Instagram has launched a new app called Threads, designed for live updates and public discussions.
The CEO of Meta Platforms Inc., Mark Zuckerberg, made the announcement.
Threads aim to compete with Twitter, which has undergone changes since Elon Musk acquired it.
While the focus of Threads is on text updates, it also supports sharing photos and videos up to five minutes long.
The app provides an alternative platform for engaging with others and sharing content beyond just written updates.
Threads is directly connected to your Instagram account, allowing easy connection with followers, public figures, and brands.
Text posts in Threads will have a limit of 500 characters, while Twitter has a limit of 280 characters for most users (10,000 characters for Twitter Blue subscribers).
By default, Threads accounts will be private, meaning only approved followers can see your content.
The main feed in Threads will include posts from accounts you follow and suggestions from new creators.
You can share Threads posts as Instagram stories or through a link.
They will launch it in over 100 countries and make apps available for download on iOS and Android devices.
To find it, go to the App Store or Google Play on your phone and download the app.
Instagram plans to introduce new features in it, including an enhanced recommendation engine and search functionality.
Instagram aims to make it compatible with ActivityPub, an open social networking protocol, enabling interoperability with apps like Mastodon and WordPress that support the same protocol.
Users have expressed worry about the inability to delete Threads profiles without deleting the associated Instagram profile.
In the meantime, users can deactivate their Threads profiles without deactivating their Instagram accounts.
Users have the option to download and delete Threads data through their Instagram settings.
