Instagram Threads app release date – what is Meta Threads?

In another blow to Twitter, Instagram Threads app has arrived. But what exactly is Threads, and what does it mean for Twitter and Instagram?

There’s been a lot of discussion about the best alternative sites for Twitter, and Meta’s Threads App looks like it could be the next thing. Listed on the App Store as “Threads, an Instagram App”, the blurb describes it as a place “where communities come together to discuss everything from the topics you care about today to what’ll be trending tomorrow.” So, what exactly is Threads, and when was it released?

What is Meta Threads?

Threads, an Instagram is a new standalone app from Meta, described by Chris Cox, Meta’s chief product officer as “our response to Twitter”. The App blurb for Threads explains that “Whatever it is you’re interested in, you can follow and connect directly with your favorite creators and others who love the same things – or build a loyal following of your own to share your ideas, opinions and creativity with the world.” In other words, it sounds like a mash-up of Instagram and Twitter.

Instagram Threads users can use their existing screen name in the app since Threads is a decentralized app. Unlike another Twitter alternative Bluesky, Threads was available in over 100 countries at launch. While Meta’s standalone apps like IGTV have never done particularly well, the timing of Twitter’s turbulence might just be what Meta needs for their Threads app to take off.

Potential downsides of Threads include not being able to delete your Threads account without deleting your Instagram account tool. Those who change their mind can only deactivate their Threads account, which is definitely worth knowing before joining the platform.

When was Threads launched?

Threads launched at 7:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday, July 6th after its formal announcement just days before. Mark Zuckerberg had access to Threads earlier, posting his first ever post on July 4th.

Instagram Threads app release date

Threads was released on Thursday 6 July and in the first four hours, over five million users had signed up. The App had apparently been forecast for a mid-July release date, according to The Verge, though its July 6th release could be to take advantage of Twitter’s catastrophic weekend where Musk announced users would be limited to reading just 600 tweets in a single day.

Threads’ advantage of being a familiar and decentralized platform might just be the special formula for a serious Twitter competitor to take off. While users are still waiting for GIF support on the Threads app, things certainly look promising for the new Twitter alternative from Meta. In the meantime, you might be interested in the potential fight happening between the Zucc and Elon Musk.