Some influencers view the launch of Threads as a potential threat to Twitter
Meta Platforms, Inc (Meta), the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, recently unveiled its Threads app, a direct competitor to Twitter, on July 6, 2023. Following the launch, the Social Media Analytics Platform of GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, detected a surge in diverse perspectives among Twitter influencers regarding the Threads app during the first week of July.
Smitarani Tripathy, a Social Media Analyst at GlobalData, highlighted the differing opinions among Twitter influencers. Some influencers view the launch of Threads as a potential threat to Twitter, particularly given the recent technical glitches experienced by the platform. These influencers praised the user experience features offered by the Threads app.
On the other hand, another group of influencers does not see Threads as a direct competitor to Twitter, despite its vast Instagram user base. Concerns about data privacy have emerged, as Meta, the parent company, has faced significant criticism for censorship in the past. Some influencers believe that Threads could serve as a secondary platform alongside Twitter, rather than attempting to replicate or replace it entirely.
GlobalData’s Social Media Analytics Platform captured a range of influencer opinions, providing insight into the discussion surrounding Threads:
Brian Sullivan, Correspondent at CNBC, conducted a poll asking whether Threads would “kill” Twitter or exist as a second platform alongside it. The results showed that 45.8 per cent of respondents believed Threads would not replace Twitter, while 41.1 per cent considered it a potential second platform.
Michael A.Gayed, a Portfolio Manager, expressed his positive experience with Threads, particularly regarding the ability to post directly to Instagram, describing it as a better user experience compared to Twitter.
Jonno Simpson, Head of Content at Victoria Racing Club, mentioned initial technical issues with Threads but expressed being impressed with its uptake. He highlighted the simple sign-on process using Instagram and the busy feed, addressing a previous issue with Twitter.
Michael Arrington, Founder of TechCrunch, stated that Threads provided a good, clean user experience but found it challenging to grasp the fact that it is an Instagram app. He did not foresee Threads replacing Twitter but acknowledged its improvement for Instagram.
Colin Muhammad, Owner of Talking Crypto, expressed concerns about supporting Threads due to the history of censorship and collusion with governments by Meta’s platforms. He criticized Mark Zuckerberg and his association with the app.
Immad Akhund, CEO at Mercury, questioned the rationale behind using Threads, perceiving it as a subpar imitation of Twitter. He highlighted the cognitive dissonance of supporting Meta’s social monopoly while being against figures like Elon Musk.
The launch of Threads by Meta has sparked a range of opinions among Twitter influencers. While some see it as a potential threat to Twitter’s dominance, others have reservations about data privacy and view Threads as a complementary platform rather than a direct replacement. The ongoing discussions reflect the dynamic nature of social media platforms and the diverse perspectives surrounding their use and impact.
