Last Updated: July 06, 2023, 13:37 IST
The million dollar question that everyone is asking right now
The new text-based social app from Instagram is ready to take on Twitter but what all features do you get?
Threads is finally, not the one you create on Twitter, but the new text-based app from Instagram that is said to be competing with Twitter in the market. Mark Zuckerberg, CEO, Meta has already claimed that Threads has over 10 million sign ups in around 7 hours since the platform was launched on iOS and Android. But as we have seen over the years, Meta has a track record of making copycat apps, where some of them have succeeded while some have just borrowed features from other competitor apps.
So, while the whole world has been talking about Threads as a direct Twitter rival, you might notice that the Instagram-centric platform doesn’t have all the features that Twitter has been offering for a while. Here is a look at what all Threads offers and doesn’t compare to Twitter.
Threads vs Twitter: How Is It Different?
No Hashtags For Threaders
The name might not have caught on yet, but people on Threads cannot use hashtags in their posts, unlike Twitter where you base the whole trend around hashtags. Threads still feels like a work in progress but not having hashtags on the platform makes it less relevant for brands and even celebrities.
New Way To Refresh Feed
Twitter users tend to scroll down to refresh their feed but with Threads you just have to tap on the home icon (Threads logo) to refresh the feed with new posts from your followers.
Unified Threads Feed
Another sign of its infancy is that you will see all the Threads from people, brands and celebrities in the same feed. Twitter has been offering a For You and Following tab which was differentiating the content you see for years but that has been tweaked since Musk took over the reins at Twitter. Expect Threads to have multiple design tweaks to accommodate different posts on the feed.
Threads With A Limit
Twitter started its journey with 140-characters, moving to 280-character in the past year or so, and now you have the option to tweet with up to a massive 25,000 characters in one post. Threads is starting its journey in a more sedate fashion, giving you a limit of 500 characters in one post, which can include links, photos, and videos as long as 5 minutes.
Not Made For Web
Threads is only compatible with iPhone and Android phones right now. You can view the Threads post on the desktop but Instagram doesn’t allow you to like, reply or create a post on the web. Instead, you get the option to install the Threads app on the phone to use these features.
Compatible With Other Social Networks
Instagram has realised the need to curb external forces from controlling the platform, and it has assured that Threads will be compatible with open and interoperable social networks like Mastodon that will be introduced in the near future.
