Intern Insights: What is Threads?

Social media is constantly evolving. If you blink, you could find yourself behind on the latest app. Not every site will be a juggernaut like Facebook, but you don’t want to be late to the ones that end up succeeding. In this blog, we’ll discuss the new platform Threads, including its pros and cons.   

 

So, What’s Threads?

Threads is a companion app to Instagram that allows users to share text, photos, and videos. It is similar to Twitter in terms of the content and tone of its posts. In its first week, Threads reached more than 100 million users, which may be attributed to being owned by global media giant Meta, which currently has more than three billion daily users.  

 

Pros 

Threads runs smoothly compared to other platforms in the early-release stage. It uses the same design and structure as Instagram,  meaning major issues have been dealt with on Instagram before Threads was introduced. It is also easy to connect with your Instagram followers via Threads. You need to use your Instagram login to access Threads, so everyone you follow on Instagram will be shown to you upon signing up. Threads is also similar to Twitter, a smashing success for more than a decade, which is a positive indicator for its future.  

 

Cons 

Threads is Instagram’s companion app, meaning you need to have an Instagram account to sign up. This has proven to be problematic (At this point, in 2023, anyone who doesn’t have an Instagram most likely has no intention of changing that). Over the years, people have become so comfortable with Twitter that many wouldn’t leave it unless they were left with no other choice. A new platform means starting from scratch, and it takes months for an algorithm to be properly tailored to one’s interests. Lastly, Threads is currently only available on iOS and Android devices, which, despite making the milestone of 100 million users more impressive, isn’t a sustainable model for social media success.  

 

 In the rapidly evolving world of social media, Threads holds promise for individuals and businesses alike. Threads swiftly established itself as a potential powerhouse, and the best way to avoid being left behind in this fast-paced world is to pay attention to the newcomers.  

 

Justin Picciuto

Public Relations Intern

SCG Advertising & PR

What if you decide to abandon Twitter?

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One of the best-known of all social media platforms, Twitter, is in the process of dramatically altering itself. Some changes that have already been implemented – or are thought to be coming soon – are concerning both to individuals and organizations that have utilized Twitter for years. So, in the event you find yourself making a decision about shifting away from Twitter, here are several alternatives to consider.

TumblrIt began as a microblogging platform in 2007, and has a vast number of users. Tumblr’s fanbase may not be as passionate as those of other platforms, but the site offers a wide variety of options for posting and sharing text, images, video, audio, and links.

LinkedInMore sophisticated than many other social media platforms, LinkedIn’s emphasis is on helping users locate new clients and employees, and share details of professional successes. While it may be business-focused, it’s the online home for individuals in a broad range of endeavors.

Hive SocialOn the rise since 2019, Hive Social’s audience has grown by one million users since changes began at Twitter. The platform enables users to post content without length limitations and already offers an editing function. The key drawback with Hive Social is loading time and a few other technical irregularities.

Discord – Beginning as a communications app for sharing voice, video and text chat with friends, game communities, and developers, Discord has steadily expanded. It is currently popular for networking, particularly in the music, entertainment, and sports sectors, with emphasis on internal group chats.

MastodonIt’s a federation of independently operated interconnected servers, offers microblogging features akin to Twitter, but also features other functionality allowing for message that are 500-characters in length. Mastodon also offers extensive privacy features, plus the ability to hide spoilers and add trigger warnings.

Post – For now, there’s actually a waitlist for joining the platform. Post is intended to be “A Social Platform for Real People, Real News, and Civil Conversations,” and is geared toward journalists who want to share stories without being edited.

Or … do nothing – Sometimes, taking no action is the most appropriate action. If you have an audience on other platforms and all is going well, it may be fine to simply step away from Twitter without identifying a replacement.

For more information about the recent and upcoming Twitter changes, check out the following articles:

https://techcrunch.com/2022/11/25/elon-musk-says-twitters-new-multicoloured-verification-will-launch-next-week/

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2022-11-07/twitter-layoffs-media-verification

https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/24/musk-twitter-suspension-policy-00070819

https://www.fastcompany.com/90804776/elon-musk-massive-changes-twitter-one-week