Meta, has officially confirmed the rumors circulating about their plans to launch a new social media platform named Threads to compete with Twitter, could be released as early as the end of June.
During a companywide meeting, Meta’s chief product officer, Chris Cox, showcased several screenshots of the upcoming app, revealing its close integration with Instagram. Threads will utilize Instagram’s account system to populate users’ information, allowing them to sign up and log in using their Instagram credentials.
Internal documents obtained by The Verge suggest that the project was internally referred to as “Project 92.” The chosen name, Threads, indicates a focus on Twitter-style, enabling users to provide additional context through a series of connected posts.
Notably, Threads will also feature compatibility with other social media platforms such as Mastodon and Bluesky, further expanding its reach and potential user base.
With Meta’s entry into the competitive social media landscape, alongside the rising popularity of alternative platforms like Bluesky and Mastodon, the launch of Threads is poised to introduce a new player in the realm of online social networking.
The Elon Musk factor
Ever since Musk took over Twitter and made it a private company, many celebrities and prominent figures have left the app. The reasons for their exodus have ranged from less oversight to an increase in hate speech. Elton John left Twitter in December, saying that Twitter is allowing “misinformation to flourish unchecked.” Jim Carrey, who had 19 million followers on the app, deactivated his profile as well. Others who followed were Whoopi Goldberg, Shonda Rhimes, Gigi Hadid, and Jameela Jamil.
In a direct jibe at Twitter CEO Elon Musk, Cox said, “We’ve been hearing from creators and public figures who are interested in having a platform that is sanely run, that they believe that they can trust and rely upon for distribution.” With a focus on “safety, ease of use, reliability,” Meta wants to make sure that users have a “stable place to build and grow their audiences,” he added.
Meta has been meeting with content creators and public figures ahead of launching the platform. Cox revealed that Meta is in talks with the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Dalai Lama, and DJ Slime to convince them to use the app.
