Meta to launch Twitter rival Threads on July 6 but Internet more excited about rivals Musk vs Zuck fight

On what can be considered as the factor that gave birth to the Musk vs Zuck feud, Meta is expected to launch a new app called Threads on Thursday (July 6), which aims to rival Twitter.

What to expect

The app will offer features similar to Twitter, including:

• Allowing users to make text-based posts that can be liked, commented on, and shared.
• Enabling users to follow the same accounts they follow on Instagram and keep their existing usernames.

Reasons behind Threads launch

Ever since Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter, the company has faced numerous challenges, paving the way for Meta to capitalise on Twitter's recent issues. Users have expressed frustrations with Twitter due to:

• Lenient content moderation policies.
• The requirement of a monthly subscription fee for a verified account.
• Reliability problems.

In response to these concerns, Twitter temporarily limited the number of posts users can see, which garnered mixed responses from its user base.

Other Twitter rivals

While existing Twitter rivals like Mastodon and Bluesky are still in the early stages of development and haven't established themselves as viable alternatives, Instagram has been generating anticipation for its upcoming app by collaborating with celebrities and influencers for several months. The aim is to create excitement around the app's launch.

Availability and pre-order

Threads can be pre-ordered and is expected to be released on Thursday, as indicated on the App Store. The app is described as a platform where people can gather to discuss various topics that matter to them, encompassing both current and upcoming trends.

Privacy Concerns regarding Threads

According to the official listing on the Apple App Store, Meta's Threads app has the ability to collect information about users' health, fitness, finances, contacts, browsing history, app usage, location, search history, unique identifiers, and other personal details that may be considered sensitive.

Some users have expressed concern over the extensive data demands required for basic usage, and their grievances have flooded Twitter.

It is common for social media apps to gather personal information, and Twitter's data collection practices are similar to those of Threads, except for health and fitness-related data.

Threads and Musk vs Zuck

The announcement of Threads can be seen as the catalyst for one of the most trending topics of this year. Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg have been making headlines ever since their fiery tweet thread last month, and the launch of this app adds fuel to the already heated situation.

Recent speculations also suggest that the highly anticipated match between the two tech giants might take place at the Colosseum in Italy, the former gladiator arena.

In response to a tweet about Threads, Elon Musk expressed relief and seemingly took another jab at Mark Zuckerberg, commenting, "Thank goodness they're so sanely run."

Simultaneously, Twitter announced that TweetDeck, the popular user dashboard, will become a paid service in 30 days. Many experts speculate that this move is part of Musk's ongoing efforts to encourage users to subscribe to Twitter's premium service, Twitter Blue.

While the launch of the app can be seen as a significant business move, it is perceived by many as just another building block adding to the hype surrounding the Musk vs Zuck cage fight.