Big businesses and high profile social media influencers have already hopped onboard following the recent launch of Meta’s new Twitter-style social media platform – Threads.
As the latest offering from Facebook and Instagram creator Mark Zuckerberg, the social media platform saw ten million sign ups on only its first day. Since then, many millions of users have followed suit.
Threads appears to have come at the perfect time, with Twitter users expressing their frustration at the changes made to the app by new owner, Elon Musk. Such changes include limits to the amount of Twitter posts which can be viewed in one day, a new charging system and the removal of the blue tick verification mark.
Threads does bear a remarkable resemblance to Twitter, with ‘tweets’ now becoming ‘threads’ and ‘retweets’ becoming ‘reposts’, however it does have its differences. For example:
- There is no direct messaging facility
- No chronological feed or follow feed
- No search facility, other than for other users
- No hashtags
- No GIFs
Threads is also being billed as the friendlier alternative to Twitter, offering users the chance to control who mentions them and who can reply to their posts, as well as the ability to filter specific words out. In addition, all Threads accounts created by people under the age of 18 in the UK will automatically be made private.
Creator Mark Zuckerberg described Threads in an Instragam post, as ‘an open and friendly public space for conversation’. He said: “Our vision is to take the best parts of Instagram and create a new experience for text, ideas, and discussing what’s on your mind. I think the world needs this kind of friendly community…”
How can Threads benefit businesses?
To sign up to the app, all that’s required is an Instagram account. The information from that account is then transferred across to your new Threads account and you can keep the same user handle (this prevents people from using the name of Instagram accounts with large followings). In addition, you can instantly follow the same audience as you do on Instagram (as long as they are on Threads, too).
Any successful businesses will be aware of the need to be part of the conversations taking place on popular social media platforms and it seems that Threads offers this opportunity in abundance (in no small part down to the fact that the 500 character limit for posts is almost double that which is allowed on Twitter).
Companies can go into more depth in their posts, which means more chances to give people the information that they are looking for. With more of a focus on text, the social media platform gives users the chance to open up real time conversations, while also having the opportunity to share videos and images.
Currently, there is no facility for ads, however the opportunity for organic lead generation is definitely there. And with such parents as Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp to boast of, it seems that this new platform, unlike other similar ones which have been launched recently, is destined for success.
If you need any further help or support with your data driven marketing campaign, or would like to find out more about opening a Threads account, get in touch with a member of our team for more advice.
