Is it the End of the Twitter Era and the Beginning of its Clone Version, Threads?
The Barbie movie isn’t the only thing making waves in the news. Threads, a recently launched app by META has taken the internet by storm.
The Twitter-like app has had over 100 million users join since its launch on July 6. Mixed reactions have surfaced on the internet with some praising the app, while others, (more like Elon Musk) just not having it. In reply to a tweet on possible legal action, Musk wrote: “Competition is fine, cheating is not.”
Twitter attorney, has made his comments too, accusing META of hiring former Twitter employees and using trade secrets and intellectual property to create a “copycat” app. In response, Andy Stone, META spokesperson responded through a Threads post that “no one on the Threads engineering team is a former Twitter employee.”
Threads began trending on the Twitter app on the day of its launch but has now mysteriously disappeared from the ‘Trending’ list. Twitter users have taken notice that search results have been limited while looking up Threads despite the platform being filled with links connecting to the newly launched app.
Since Elon Musk's governance over Twitter, the company has experienced a tumultuous few months, only making a mark with various text-based alternatives that have gained significant attention throughout the year. Twitter isn’t the Twitter it once was. Launched in 2006, it once had its period of fame. Called the ‘global town square’, Twitter was the platform where anyone could get the attention of millions overnight, and facilitate large social movements such as #MeToo.
However, since Musk’s takeover, the microblogging platform has seen unfavorable changes - from giving access to any and all users to the famous check mark (for only $8), to recently, allowing unverified accounts to only view 1000 tweets a day. On the other hand, verified, paying accounts, can view up to 10,000 tweets a day. This was amended after a massive backlash when the development was first introduced, restricting unverified users to view only 600 tweets daily and 6000 tweets for verified users.
Rounds of #DeadTwitter have been emerging. Chris Messina joined the bandwagon by posting the hashtag #DeadTwitter on Threads.
Twitter is distinctly losing its relevance and falling behind other social media giants. The platform has suffered a series of detrimental slips and recent decisions have only added to its decline in users and overall significance. Threads has made its noteworthy entrance, but according to most social media experts, TikTok has long reigned as the new ‘global town square’ with over 1.6 billion users. TikTok’s popularity links with its refined algorithmic feed where even a user with no followers can potentially gain millions of views with a single video.
According to a Reuters report, people have now turned to TikTok for information and news, allowing users to consume a plethora of information through short videos. The report states that the platform is snowballing, now being the source of news, knowledge, and entertainment. Gen-Z users are increasingly observing that TikTok has become the birthplace of memes and trends, which often take weeks to reach Twitter and in turn, has caused Twitter to appear less culturally relevant.
Users on Threads are having a fair share of fun too. Memes both celebrating and poking fun at the new Twitter alternative have surfaced - with some not afraid to mock how Twitter users are abandoning the long-running platform to join its newly formed rival.
Evidently, Threads has taken the spotlight and has already begun cleverly engaging with its young adult audience through relevant subjects. A recent post on the app by the official Threads team reads:
Can Threads become the ‘dreamhouse’ for its residents to be open, honest, and spark change? Or is the newly formed haven merely enjoying its short-lived hype, with its users to perhaps make their way back to the Twitter realm? Only time can tell.
(Or Elon Musk, if he chooses to sue META and shut down Threads).
