Meta Platforms Set to Launch "Threads" App as a Twitter Competitor

Meta To Launch Twitter Challenger App Threads

Musk recently imposed new limitations on Twitter, restricting the number of tweets users can view per day, which drew significant backlash from the platform's users. While alternative microblogging platforms like Mastodon and Blue Sky have seen increased user numbers since Musk's acquisition, they have failed to pose a serious threat to Twitter.

However, Instagram boasts hundreds of millions of registered users and has a track record of adopting successful features from other social media platforms. For instance, Instagram introduced the "stories" feature in response to Snapchat's popularity and launched "Reels" to compete with TikTok's rising influence.

The launch of Threads signifies a credible challenge to Twitter, particularly under Musk's leadership, which has been heavily criticized for his attempts to monetize the platform and reshape it according to his own image. Following the acquisition, Musk initiated significant staff layoffs and reinstated banned accounts, including those of former U.S. President Donald Trump and the conservative satirical news site Babylon Bee. As a result, numerous advertisers paused their spending on Twitter due to concerns over harmful content, and internal documents obtained by Reuters revealed a decline in engagement among the platform's most active users.

At the time of reporting, Meta had not responded to Reuters' request for comment regarding a potential launch on the Google Play Store, while Twitter was also approached for comment.