Instagram Has New…Threads?

If you’re a Southern Utahn on Instagram, you know that Threads has made its way here, but you may not know EXACTLY what it is.  

As a journalist, this new development from Meta intrigues me for several reasons; it seems to be a direct competitor for Twitter (lawsuit pending), and several of my friends (some journalists as well) immediately hopped on it.  

In media, being knowledgeable about new apps and forms of communication is imperative but this was odd. This addition just dropped last week Harper's Bazaar said. Most tend to wait and see how the addition plays out, but it already seems to be used daily by my peers.  

So, what’s the big deal with Threads? 

Utah apparently has never really been a big fan of Twitter overall, at least according to a study done in 2018 by Deseret News. It didn’t even rank in the top five. That makes the sudden downloads in the last week make a lot more sense.  

However, I decided to try it myself and see what the big deal was and as of right now, it just looks like an exact copy of my Instagram. I linked it to my account and saw the same posts I had just seen. The point of the app seems defeated if there isn’t anything new.  

Meta Takeaways: 

• Threads is a new app, built by the Instagram team, for sharing text updates and joining public conversations. 
• You log in using your Instagram account and posts can be up to 500 characters long and include links, photos, and videos up to 5 minutes in length. 
• We’re working to soon make Threads compatible with the open, interoperable social networks that we believe can shape the future of the internet. 

Twitter only allows 280 characters so that’s a plus for Threads since you can type more if you want. The space is meant to be able to allow wide communication from the most mundane things to breaking news.  

Meta also said that this app is designed to “give you more control over your audience” by filtering words, mentions, and so on. The app is meant for positive, productive conversations, the company said.  

It’s also been endorsed by several celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Oprah, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Jennifer Lopez who have high hopes for the app.  

So, with all the high endorsements, local businesses, and friends joining, what do you think about Threads?