On July 5th, just a day after we celebrated Independence Day, Meta kept the fireworks going with its release of a new text-based conversation app, Threads.
Sign-ups skyrocketed. Just look at this Threads message from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg:
Clearly, people are interested in Meta’s newest release. With Twitter in near shambles, the release has caught the attention of marketers and content creators everywhere now asking – What’s this new app all about? How do you use it? What does it mean for my marketing and content strategy?
If you’re asking these questions, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll dive into all of these questions and more.
What is Threads?
Threads is an app developed by Meta (the parent company of popular social apps, Facebook and Instagram) designed to provide a separate space for real-time updates and public conversations through text. The Threads app was built as an extension of Meta’s image/video-sharing social app Instagram, meaning your account information and login credentials from Instagram are synced with your Threads account. What sets Threads apart from Instagram is that its function is text-based and conversational, like Twitter, and designed for sharing text updates and joining public conversations.
I like to think of it as Instagram for visual updates and sharing of images and videos; Threads for text-based updates, conversations, and real-time dialog.
Like many of the popular social apps, Threads provides a feed consisting of posts from accounts you follow, along with recommended content from new creators.
Another exciting aspect of Threads is its planned compatibility with other apps. Of course, being built by Meta, there is already some native compatibility within Meta’s suite of apps, like the Instagram extension mentioned above. Meta has also announced plans to make Threads compatible with ActivityPub, the open social networking protocol from the World Wide Web Consortium.
According to Meta, “This would make Threads interoperable with other apps that also support the ActivityPub protocol, such as Mastodon and WordPress – allowing new types of connections that are simply not possible on most social apps today.”
The app is now available for download on iOS and Android in over 100 countries.
Attention Marketers: Here's what you need to know about Threads
How Do I Start Using Threads?
NOTE: You must have an Instagram account to join Threads. If you’re not already an existing Instagram user, here’s how to create an account.
To get started using Threads, simply log in using your Instagram account. Your username and verification will seamlessly carry over, with the option to personalize your Threads profile. We love how this guarantees you’ll have your Instagram username on Threads!
Getting Started on Threads
Ok, now that you’ve signed up for Threads using your Instagram credentials, you’re ready to get started. You’ll notice that the user interface is pretty simple and familiar. But, let’s take a look at the foundational features of the app.
At the bottom of your navigation bar, you’ll see Home, Search, New Thread, Activity, and Profile. Let’s take a closer look at each of these:
Home:
Home, like for many social apps is where your timeline/feed lives. In this section, you can engage with other posts by liking, commenting, and reposting.
Here’s the Home view:
Search:
The next section you’ll see is Search. Another self-explanatory section, this is where you can manually search for other accounts you’d like to follow on your feed.
New Thread:
Ready to dip your toes into Threads? The New Thread section is where you can create your first post. Post length is limited to 500 characters and you can also include links and images.
Here is an example of drafting a New Thread:
Activity:
In the Activity section, you’ll find all of your recent app activity, including new followers, comments, and likes.
Profile:
Finally, we have your Threads Profile section. In this section, you can view your profile information including, your username, profile picture, bio, followers, and other information about your account.
This is also the section where you can edit your profile.
Get Started Today
Threads, Meta’s new text-based conversation app, has already generated significant interest and sign-ups since its release earlier this month. Threads offers a space for real-time updates and public conversations through text.
With its integration into Meta’s existing ecosystem, Threads allows users to conveniently connect their Instagram accounts, maintaining their usernames and followed accounts.
Available for download on iOS and Android in numerous countries, Threads presents an exciting opportunity for marketers and content creators to explore new avenues for their strategies. By embracing Threads, users can tap into a fresh platform to engage with their audience and foster meaningful connections.
So, why wait – check it out for yourself and see what Threads has to offer.
How does Threads compare to Twitter/X? Find out with this infographic
