oprah Winfrey and the Dalai Lama were among the leading figures who expressed an interest in the platform.
Although several competitors to Twitter, including Bluesky, Mastadon, and Spill, have already been launched, they have struggled to match Twitter’s status as the preferred platform for text-based conversations and real-time updates on current events.