Meta taking on Twitter with a new text-based app

Meta has launched a new app to rival micro-blogging site Twitter. Known as Threads, the app allows Instagram users to log in with their existing credentials and post updates including texts of up to 500 characters long, links, photos, and videos up to 5 minutes in length.

Whether you’re a creator or a casual poster, Meta says Threads offers a new, separate space for real-time updates and public conversations. 

At launch, Meta is rolling out Threads in more than 100 countries for iOS and Android, and people in those countries can download the app from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Users can log into Threads using their Instagram credentials and Meta says ‘’Our vision with Threads is to take what Instagram does best and expand that to text, creating a positive and creative space to express your ideas.’’ 

Just like on Instagram, with Threads users can follow and connect with friends and creators who share their interests – including the people they follow on Instagram and beyond. 

The timing of the launch is quite interesting and comes just days after Elon Musk announced plans to limit the number of Tweets viewers see per day. Although the decisions seem to have been revoked, Twitter users didn’t seem to like the idea with some even starting to switch to alternative apps. 

In an interview with the Verge, Instagram head Adam Mosseri said, “Obviously, Twitter pioneered the space... but just given everything that was going on, we thought there was an opportunity to build something that was open and something that was good for the community that was already using Instagram.

Interestingly, Threads work almost similarly to Twitter. The main feed of the app shows posts from accounts of people you follow as well as those recommended by Instagram’s algorithm. You can also post or repost as well quote a post with your own commentary as well as reply. 

You can also easily share a Threads post to your Instagram story, or share your post as a link on any other platform you choose. 

It will be interesting to see the new updates Meta will be adding to Threads in the coming days and how Twitter plans to respond.