Threads’ New Features: Will They Help?
Meta’s Threads app has a familiar blend of features reminiscent of both Twitter and Instagram. Recently, Threads added more features for users. And they’re wise to do so: data from Similarweb indicates that during the first week in July, the daily active user count for Threads was 49 million. It dropped to 23.6 million by the beginning of the next week.
In July, USA Today reported a decline in the amount of time people spend on the app. Usage time decreased from 21 minutes on July 7 to just over six minutes on July 14. This represents less than a third of the initial usage.
Threads introduce more X-like features.
TechCrunch noted that Instagram Threads, a rival to Meta’s X, is introducing more X-like features in rapid succession. This includes the addition of polls and GIFs, alongside other recent updates. For instance, a desktop version, an edit button, profile switching, likes, full-text search, a chronological feed, voice posts, and more.
As Threads strives to keep users engaged, they’re quick to add features that X users are used to. Polls are known for boosting engagement on Twitter and X platforms. This allows users who don’t frequently post to participate in discussions and share their opinions. Poll creators can also attract new followers and get a sense of public sentiment without the need for formal surveys. Additionally, polls can be used for fun purposes. For example, deciding what to have for dinner or selecting a movie to watch.
Elon Musk, the owner of X, has notably used polls to make decisions about the company’s direction. This includes I will resign as CEO as soon as I find someone foolish enough to take the job! After that, I will just run the software & servers teams.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 21, 2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stepping down as the company’s head, offering “The people have spoken.
Amnesty begins next week.
Vox Populi, Vox Dei.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 24, 2022?s=20&t=m0TqwzR4m3IVUHnMxLPjow" target="_blank" rel="noopener">amnesty” to banned accounts, or Bring back Vine?
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 31, 2022?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1586918804780630016%7Ctwgr%5Eb1ae26f963b6d4039a56bf9c592a39c633427bd3%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftechcrunch.com%2F2022%2F10%2F31%2Felon-musk-vine-reboot-poll%2F" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reviving Vine, the short video platform that Twitter took out in 2016.
On Threads, polls run for 24 hours, and users have control over who can respond to them, similar to managing responses to regular posts. Regarding GIFs, they continue to be of interest to online users, with Giphy providing the new GIFs feature on Threads.
These features are currently available on the Threads mobile app but have not been introduced on the web version as of now.
Threads: Celebrities Join Threads - The 'Twitter Killer' App
Threads, the Twitter alternative created by Meta, has been officially released and gained ten million sign-ups within its first seven hours, as confirmed by CEO Mark Zuckerberg. The platform has already garnered significant support from various celebrities.
If you take a peek at Threads, you’ll notice that it shamelessly resembles Twitter. It’s no secret that Meta is aiming to lure users away from Elon Musk’s struggling platform. The site made its grand debut, poised to give Twitter a run for its money in a way that previous alternatives like Mastodon and Bluesky couldn’t quite achieve.
The “Twitter Killer” App
Created by the Instagram team, this fresh app offers a platform for sharing text updates and participating in public conversations. With this app, you have the freedom to create posts up to 500 characters in length, incorporating links, photos, and videos that can be up to 5 minutes long.
Since Musk assumed control of Twitter late last year, numerous Twitter users have expressed their desire for an alternative platform. Technical glitches and frequent policy changes have prompted some prominent Twitter users to seek greener pastures elsewhere.
Meta has a distinct advantage in terms of its existing user base. With over 2 billion active Instagram users worldwide, Meta aims to attract a significant portion of them to its new app. In contrast, Twitter’s active user base stands at approximately 250 million.
Zuckerberg’s hopeful
“It’ll take some time, but I think there should be a public conversations app with 1 billion+ people on it,” Zuckerberg said in a Threads post. “Twitter has had the opportunity do this but hasn’t nailed it. Hopefully we will.”
The roster of celebrity names jumping on board continues to grow. Shakira, Oprah Winfrey, Kim Kardashian, and Kourtney Kardashian, have started accounts. So has Will Smith, and Jennifer Lopez, who have all hopped on the Threads and already have tens of thousands of followers.
Thanks to the carryover of usernames and verification from Instagram, Threads can effortlessly assemble an impressive lineup of famous faces and brands. And it’s not just Hollywood stars joining the party. Jack Harlow, Zayn Malik, Gordon Ramsay, Karlie Kloss, Liam Payne, Ellie Goulding, and even the Dalai Lama have been spotted logging on to the app.
Take a look at celebrity posts extending a warm welcome to the new app.
Kayla is the midday host on Detroit’s 105.1 The Bounce. She started her career in radio back in 2016 as an intern at another Detroit station and worked her way here. She's made stops in Knoxville, TN, Omaha, Ne and other places before returning to Detroit. She’s done almost everything in radio from promotions to web, creating content on social media, you name it.
She’s a true Michigander, born and raised. So, you can catch her camping or vacationing up north to exploring the downtown Detroit or maybe even catching a sports game. During her free time, Kayla enjoys watching movies, roller-skating, crafting, and music festivals. She and her husband together dip into many of the great things Michigan has to offer. Together they also like to travel.
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