The Threads App: my first day – a Twitter or Instagram killer?
I thought I’d share my thoughts and feelings on the new Meta app Threads - and I’d love to know yours too, either in the comments below or on Threads itself!
What is Threads?
For those of you that are blissfully unaware of yet another social media app to worry about, basically Threads is the Facebook/Meta/Instagram version of Twitter. It’s causing some controversy – Zuckerberg seems to have hired many ex-Twitter employees and Elon Musk is apparently threatening legal action.
But honestly, most of us folk don’t really care what two billionaires fight over, we just want to know is Threads a place we’re going to want to hang out or not?
My first day on the app
Seeing everyone’s ‘joining number’ on their Instagram profiles yesterday peeked my curiosity (I was among the first 30 million apparently, as I write this it’s surpassed 55 million and ranks as the fastest growing app of all time). And never wanting to be one left behind in the digital advancement I signed up in trepidation. Fearing another app to add to an already overwhelming array of noisy, time-consuming, mentally and emotionally challenging social media space might be the end of me, but the ever FOMO pushed me onwards.
It was surprisingly easy to sign up and just import my profile and all the accounts I follow over – it took under a minute – surely one of the reasons why it is growing so fast – it was uncomplicated and quick to just get started. Thinking about it perhaps curating who I wanted to follow might have been a good idea, but honestly I didn’t have time for that, and I still see quite a bit of stuff from those I don’t follow, but discovering new talented people is never a chore if it’s not through an ad!
What’s it like to use?
Easy, uncomplicated, peaceful, fun – much like Twitter 10 years ago before it got shouty and mean. No silly dances, loud music or ads. In short, everything we’ve been wanting from Instagram since Meta took it over.
It’s fantastically easy to use – just like a big open Messenger chat group. It takes seconds to post something, compared to the laborious over-agonising Instagram seems to have generated in recent years.
I found people I had followed years ago on Instagram because I loved what they did, but Instagram had stubbornly been hiding from me. I’ve found connection with people, had fun chatty conversations and in under 24 hours have generated half a dozen leads into my business (without being remotely salesy). More than Instagram did for me in one month!
As a photographer being able to post uncropped images is a dream, although I actually find the text only posts more engaging right now. Again – conversation – surely what ‘social’ media was originally all about? You can like and repost much like other apps. The feed isn’t chronological, but at least so far seems to be showing me things I want to see.
A screenshot of what the Threads app looks like on my phone - and yes, I’m talking random stuff over there!
Should you sign up?
If you’re finding Instagram hard work, Twitter too polarised, and Tiktok just too damn loud, then I say yes – go for it! Time will tell whether it’s a flash in the pan (remember the surge to Vero?), or something with longer-lasting appeal. I suspect Meta can’t help themselves adding more features in the coming weeks and months, but personally I think their genius with it right now is its simplicity – no hashtags, ‘insights’ or ‘trends’, just people meeting and talking about the things that interest them.
I like that fact that everyone is just doing their own thing because there are no ‘rules’ yet or ‘Threads experts’ telling us what we should be doing. We’re all just giving it a go and having fun with it. No expectations and (as yet) no ranty arguments or unpleasant behaviour (at least not in my little corner)!
The Future
Meta clearly wants to take over Twitter’s domain, whether that will happen is open for debate – certainly I am enjoying it far more as a creative, business owner and individual, and it certainly may pick up users that have abandoned Twitter for all it’s faults lately.
However, I think it could also be the downfall of Instagram – it’s certainly pulled me away from the app over the last few days - I’ve only opened Instagram once since I got my Threads app – Instagram just feels pretty negative to me of late – the effort to get seen or interact with those I admire seems like such a huge mountain to climb. Threads has offered me a way to find those I love again with ease and strike up real conversation – long may it last!
