Meta is gearing up to launch its Twitter alternative this week. Named Threads (or Threads, an Instagram app), the new social media app will debut on July 6. Ahead of that, the company has published a landing page for the service. It currently doesn’t tell us anything about the service and only shows a countdown down to its launch. But the folks over at 9to5Google have been able to uncover some details about the functioning of Threads.
Threads will be deeply connected to Instagram
Meta originally planned to launch Threads at the end of July. But with Twitter making some unpopular changes to its platform lately, the company is rushing to bring Threads to the public. It wants to give irked Twitter users a new platform. Over the past few days, the new Meta app has made its way to the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. 9to5Google grabbed the APK uploaded to the Play Store and decompiled it to unearth more details.
As expected, Threads will have a deep connection with Instagram. Its official name makes it clear that Meta is launching it as part of Instagram. Both apps will use the same username and display name. Even the display picture will sync from Instagram, though Meta may allow users to keep different avatars on the two platforms later. Blocking a user on one platform will also block them on the other. The two apps will have similar profile links as well. Like on Instagram, Threads will append the username after the “threads.net/” URL.
However, there will be a few key differences. Threads users will have great flexibility when it comes to following or unfollowing people from Instagram. You can choose to automatically follow users who you already follow on Instagram. If it’s a private account, the user will receive a follow request. Private accounts also have the option to pre-approve such follow requests (from people who already follow them on Instagram). You can also set up pre-approvals for specific accounts. Overall, you get to choose who can be in your Threads community and who not.
Meta plans to offer interconnectivity between Threads and other apps
While not available at launch, Meta plans to allow Threads users to connect with people on other federated social networks like Mastodon. The company is collectively calling this space “fediverse.” Users on other platforms can also find Threads users by simply typing their full username (@[email protected]). However, if you restrict replies on a post, users outside Threads won’t see it.
This is pretty much all we know about Threads at the moment. Meta describes it as “Instagram’s text-based conversation app.” We already have proof that the app will be available on Android and iOS at launch later this week. Additionally, it is accessible via the web as well. Meta should share more details about the new platform after its launch this Thursday. Time will tell if and how it affects Twitter.