Since Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter in 2022, several alternative social media platforms have emerged, attracting users seeking a fresh experience. One such platform is Threads, Meta's text-based Twitter rival, which has gained significant traction with over 275 million monthly active users as of November 2024.

So, what is Threads, and how does it differ from Twitter? Threads is a social media platform tied to your Instagram account, allowing users to create an account by logging in with their Instagram credentials. Currently, there are no paid tiers and ads on the app, and users can leverage their Instagram network to find people to follow. The app launched over a year ago, but it lacks Twitter-like features such as long video, direct messages, or live audio rooms.

In terms of usage, Threads is available on iOS and Android in over 100 countries, although it was initially unavailable in the EU due to privacy concerns. The app was launched in the region in December 2023, offering users the option to browse the social network without an account, sans the ability to publish or interact with other posts.

One of the key advantages of Threads is its seamless integration with Instagram. When logging in through your Instagram account, you can follow all the people you follow on Instagram, and import your username, name, and settings, including block lists. This has contributed to the platform's rapid growth, with 10 million signups within hours of launch and 100 million users within just five days.

However, there are some limitations to posting on Threads. Users can post up to 500 characters in one post, which supports images, videos, and GIFs. A Thread post can include up to 10 media items. Additionally, the platform has had to tighten up on rate limits due to spam attacks, and users can view and publish posts on the web through Threads.net.

In terms of customization, Threads allows users to pin search terms and tags as feeds, and the company is testing a way to create custom feeds by adding specific profiles and terms to a new feed. The platform has also introduced "Starter Packs," inspired by rival social network Bluesky, which are lists of people to follow based on different themes.

One notable feature missing from Threads is direct messaging. According to Instagram head Adam Mosseri, the goal is to "not build yet another inbox and instead let people send threads to other apps." The platform has also launched a public API, allowing developers to build tools to publish posts of users and retrieve their own posts, as well as gain insights about engagement.

Threads has also made significant strides in integrating with the fediverse, allowing users to share their posts to the fediverse and follow profiles from other fediverse servers. However, full fediverse integration, scheduling posts, direct messages, support for lists, and support for third-party clients are some of the features currently missing from the platform.

Regarding data collection practices, Meta has clarified that Threads is part of your Instagram account, and users have raised questions about the app's data collection. According to Meta's deputy chief privacy officer Rob Sherman, the app's privacy labels are similar to the company's other apps, including Instagram.

In conclusion, Meta's Threads has emerged as a significant Twitter alternative, offering a unique set of features and functionalities that have attracted a large user base. As the platform continues to evolve and address its limitations, it will be interesting to see how it shapes the social media landscape in the years to come.