Meta’s newly launched Twitter competitor, Threads, experienced a staggering 10 million sign-ups in its first seven hours live, according to a post by CEO Mark Zuckerberg. By the following morning, with the western coast of the United States just starting their day, the app had garnered more than 30 million sign-ups. Currently available worldwide, except in Europe, the rapid pace of registrations showcases Meta’s impressive scalability compared to other Twitter alternatives like Bluesky — which remains invitation-only.
In commemoration of the event, Zuckerberg returned to Twitter after over ten years, showcasing his meme prowess with a popular Spider-Man standoff image, in contrast to Elon Musk’s less meme-savvy reputation. He reiterated the success of Threads’ launch on the platform: “10 million signups in seven hours.”
Meta’s Threads stands as a challenger to Twitter and other alternatives, such as Mastodon, under the leadership of Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri. Plans are in place to make Threads compatible with ActivityPub, the source protocol powering Mastodon and other decentralized services known collectively as the “Fediverse.”
Threads is closely tied to Instagram, sharing the same platform which gives Meta a significant advertising advantage. Users who pre-ordered the app on iOS were notified when Threads went live, further fuelling the influx of sign-ups.
Despite the impressive start, Threads is experiencing some initial growing pains. Users’ main complaints include the absence of a chronological, follow-only feed, and the app’s algorithm determining post visibility. Many users also expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of post editing (a feature available on Facebook and Instagram), hashtags, and account switching.
Mosseri addressed these concerns, stating in a Threads post that a follow-only feature, post editing, and account switching are in the pipeline. He also mentioned that hashtags will eventually become clickable.
The lack of a web-based version of Threads also poses an issue for users. As with Instagram in its early stages, Threads can only be read via browsers, with posting restricted to iOS and Android apps. Threads’ design has received mixed reviews, with some users finding it less user-friendly than Twitter.
A major discussion point is the verification process. On Twitter, under Elon Musk, only Twitter Blue subscribers and certain prominent public figures or news sites received the blue verification check mark. However, only Instagram-verified users (not Facebook) have received the blue badge on Threads thus far. Since Instagram verification tends to be held by influencers and creators, and Threads aims to be a discussion site potentially focused on news, it may be beneficial to allow Facebook-verified users to also be verified on Threads, or introduce a new verification system.
Threads is still in its infancy, and it’s clear the app will undergo substantial changes in the near future. User feedback will play a critical role in shaping its evolution, making the coming months particularly intriguing.
Update, July 6th, 2023, 12:05PM ET: Mark Zuckerberg has confirmed that Threads now has more than 30 million sign-ups.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Meta’s Threads app
How many sign-ups did Meta’s Threads app have on its launch day?
The Threads app garnered over 30 million sign-ups on its launch day.
Who is leading the development of Meta’s Threads app?
Instagram CEO, Adam Mosseri, is leading the development of the Threads app.
What are some of the initial user complaints about Threads?
Users have expressed concerns about the absence of a chronological, follow-only feed, lack of post editing, absence of hashtags, and the inability to switch accounts.
What is the current state of the verification process on Threads?
As of now, only users who have been verified on Instagram have received the blue badge on Threads. However, there are discussions about possibly allowing Facebook-verified users to also be verified on Threads or introducing a new verification system.
Is there a web-based version of the Threads app?
Currently, Threads is available only on iOS and Android apps. While it can be read via browsers, posting is restricted to the app.
More about Meta’s Threads app
- Meta’s Official Announcement on Threads
- Adam Mosseri on Threads Development
- Threads User Feedback Discussion
- Instagram Verification Process
- Meta’s Threads App on iOS
- Meta’s Threads App on Android
5 comments
Never seen an app go from 0 to 30 mill in a day. Crazy! but the UI could use some work… not as intuitive as Twitter.
Hey at least Zuck knows how to use memes properly haha! Take notes, Elon.
Unbelievable how Meta always manages to scale so quickly! But will they listen to user feedback this time round? Guess we’ll see…
No web version? in 2023? Come on, Meta! gotta catch up with the times. not everyone lives on their phone.
Whoa, 30 million signups? That’s nuts. But I gotta say, not having a follow only feed is a deal breaker for me.