Threads vs. Twitter: Users’ perspectives

Meta launched the initial version of its new platform Threads on July 5 as a rival to Twitter, which has faced some criticism since Elon Musk acquired it. Although Threads is not the only attempt to challenge Twitter, as it was preceded by Mastodon, BlueSky, Truth Social and T2, it’s considered to be a real threat to Twitter. 

According to the TechCrunch website, Threads achieved 100 million sign-ups within its first five days, surpassing ChatGPT and reaching a significant milestone. Hossam ElRoubi, a real estate agent and user of Threads, shared his experience with Jusoor Post and explained his reason for joining the platform, stating, “I have trust in Meta and its products. While I may not be actively using it at the moment, I believe I may have a need for it in the future.”

ElRoubi thinks it is too early to predict the future of Threads, saying, “I believe the high number of sign-ups can be attributed to the ease of the registration process, which allows users to sign up through Instagram with just one click. However, it is important to note that this rapid growth in sign-ups may not necessarily indicate future success for the app.”

Threads, resembling Twitter, allows 500-character posts with support for links, photos, and 5-minute videos. However, it lacks direct messaging, a desktop version, hashtags, and keyword search, limiting its appeal to advertisers and real-time event tracking. “There is only one Twitter,” Akram Mustafa, a businessman who uses both Twitter and Threads, told Jusoor Post.

“Twitter has its unique identity, while in my opinion Threads can be seen as a more evolved version of Facebook, with a focus on photos, videos, and longer texts, while Twitter is an open forum that enables discussions on ideas and facilitates closer interactions with public figures and intellectuals,” he added.

According to analysts, the recent upheaval at Twitter, including controversies surrounding tweet visibility restrictions, could potentially benefit Threads by attracting users affected by these changes. Ola Othman, an HR director who uses both Twitter and Threads, told Jusoor Post, “If it weren't for the new rules introduced by Musk on Twitter, I wouldn't have signed up for Threads.”

On the other hand, Othman considers Threads to be a favorable alternative to Twitter, surpassing even Mastodon, while Mustafa believes that Threads has a promising future compared to other apps attempting to challenge Twitter.

“Any new app is a business, and for that business to thrive, it must develop innovative features that cater to user needs and capitalize on the recent limitations imposed by Twitter, and this is to be measured by time,” Mustafa explained.

Meanwhile, Othman thinks the space of freedom and privacy will be main factors for the success of Threads, noting that “if the personal data was really secured within Threads, as well as having the freedom of expression guaranteed, it would be the optimum alternative for Twitter, which experiences new restrictions every now and then. However, only time will tell, and we will have to wait and see how things unfold.”