How could the latest social media platform work for businesses? Threads is a new social media channel created by Meta Platforms (formerly known as Facebook) which was launched in July this year. Threads went live on both the Apple and Android app stores in 100 countries and signed up more than 100 million users in its first week.
It is linked with Instagram (which is also owned by Meta Platforms) and was developed by the same team. Threads is generally seen as an alternative to Twitter (what has now rebranded as “X”).
The launch of Threads comes while Twitter is going through a rough patch due to various controversial changes being made since its new owner took it over. These changes have made it harder for businesses to have visibility without paying for membership or advertising.
To sign up for Threads, users must have an Instagram account. Once set up on Instagram, you can log into Threads and begin to make posts of up to 500 characters. The concept of Threads is similar to Twitter, although Twitter only allows free users to post up to 240 characters. Both platforms allow users to post videos, website links and images, as well as ‘like’ and follow other users’ pages.
Still missing features
As a new social media platform, Threads presents a potential opportunity for businesses that rely on social media to market their products and services. Thanks to all the hype since Threads launched, companies can position themselves as forward-thinking by having a presence on the latest social media platform.
The integration with Instagram means that businesses who are active on that platform can double up their efforts by using Threads as well. The platform has enjoyed significant success since it launched, however, it is still early days and businesses are only experimenting with it at this stage.
Many new features are promised to bring Threads up to the standards of other social media platforms. Currently, it is missing a few vital parts for businesses to use on a day-to-day basis such as a web-based interface, scheduling, sponsored posts or advertising.
August 16th, 2023
