Instagram Threads is a new social media platform that Meta’s Instagram team created for sharing text updates and joining public conversations.
With the Threads app, you can post threads, reply to others and follow profiles that interest you. The threads and replies you can send include short text, GIFs, videos, photos, links, or a combination of them.
To determine if you should be on Threads, let me help you first understand it.
Threads and Twitter: a Brewing Rivalry?
The new social media platform sends a similar vibe to Twitter from its function and look.
As you would have imagined, not everyone was thrilled about the new kid on the block. And your guess is as good as mine; Twitter was the first to feel threatened by the emergence of Threads.
Various news outlets have reported that Twitter’s legal team has sent a cease–and–desist letter to Meta for the Threads launch.’
Twitter threatens to sue Meta for unlawful misappropriation of its trade secrets and intellectual property, which they have used in creating Threads. Twitter accuses Meta of hiring its direct former employees and tasking them with creating Threads.
How to use Threads App
You have to be on Instagram to access Threads. But most of its other features are independent of Instagram. Download the app from your phone’s app store. Open the Threads app and select the “log in with Instagram” option at the bottom of your screen.
That effectively means using your Instagram username, password, and account name to sign up for Threads. Once you sign up, you will be prompted to confirm your profile details as they appear on Instagram.
If you have several Instagram accounts, Threads allows you to sign up with your preferred account. To do this, click on the “switch accounts” option and select the Instagram account you want to use.
You may skip the whole process of creating a bio by importing your details from Instagram. I recommend taking this option, as it also imports your profile picture.
It will also be easier for customers following you on Instagram to recognize your brand’s page on Threads. Therefore, it will minimize your overall cost of creating brand awareness on both social media platforms.
How Threads Will Lead to Better User Deals
The introduction of Threads will undoubtedly alter the social media landscape positively for consumers. For example, Threads was launched after Twitter announced that it would limit the number of posts users can view in a day.
The verified Twitter users were limited to 6,000 posts per day, while unverified and new accounts will only see 600 or 300 posts per day. As you would expect, this caused an immediate backlash from dissatisfied users. Twitter responded by raising the daily limits to 10,000 for verified users, 1,000 for unverified, and 500 for new unverified accounts.
However, by then, the damage had already been done. Some people already felt that Twitter was trying to control information flow.
These were among the first adopters of Threads, which promised more freedom during the launch. Mark Zuckerberg (Meta CEO) was on record stating that a record 30 million subscribers had joined Threads within 24 hours of its launch.
Businesses on Twitter were also complaining about the platform’s increase in subscription costs, such as the verification cost. Therefore, if the subscription trend continues, Threads promises to be an excellent platform for creating brand awareness and targeting new customers affordably.
At the end of the day, I believe it will be a win-win for us social media users. The platforms will listen to our needs and provide them for fear of losing customers.
Threads Will Unlock More Content Freedom for Brands
There is also the feeling Threads is positioning itself as the go-to microblogging platform. For example, Threads has increased the number of characters you can write in a post from 500 characters compared to 280 characters on Twitter (and a 10,000 character limit for Twitter blue accounts).
On the other hand, Threads offers you more flexibility in your lead generation and nurturing strategies. You’re free to post photos, web links, and videos up to 5 minutes long.
Therefore, you can alternate your content to target customers in the various stages of their buying cycle. For example, you can use a combination of videos, links, and written content in a single post targeting customers in the awareness stage.
Instagram Integration
The obvious advantage of Threads is its integration with Instagram. The developers have ensured Threads creates a familiar user experience by perfectly blending Instagram’s appearances and navigation.
You can share your Threads content directly with Instagram stories. That means you use the same content but have a bigger reach for a marketing campaign.
Decentralized Social Networking
News flash: Threads could also be the first app to venture into the “future of online platforms.”
Meta also plans to make Threads compatible with ActivityPub. The idea is to make it interoperable with other apps, such as WordPress and Mastodon, supporting the ActivityPub protocol.
Threads plan to help you expand your reach through decentralized social networking. Simply put, your target customers can access the content you post on your Threads in other online apps which have people who are not your followers on threads.
What Needs Improvement
Meta’s developers must fine-tune several things before it can engage in fist fights with Twitter. Some of the general but critical features that need fast addressing include:
- Threads lack direct messaging (DM): You still cannot have private one-on-one chats with your customers
- Relevance: It is much harder to find relevant content from the big heap the Thread’s feeds pull
- There are no hashtags: This feature is critical in creating targeted posts and increasing interactions for a social media campaign.
- Threads still lack a desktop website: Currently, you can only log in through a smartphone.
- Thread doesn’t have a search option: It may be hard for your followers to pick on your brand’s posts without the hashtag and search features.
You Can Only Sign Up Through Instagram
As it stands, only Instagram users can sign up for Threads. That seems a bit prohibitive for a social media app. For an app that promises to be a leader in decentralized social media’s future, that is not a good start.
It would be best if we had the freedom to choose which platform works best for our social media marketing campaigns. In some instances, a microblogging app like Threads may be the ideal platform for the current target audience while Instagram may not be ideal.
So, why should you have to sign up for an app you will never use just to access the one you want? Meta needs to address this issue fast.
Deactivating Your Threads Account is a Hustle
Data privacy and security are the greatest concerns with social media apps. Threads app may have some red flags in this area.
For example, deactivating your Threads accounts doesn’t guarantee the deletion of your Threads data. The only way to completely do away with data is by deleting your Instagram account too.
Early adopters also raised the issue that Threads are requesting too much customer data. This means that most of your target customers may fail to sign up for Threads for privacy concerns.
Threads App not in the EU
If you wanted confirmation that there are certain data privacy and security issues the Threads platform needs to iron out, this is it. The App is not yet in Europe.
The primary reason is that it is not compliant with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The policy is largely concerned with protecting personal data, including how it is processed and transferred.
Determine Whether Threads is Good for Your Business
The real dilemma you currently face is whether to be among the first adopters or wait and see how the new social media platform unfolds. TikTok started with similar controversies and has become one of the best social media marketing platforms. But again, Clubhouse, another social media platform began with so much hype in 2020 but slid into the abyss before making a strong name for itself.
If facing such a dilemma, what you need to do is first assess your social media needs. So, book a call with us today and let us help you decide whether Threads is ripe for your business or just another distraction.