Threads by Meta (Facebook) Facts & User Statistics: 100 million users (2024)

It has happened: Meta, the company behind both Facebook and Instagram, has launched a direct attack on Twitter by releasing their own version of a text based social media platform.

The platform is called Threads, it is built by Instagram which means you can log into it with your Instagram account.

In this blog post we explain everything you need to know about the new social media that got 10 million users within a matter of hours on launch day.

‍

Threads users as of 10th of July: 100 million users!

What is Threads?

Threads is a social networking app launched by Facebook's Meta, originally built by the Instagram team. Introduced on July 5, 2023, Threads is designed for sharing text updates and fostering public conversations.

• Users can log in with their Instagram account, create posts with up to 500 characters, and include links, photos, and videos of up to 5 minutes in length.
• The vision for Threads is to expand Instagram's multimedia sharing by placing a stronger emphasis on text-based content and dialogue.
• An important future goal for Threads is to be compatible with open, interoperable social networks, to facilitate a diverse and interconnected range of online platforms.

Treads versus Twitter: What's the difference?

Threads and Twitter are both social networking platforms that enable public text based conversations and real-time updates.

However, there are a few key differences between the two:

1. Ownership and Origin: Threads is developed and owned by Meta, formerly known as Facebook, and is built by the Instagram team. In contrast, Twitter is a standalone company that has recently come under the stewardship of Elon Musk.
2. Integration: Threads is directly integrated with Instagram, allowing users to log in using their Instagram accounts. This provides a seamless transition for Instagram's existing user base to join Threads. Twitter operates independently, without direct integration with other social media platforms.
3. Content Format: While Twitter has been traditionally text-focused with a character limit for its posts, Threads, being a text-based version of Instagram, supports posts with up to 500 characters, but also includes the ability to share links, photos, and videos of up to 5 minutes in length. This offers a more multimedia-centric approach to social networking than Twitter.
4. Interoperability: Threads has plans to be compatible with open, interoperable social networks in the future, which could allow it to interact with other platforms supporting the same protocol, enhancing its reach and diversity. Twitter, as of now, doesn't offer such interoperability.
5. Context: Threads was launched amidst turmoil at Twitter under Elon Musk's leadership, with the specific intention to capitalize on this instability and possibly offer a more "sanely run" platform, as stated by Meta's Chief Product Officer Chris Cox. In contrast, Twitter's recent issues have contributed to controversy and a loss of advertiser confidence.

Clearly, many Twitter-users have decided to try out Threads while others stay loyal to their favorite text-based platform. Some even accuse those who try Threads of being "traitors" or being drawn to a "false god".

Reportedly, Threads is somewhat barebone at the moment, but with Meta in the back, the Instagram team has the resources to improve the platform and expand on its features.

10 Threads Statistics & Facts

1. Threads was launched on July 5, 2023, as a new app built by the Instagram team for sharing text updates and public conversation engagement.
2. Threads operates with an Instagram account for login, and posts can include up to 500 characters along with links, photos, and videos of up to 5 minutes.
3. The app aims to expand on Instagram's multimedia sharing by emphasizing text-based content and conversation.
4. Facebook's Meta plans to make Threads compatible with open, interoperable social networks.
5. Users under 16 (or under 18 in certain countries) will automatically have a private profile when they join Threads.
6. Threads has a robust suite of safety and user controls similar to those on Instagram.
7. Users can control who can mention or reply to them within Threads and use hidden words to filter out specific replies.
8. The app is set to become compatible with ActivityPub, the open social networking protocol established by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
9. Threads was released in more than 100 countries for both iOS and Android platforms.
10. Facebook's Meta has a vision for the interoperability of Threads with other apps, allowing users to interact across platforms without needing a Threads account.

‍

If nothing else, having an alternative to Twitter might be enough for some.

As we learn more about Threads we will update this blog post.