Not Just A Twitter Rival: How Instagram Threads Can Be Your New Networking App

In the digital age, how successful is online networking? You can pose that question on the latest app to come live - Threads. Threads is Instagram’s text-based conversation app. And it’s being touted as a rival to the famous microblogging platform, Twitter.

Instagram defines Threads as a tool for communities to come together and discuss today’s topics and tomorrow’s trends. Much like other social media apps, it allows you to keep your profile public or private, follow friends, family members, and famous celebrities, and build a network. Moreover, effectively utilizing Threads and other Instagram features can significantly boost your Instagram presence and engagement, helping you connect with a wider audience and make the most of this dynamic platform.

Post its launch, Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg tweeted for the first time in over a decade - sharing the famous Spider-Man face-off meme and subtly positioning Threads as an alternative to Twitter.

pic.twitter.com/MbMxUWiQgp
— Mark Zuckerberg (@finkd) July 6, 2023

Read ahead to know how to download Threads, its main features, and how it can be the next big thing for networking.

Instagram Threads: How To Download & Use

If you’re looking to get on the latest networking app, here are the steps:

The Threads app is available for download on both, Apple Store and Android Play Store. The app is titled Threads, an Instagram app, and is available for free.
Users can use their Instagram credentials, including bio and profile pic to login. However, they also have the option to customize their bio, user name and profile picture.
Once a user is logged in, they have the option to follow the same accounts they do on Instagram.

Alternatively, users can also use a ‘ticket’ for Threads from their Instagram app. Here are the steps for the same:

On the ‘Explore’ page of Instagram, type ‘Threads’ in the search bar. A small ticket emoji will appear on the far right.
Once you click on the emoji, a ticket will appear. This will include your Threads invitation.
The invite includes your username, the Threads launch date and time, a QR code, a numeric code and a “Get Threads” button at the bottom of the screen, which takes you to the App Store.

Instagram Threads: Features & Differences From Twitter

Here’s a look at the main features of Threads, and how they differ from Twitter:

Features	Threads	Twitter
Character Limit	500	280
Video Length Limit	5 minutes	2 minutes 20 seconds
Cost	Free	Free, but accounts need to pay for verification
Activity Updates/ Notifications	Has 4 tabs - All (showing all updates), Mentions, Replies and Verified (for verified individuals who interacted with your post).	Has 3 tabs - All (showing all updates), Mentions, and Verified (for verified individuals who interacted with your post).
Privacy	Users can choose to have a public or private profile. If your profile is private, only approved followers can see and interact with your content. Threads offers users the option to be private on Instagram, but public on Threads.	On Twitter, users have a public profile by default. However, users can protect their tweets. When users protect their Tweets, they have the option to approve or deny follow requests by new people.
Can you share to other social networks	Yes	Yes
Desktop Version	Not yet available	Yes
Automatic sync with Instagram	Since Threads is an app by Instagram, any accounts users block on Instagram are automatically blocked on Threads. You can also immediately switch to Instagram from Threads through an icon on top of your account.	Twitter is independent of Meta apps/Instagram and there’s no automatic sync.

Here's how activity updates appear on Threads:

Threads: The New Networking App

In just four hours of its launch, 5 million people signed up on Threads. The number is growing with each passing minute. And it's yet to launch in the European Union. Could Threads rival Twitter?

As of 2023, Twitter has nearly 400 million users - but ever since tech mogul Elon Musk took its reigns, the platform has struggled. Musk’s policies of paid verification, rationing tweets, etc. have left a sour taste among Twitterati. And Threads could very well take it on. After all, only one-fourth of Instagram’s 2.35 billion user base needs to join Threads to rival Twitter’s user base.

The home-grown app Koo was also touted as a Twitter alternative. Koo, which currently has 60 million downloads, is far from overshadowing the blue bird.

Downloads, user base and rivalry aside, there’s no denying that Threads holds massive potential as a new networking app. Having tested all or most of the other apps (and yes, there are many), digital users can certainly cultivate Threads for a more discerning experience. Of course, not every new app enjoys a similar level of success - but Threads could be a game-changer.

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Srishti Magan

Sr. Content Editor

I’m a reader first and a writer second, constantly diving into the world of content. If I’m not writing or reading, I like watching movies and dreaming of a life by the beach.

Updated On: 15 Nov'23, 12:33 PM IST