Is Threads Really the Twitter Killer? We Spent 7 Days on It and Here's What We Know
Threads is the hot topic these days. Do we see businesses hopping on for the “vibes”?
When it comes to social media platforms, Twitter has always held a special place in the hearts of millions. With its concise and real-time nature, it has become a go-to platform for news, trends, and engaging conversations. However, there has been recent buzz about a potential contender to the Twitter throne - Threads. Claiming to be a more focused and intimate version of Twitter, Threads promises a different social media experience. Intrigued by this claim, we decided to dive deep into Threads and explore its features and user experience.
Here's what we found:
1. Threads & Instagram are Interlinked
Not anyone can just sign up for Threads. You must be an existing member of Instagram to make an account on Threads. As the two are linked, you cannot delete one without deleting the other. What you can do is temporarily deactivate your Threads account and that will not affect your Instagram account in any way. If you get banned on Threads, there is a chance this will also reflect on your Instagram account. As many people now link their Instagram and Facebook accounts, any activity may be reflected on your Facebook account as well.
2. Niche Communities Galore
One aspect that grabbed our attention is Threads' emphasis on fostering niche communities. Unlike Twitter's broad appeal, Threads aims to bring together like-minded individuals who share specific interests and passions. From art enthusiasts to tech geeks, there's a community for everyone. This is a refreshing approach that allows users to connect with people who truly understand their niche.
Similar to Tweets on Twitter, you can have a lighthearted conversation with the public. In fact, it is encouraged to not be too serious on the platform to maintain authenticity. Even big brand names are cracking jokes on Threads.
As of now, your Threads feed will show the content of people you don’t follow and those you follow, and we’re wondering if it’s supposed to be a mix of your feed and explore page all in one. Some users may find it annoying because they want to see the content of those they’re following, so we predict that there will be an update to the algorithm of the app soon, where the ratio of content from accounts you follow vs. accounts you don’t follow isn’t too huge.
3. Seamless Thread Creation
Threads makes it a breeze to create and curate conversations. The platform allows you to easily thread your thoughts, creating a smooth and coherent flow. Similar to Twitter, Threads shows comments from all users. This can be particularly helpful when discussing complex topics or having ongoing conversations, as it keeps everything organized and easily accessible. Even if you have a lot to share, you can continuously post in a “thread” as one thread has a maximum of 500 characters. You can also share videos up to 5 minutes long on Threads accompanying your text.
Although Threads was just launched to the public and the followers are significantly fewer on Threads than on Twitter, we can see that Threads get more likes than Tweets.
4. Room for Improvement
While Threads does offer some enticing features, it is by no means perfect. During our exploration, we encountered a few glitches and found the interface to be slightly clunky at times. The notifications section can definitely be tweaked to show comment replies, tags, and followers in a cleaner way. Additionally, the user base on Threads is still growing, which means it may take some time for it to reach peak engagement levels. However, we see that engagement on Threads is already surpassing Twitter as 30 top brands analyzed 87% more engagement on their posts on Threads versus Twitter. This is only the beginning of Threads, so will the organic engagement continue to increase, or will it die down once the “hype” is over?
So are people still using Twitter? The short answer is yes. People are still using Twitter, and here’s why. As Threads is connected to Instagram and you must have Instagram to make a Threads account, most users on Threads come from Instagram, while Twitter users do not necessarily have Instagram. While the audience does have some overlap, we are categorizing Threads users as “Instagrammers”. So, in a way, Threads will always be different from Twitter and users that come from Twitter may not find the content they want on Threads.
Threads presents an intriguing alternative to Twitter, focusing on niche communities and a more curated conversation experience. With its seamless thread creation and multimedia integration, it certainly offers a unique proposition. However, it still has some room for improvement, particularly in terms of user interface and growing (and, as time passes, keeping) its user base. Ultimately, whether Threads becomes the "Twitter Killer" remains to be seen, but for those seeking a more focused and intimate social media experience, it is definitely worth exploring.
So, what are your thoughts on Threads? Have you tried it yet?