Zuckerberg Ignites Social Media Showdown: Instagram’s New “Threads” Takes on Musk’s Twitter

In a strategic move designed to challenge Elon Musk and Twitter, Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg has initiated the launch of ‘Threads’, Instagram’s new application for short-text posts. Initially indicating a Thursday launch with preorder links arranged exclusively for the iOS Threads app, Meta surprised everyone by releasing the application on Apple’s App Store and Google Play for Android users on Wednesday evening. Zuckerberg’s proclamation, “Let’s do this. Welcome to Threads,” signaled the start of a new chapter. Musk responded wryly, “It is infinitely preferable to be attacked by strangers on Twitter, than indulge in the false happiness of hide-the-pain Instagram.”

Taking on Twitter: Threads’ Unique Offerings and Timely Debut

Much like Twitter, Threads allows users to post succinct texts, links, images, and videos. Users can also repost others’ messages and respond to posts. In an added convenience, existing Instagram users can use their current usernames on Threads, transferring crucial data, including their follower lists. The timing of Threads’ introduction is opportune, coinciding with Twitter’s recent technical adjustments that have left some of its longtime users feeling disgruntled. A new rate-limit feature that curtails the number of posts viewable on Twitter has led to functionality issues. Further escalating frustrations, Musk decreed that users must be logged into the service to view tweets.

The Showdown Intensifies: Threads’ Rising Popularity and Future Projections

SA analyst Nathan Aisenstadt, in his recent report “What To Expect From Meta Platforms In 2023,” noted that Meta’s family of apps, including Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp, comprises some of the world’s largest social networks. Aisenstadt suggests that interest in Threads is rapidly gaining momentum, fueled by the verbal duel between Musk and Zuckerberg, which might potentially lead to a full-fledged rivalry. He predicts a continual growth in Meta’s user base, not only due to the launch of innovative services like Threads, but also due to global population growth.

The New Face of Competition: Tech Giants Encroach on Each Other’s Turf

Historically, tech behemoths expanded their own market share by focusing on their unique niches, such as internet search, operating systems, e-commerce, and consumer electronics. However, recent trends show these boundaries becoming increasingly blurry. For instance, Apple’s introduction of privacy features has resulted in a significant loss of revenue for Meta’s targeted advertising model, leading to a rivalry in the mixed reality headset market. Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google are locked in a battle over cloud services, while the latter two are also competing in the burgeoning AI space.