Twitter vs. Meta: Analysing the key differences

The battle for social media dominance between Meta and Twitter heats up against the backdrop of an anticipated cage match between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg

The standalone Twitter competitor from Meta, Threads, which is based on Instagram’s account structure, has just been introduced. Adam Mosseri, the CEO of Instagram, claimed that under Musk, Twitter’s “volatility” and “unpredictability” gave Instagram the chance to compete. According to Mosseri in an interview, Threads is made for “public conversations,” which is a clear allusion to how Twitter executives have described the service’s function throughout the years.

Meta had been preparing to launch Threads, a self-described “sanely run” alternative to Twitter, for the last few months. According to internal business documents obtained by sources, the response to Musk’s recent restriction on how many tweets people may view per day was a catalyst for releasing the app this week. Additionally, within the first few months of Threads’ availability, Meta anticipates “tens of millions” of users giving it a try.

Key Differences Between Threads and Twitter

• Threads users will have a 500-character limit, according to Meta. Unverified Twitter users, meanwhile, are limited to 280 characters. Additionally, verified Instagram profiles may continue to display their blue badge on Threads. Twitter, on the other hand, charges $8 a month for such a feature. The purchase will also reportedly enable customers to raise their 25,000-character cap, although such a choice has not yet been offered by Meta.
• Users will need an Instagram account to utilise Threads. The app will provide the opportunity to import biodata and followers from an existing Instagram profile when creating a profile. Due to access to Instagram’s substantial existing user base, Threads stands to benefit.
• Users (including those who are not verified) will be able to publish five-minute-long movies on Threads. On Twitter, users who don’t have the coveted blue badge can submit films that are two minutes and 20 seconds long.
• Twitter’s homepage enables users to view trending topics and other subjects that may be of interest to them. The only method to browse Threads at the moment is to scroll through the home feed.
• As of Threads’ launch on Wednesday, there didn’t seem to be a way to store draught posts, unlike Twitter, which already has this capability.
• The experience of threading is also unique. A user must press enter three times to begin a thread, according to screenshots of the two apps that are being shared online. You may do it on Twitter by clicking the plus sign.
• According to the screenshots, the new product also does not offer the chance to check other profiles’ likes, unlike Twitter, which does so in a different tab.
• The same Instagram content guidelines will apply to Threads, along with the same options for barring and muting aggressive users.
• One of Threads’ selling advantages, according to Connor Hayes, vice president of product at Meta, is that it uses the same ActivityPub social-networking protocol as Mastodon and other decentralised social-media apps. This implies that users who grow their followings on Threads will soon be able to utilise the app to engage with a larger audience outside of Instagram.
• Finally, Threads has gone ad-free. Bloomberg claims that this was done to generate as much interest in the product as possible.

Some Interesting Facts

• YouTuber MrBeast creates history as the first user to reach 1M followers on Threads.
• Twitter’s bird logo is named “Larry” after the famous basketball player Larry Bird.
• Threads was developed as a response to Elon Musk’s restriction on the number of tweets people could view per day on Twitter. This restriction served as a catalyst for Meta to release the app.
• The most retweeted tweet of all time is currently a post by Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa, who offered to distribute 100 million yen to 100 random people who retweeted his tweet.
• Threads allows users to publish posts with a maximum of 500 characters, whereas unverified Twitter users are limited to 280 characters.

To Sum Up

Threads, Meta’s new Twitter competitor, leverages Instagram’s user base and aims to attract millions of users. With a 500-character limit, longer video options, and no ads, Threads offers a distinct alternative. Using the ActivityPub protocol, it allows users to engage with a broader audience, making it a compelling choice for public conversations in the competitive social media landscape. What remains to be seen is who will emerge the winner in this intense battle.

(This article is edited by Aditya Krishnan)