Mark Zuckerberg has kicked off his campaign to usurp Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR) with the first post on the Facebook (NASDAQ:META) founder’s brand-spanking new social media platform Threads.
Although there is still a day to go before the app is officially launched, Zuckerberg gave a taste of what’s to come with a pre-launch message.
More of a statement than a manifesto, “let’s do this”, typed Zuck. Allegedly anyway; only a select few insiders are allowed onto Threads at the moment, so we’ll have to take their word for it.
For us peasants, threads.net is just a countdown timer, some Windows Media Player-era graphic designs, and a QR code taking us to the App Store.
Let’s do this – Credit: threads.net
When it does launch, we should expect a remarkably similar experience to the incumbent text-based social media platform Twitter.
Zuck has no qualms in admitting to this.
Speaking with popular podcaster Lex Fridman earlier this year, Zuck said: “I always thought that Twitter should have a billion people using it… That idea, coupled with good execution, should get there."
This is the savvy business model behind Threads- take an existing idea, Twitter, but made it better.
Jury’s out on that one, but Threads definitely has some things going for it.
Firstly, Threads will provide a seamless experience for Instagram's two billion users by allowing them to retain their username and follow the same accounts.
Even if a fifth of Instagram users take him up on the offer, Threads will have a greater user count than Twitter from the get go.
Secondly, Threads is not run by Elon Musk. Who knows, perhaps Zuck’s name has more drawing power than Musk’s these days.
One bonus point is that Zuck has yet to openly mock his customers, unlike Musk, who recently joked about Twitter users needing to get a life after imposing view limits.
The reason I set a “View Limit” is because we are all Twitter addicts and need to go outside.I’m doing a good deed for the world here.
Also, that’s another view you just used.
— Elon Musk (Parody) (@ElonMuskAOC) July 1, 2023
One sticking point is likely to be moderation. Musk has welcomed previously banned accounts, including controversial figures such as Andrew Tate, back into Twitters loving embrace.
Threads is highly unlikely to do similar.
One thing is for sure: The Battle of the Tech Bros is only getting more heated.