Social media has seen a revolution in recent years, partly thanks to the boom of TikTok, the resurrection of Twitter, and — now — the introduction of Threads. Meta’s new app, Threads, was adopted immediately by millions of users flooding the platform in its early launch.
According to a post by Zuckerburg, “Threads reached 100 million sign-ups over the weekend. That’s mostly organic demand and we haven’t even turned on many promotions yet. Can’t believe it’s only been 5 days!”
So what is Threads, and why is it gaining so much traction so quickly?
What Is Threads?
Threads is a new social media app from Meta that connects directly to Instagram, bridging the world of pretty visuals with text-heavy stories in a Twitter format. Posts on Threads have a limit of 500 characters, which is double the limit currently on Twitter. Users can post visual media, such as photos and videos up to five minutes in length, or text-only posts. You can also include links in your posts.
Threads easily links between Instagram, allowing you to follow the users you follow on IG and even share a Threads post to your Instagram story. If you want to share your Threads post beyond IG, simply copy the link to your post and share it on any platform you like.
How to Sign Up for Threads
You can sign up for Threads by downloading the app from the Apple or Google app store. Or you can open Instagram, navigate to your profile menu, and click “Threads” under settings and privacy. This will prompt you to get the app. Once downloaded, you must log in with an existing Instagram account.
Will Threads Remain Popular?
Time will tell if the app picks up speed or falls flat. As with any new major app launch, there’s a lot of curiosity and excitement buzzing in the air. People fear missing out and want to take part in the excitement themselves, which is a huge part of why Threads picked up speed so quickly.
What Does This Mean for Marketers?
Threads is new territory for marketers, but it is low risk for experimentation so using the app is worth a try. This could be a great added addition to your marketing toolkit, but it shouldn’t replace staple apps like Twitter. Stay on the platforms that are working well for you and implement Threads alongside your current strategy, sharing posts to IG and Twitter or beyond.
Currently, Threads does not support ads, but we expect Meta to roll out some type of ad system on the platform eventually — given what we know about Meta. Once this happens, marketers could make better use of Thread from a lead gen angle. Right now, we think it’s best used for experimenting, claiming space, and generating brand awareness.
We invite you to read Meta’s official press release for information directly from the source.
