The Rise of Threads – Will it Replace Twitter?

The rise of threads on social media platforms, particularly on Twitter, has been a significant development in online discussions and content sharing. It allows for more in-depth conversations and longer-form content. However, it is unlikely that threads will help in replacing Twitter as a whole.

Threads Versus Twitter

In the meeting with the employees, The Meta Chief Project Officer quoted:

“We’ve been hearing from creators and public figures who are interested in having a platform that is sanely run”
On 5th July 23, Threads was launched by Mark Zuckerberg which reached 30 million users within a day and 100 million in 5 days. It is interconnected with Instagram. On the other hand, Twitter took four years to reach this same number. 

In Twitter, anything can be posted but in Threads, no political news should be viral.

Threads versus Twitter- Similarities

• Threads are a feature within the Twitter platform. They are created and displayed on Twitter, which is a popular social media platform known for its short-form messages called tweets.
• Both threads and Twitter provide a means for users to share content. Users can share thoughts, opinions, news, images, videos, and links through individual tweets within a thread or as standalone tweets on Twitter.
• Both threads and Twitter serve as platforms for sharing information. Users can use threads to provide detailed explanations, share stories, or present a cohesive narrative. Similarly, Twitter allows users to share news, updates, opinions, and other information with their followers.
• Threads and Twitter are platforms for conversations and discussions. Users can engage in multi-part discussions within a thread or participate in broader conversations and trends on Twitter
• Both threads and Twitter enable users to connect with others and build networks or communities. Users can follow accounts, engage with like-minded individuals, and participate in conversations to form connections and establish online relationships.

Threads versus Twitter- Differences

On Threads, Zuckerberg stated:

“The goal is to keep it friendly as it expands. I think it’s possible and will ultimately be the key to its success. That’s one reason why Twitter never succeeded as much as I think it should have, and we want to do it differently”

• Threads has a 500-character limit which is alot for the users while Twitter has 280-character limit. Threads allow users to exceed the limit by connecting multiple tweets together.
• Threads maintain a sense of continuity and cohesiveness as they present a series of connected tweets on a specific topic. Twitter is a stand-alone social media tool; an account on any other site is not necessary.
• So far, Threads is currently free to use. There are not any advertisements right now or any premium subscription services. On the other hand, Twitter Blue is $8 per month or $84 per year. Twitter Blue is increasingly becoming the central part of Twitter.
• Twitter has challenged traditional models disrupting established norms and revolutionizing communication dynamics. Twitter has transformed the way news is disseminated by providing a real-time platform for breaking news updates. Twitter has played a significant role in social activism, enabling users to raise awareness, organize protests, and drive social change
  
  Below is the comparison chart analyzed by BBC News:

How Threaded Conversations influenced Social media dominance

In the realm of social media dominance, threaded conversations have become a sought-after feature among platforms. Here’s an overview of how threaded conversations have influenced social media dominance:

Enhanced User Experience

Threaded conversations provide a more organized and coherent user experience. Platforms that offer this feature allow users to follow discussions more easily. It makes it simpler to track the flow of conversations and engage with specific threads of interest.

Platform Preference

The availability of threaded conversations can influence users’ platform preferences. Users who value threaded conversations may gravitate towards platforms that offer this feature. This leads to a potential shift in user base and usage patterns.

Innovative Platforms

The inclusion of threaded conversations by one platform often prompts competitors to innovate and adapt to stay competitive. Platforms may introduce similar features or find alternative solutions to cater to users’ desire for more organized discussions.

Niche Communities

Platforms that prioritize threaded conversations can attract specific niche communities seeking focused and in-depth discussions. This can allow platforms to cultivate specialized user bases and cater to specific interests or industries.

Disruptive technologies or platforms that offer a superior user experience can potentially challenge the dominance of existing social media platforms. However, it remains to be seen if any such platform can effectively replace Twitter.

Threads Meta App

Threads is Meta’s first app to be compatible with an open social networking protocol. Meta is planning to make Threads compatible with ActivityPub. It is the social networking protocol established by the World Wide Consortium.  This would make Threads interoperable with other apps. People could share content with other apps users without making a Threads account. It could make Threads unique from other social media apps.

Future of Twitter

Meta Spokesperson Stone said,

“Twitter is a social texting service based on the contents of your mind. It works with your cell phone and short code 40404. It then goes to each and every one of your many actionable friends” 

Elon Musk stated that Twitter will have its own content moderation council to increase its profitability and monetization. “Some of the major protocols with respect to content verification and user verification have been affected and there have been so many changes, which makes it a little difficult to sort of imagine what’s going to happen in the future,” said Qahri-Saremi assistant professor of computer information systems at Colorado State University.

Elon Musk quoted in Twitter:

“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 and serves team”

Even he did the polling on Twitter to step down as the head of Twitter and about 17 million of the users voted for him to step down.

• Bankruptcy

One of the most significant factors in determining Twitter’s financial future is advertisers. It didn’t turn its first annual profit even in 2018. Musk has begun the possibility of declaring bankruptcy and has stabbed costs and thousands of jobs. Over half of Twitter’s 7,500 full-time employees are no longer with the company which decreases its profitability.

In an effort to strengthen its position in the market, Twitter is engaging in early discussions with prominent figures in the political and entertainment spheres, as well as payments services, news outlets, and media publishers.

Twitter’s response to Threads

Twitter is threatening its rival Threads with a legal action.

Twitter’s Elon Musk said “competition is fine, cheating is not” – but Meta denied claims in a legal letter that ex-Twitter staff helped create Threads.

More than 70 million people have signed up for the new app, according to Meta. Twitter has an estimated 350 million users, according to Statista.

Mark Zuckerberg claims that he is the rival and competitor of Twitter. Mark Zuckerberg, the head of Meta Platforms Inc., has made his first tweet in over a decade, playfully jabbing at Elon Musk on the same day Meta’s Threads app was launched. He posted the below picture on Twitter:

Twitter Attorney, Mr Spiro alleged that Meta had hired dozens of former Twitter employees who:

 “had and continues to have access to Twitter’s trade secrets and other highly confidential information”

 that ultimately helped Meta develop what he termed the “copycat” Threads app.

On Threads, Meta spokesperson Andy Stone posted that 

“No one on the Threads engineering team is a former Twitter employee – that’s just not a thing”.

Conclusion

Disruptive technologies platforms that offer a superior user experience can potentially challenge the dominance of existing social media platforms. However, it could be seen that Threads is attracting Twitter’s users with its compatibility. Almost every influencer is hoping to Threads and everyone is awaiting for the complete replacement of Twitter now.