There’s a new app in town, and it’s taking the internet by storm! It’s called Threads and it’s a subsidiary of Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. Threads is Meta’s attempt to replace Twitter, and so far, it seems to be going very well.
Threads vs. Twitter
Launched on July 5th, 2023, Threads became the most downloaded non-game app in the past decade with over 150 million downloads to date. With no signs of slowing down, Threads appears to be filling a void in the social media landscape. Recently Twitter has become associated with chaotic and greedy business practices. Threads seems to be offering users a fresh start on a fresh platform.
So, what exactly is the difference between Threads and Twitter? And are those divergences enough of a reason to switch apps? Let’s explore:
Posts
The aim of both Threads and Twitter is roughly the same: allow users to share short text messages for others to see and engage with. The difference comes in the character limit. Threads has a character limit of 500, while Twitter only allows 280. The increased character limit of Threads gives its users the ability to flesh out their thoughts and provide greater detail in their posts. However, it may take away from the ‘punchier’ post style that Twitter is known for.
App Integration
This is one of the larger differences between the two apps. Twitter is an independent system, meaning it isn’t tied to any other social media platform. If you chose to delete your Twitter account none of your other platforms would be affected. With Threads, things are a little different. Threads is a part of Meta which means it is linked to your other Meta platforms, specifically Instagram. You sign into Threads with your Instagram information, you can import your Instagram profile data and can follow the same users you do on your Instagram account. The upside to this is that you are not starting a new account from scratch, the downside is if you choose to delete your Threads account you will also need to delete your linked Instagram account.
Cost
Both Twitter and Threads are free to download, but once your account is created there are hidden features you have to pay for. As of now, Threads is completely free to download and use. There are no additional features that you will be required to pay for and no advertisements. However, if Instagram is any indication, it is safe to assume that the platform will soon be littered with ads. Twitter is also free to download and use – up to a point. There are ads throughout the platform and there are tiers of subscription. To gain full use of the app you would need to purchase a ‘Twitter Blue’ subscription which is $8 a month or $84 a year. This addition of a paid subscription is in part what drove users away from Twitter and towards alternatives.
Threads has begun with a great deal of potential and it is certainly worth investigating. If you’re interested check out our blog article on how to set up your own Threads account, or (better yet) contact Karma Creative Solutions and we’ll do it for you! Only time will tell if Threads will last, but for now, there seems no harm in giving it a try.