Threads vs X, the battle of two billionaires is here. Meta launched its own social media platform called “Threads” on July 5, 2023, and officially declared a tech war on X (formerly known as Twitter before the rebrand). For those who didn’t know what Threads is, it is a conversation-based social media app that is insanely similar to X.
So, how is Threads going to outperform X, which has been going strong for over 16 years? What are the features and advantages Threads having that X doesn’t? To give you the answers about which is better, we have to first dive into the current stage of the two platforms.
The rise and fall of X are why Threads happened
The Beginning of X from Twitter
Twitter was (and still is) a very popular social media platform, with a ton of celebrities using it regularly to connect with their followers and a ton of news media using it to share information. However, when Elon Musk acquired Twitter in 2022, everything changed. He fired over 80% of the Twitter workforce, alienated advertisers who’re paying Twitter for 90% of revenues, introduced Twitter Blue and made verification badges buyable assets, and more.
What’s even more ridiculous is that Twitter is rebranded as “X”, which does completely remove everyone’s beloved blue bird from existence. And that’s not all, Elon has planned to limit viewing contents on X for free users as well as paid X Premium users. So, it’s pretty safe to say that X has a lot of unstable grounds.
The Rise of Threads by Meta
While that’s happening, a new social media platform just like Twitter emerges and takes head-on with Elon Musk’s X. Even though X is still going strong, the changes and restrictions that Elon has made for Twitter have made “Threads” more popular because users who hate these ridiculous changes are looking for an alternative to leave X. So, we can conclude that the timing of “Threads” is on point because it reached over 100 millions users days after launch.
Threads, the popular one but not going well
The Popular Kid with No Benefits
Even though “Threads” have gained enough popularity, it’s not going strong with daily active users like X because of the declining daily active users by 70%. There are so many reasons for why this happened.
The number one reason is that social media platforms’ success are based on years and years of the communities that have been created by users and not by popularity. It could only be achieved through time and user engagements on the platform. Threads somehow took the shortcut through X’s downfall and Instagram’s success but it still needs to grow.
The Not-So-Standalone Platform
Another thing to note is that Threads relies heavily on Instagram API and not an individual social media platform. While this could benefit existing Instagram users as they do not have to create another account to use Threads, it wouldn’t be beneficial for those who want to use only Threads and not Instagram.
Plus, it’s only for mobile platforms like iOS and Android. PC users cannot use Threads and will only be greeted with a QR code. This is where X shines as it’s available on any platform with no issues. And X is a standalone social media platform so you can just create an account and use it directly without associating with any other platforms.
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Meta, the copycat but better?
The “Buy Now” for The Blue Tick
Meta has been copying from X since Elon Musk took over and not just Twitter. Even on their own platforms like Facebook and Instagram, Meta has introduced “Meta Verified” which is exactly the same as “X Premium” and how it works. But the Meta Verified is better and the verification badge has more meaning than Twitter Blue.
Same Idea but Better
Aside from the benefits given by each platform, Meta Verified has to be verified by ID from each individual trying to apply for a verification badge. And you cannot use your account with a different name or fake name unlike Twitter where even parody accounts are getting a verification badge as long as you pay to Twitter.
So, Meta isn’t just in the game for playing with Twitter but they took precaution and made so much analysis to improve their platforms even when they are copying. Which is why it’s so interesting to see how Threads can perform better under Meta care which is the better copycat in the marathon race against Twitter.
Conclusion
In the competition between Threads and X, Mark Zuckerberg’s pursuit of a user-friendly social media app and X’s resilience despite controversies raise questions about who will emerge victorious. Threads, while popular, faces the challenge of overtaking X, which has dominated the space for over a decade. It’s a battle that’s still unfolding, with Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk making strategic moves. The ultimate winner remains uncertain, and only time will reveal the true victor in this dynamic social media landscape.
