Let’s explain what Threads is and how it works, the new social media platform created by the Instagram team. It is a network that positions itself directly as an alternative to X (Twitter), leveraging the user base on Instagram.

We’ll start by telling you exactly what Threads is, and then we’ll explain how it works and what its main features are. Finally, we’ll also share some of the intentions they have for the future.

What is Threads?

Threads is a microblogging social network, a term used for platforms created to publish short messages. It is a social network created by Meta, the company responsible for Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, and it has been developed by the Instagram team.

Essentially, Threads is like a blend of Twitter and Mastodon, promising to offer the advantages of both. Moreover, it is a social network linked to Instagram, so your accounts on both platforms are part of a unified whole.

It’s as if a Twitter had been created within Instagram but with an independent app. In fact, you don’t need to register on Threads if you already have an Instagram account, as you can directly link your Instagram account.

The social network was launched on July 6, 2023, and managed to reach over 10 million users in just 7 hours. It had a groundbreaking start, although its pace and downloads slowed significantly after a few weeks. It seemed that after the initial novelty, users started to leave in mass, prompting the social network to add new features like chronological feed to compensate.

With over a billion users on Instagram, there is still significant potential for users to adopt Threads. Additionally, many celebrities and brands on Instagram contribute to bringing in new users.

So, initially, Threads is Instagram’s alternative to X (Twitter), and it essentially functions in a similar way. To add to this, they promise to be part of the Fediverse, allowing Threads users to interact with Mastodon and other similar networks.

How Threads Works

Threads operates similarly to other microblogging networks like Instagram. It allows you to create posts with text and also add photos or videos. Threads has a character limit of 500 characters in your messages, bringing it closer to the philosophy of many Mastodon instances.

As expected, you can also respond to other people’s posts, share them, or quote them by adding your text alongside the original post.

Integrated with Instagram, one of Threads’ standout features is that it allows you to directly share a post in your Instagram stories. This enhances interaction between the two social networks so that if any of your Instagram followers don’t use Threads, they can still read your post.

At its launch, the major issue with this social network was that it had only one news feed, and it showed content solely through algorithms. This means that posts from people you follow would be mixed with posts from others that might discuss topics of interest to you.

This is a temporary situation, as Threads has stated that they are working on creating a homepage where you can see content from the people you follow. However, it remains to be seen how much content you can view without algorithms.

Threads also provides options to search for other users and has a notification section where you can see all notifications or only those related to replies, mentions, or interactions with verified accounts. Your profile will display a link to your account and a button that directly links to your Instagram account.

You can make your profile private, manage mentions, mute users who don’t interest you, or filter words. Many features are still missing, and you can’t even use it from the web yet; there’s no hashtag system, and you can’t create user lists or many other things. However, it’s expected that these features will be introduced gradually.

Finally, Threads arrived in Spain and the rest of Europe on December 14. This means it will receive a new influx of users that might revitalize the social network and continue its growth.

What Threads Promises in the Future

The most significant promise of Threads is not to be a centralized social network. For this, in the future, it will implement the ActivityPub protocol, the same one used by Mastodon. This will make Threads part of the Fediverse, allowing users to interact with Mastodon instances and their users. However, it remains to be seen if there will be any limitations.

And what is the Fediverse? Current social networks are centralized, meaning all content is stored on the servers of a single instance, like X or Instagram. Fediverse networks operate in the opposite way.

For instance, in Mastodon, there is no single server. There is a network of servers and instances, and you can even create your own. User data is stored on the servers of the instance they are registered with, but then you can read the content of all users from all instances of Mastodon.

The fact that Threads will implement this same technology means you won’t need to register on this social network to interact with its users, and you won’t need all users to be registered to talk to you. You should be able to follow users from other instances of other social networks that use the same technology, becoming part of a whole.

In addition to this, Threads also promises a more impartial social network without the controversies of Elon Musk. However, it’s essential to remember that Facebook has had its own controversies, so it remains to be seen how they manage toxicity and misinformation found in other networks.

Want To Know More?

If you want to delve deeper into the possibilities that Instagram Threads offers or if you’re ready to have your profile professionally managed for optimal results, feel free to reach out to us. We offer consultation services to discuss your specific needs and tailor a plan that suits your brand.

Contact us at info@webatite.com or click here to fill out our contact form. Let’s embark on this social media journey together, ensuring your brand’s presence on Instagram Threads leaves a lasting impression.