Instagram’s highly anticipated rival to Twitter, Threads, has made its debut on the iOS App Store in the United States. The app is scheduled for release on July 6, as indicated by data from the App Store.
This timing couldn’t be better for Instagram, as Twitter recently faced setbacks with rate-limit errors, resulting in substantial growth for its competitors, such as Spill, Bluesky, and Post. However, Threads may have an advantage, given its seamless integration with Instagram. By leveraging existing Instagram followers and following lists, Threads enables users to bypass the daunting task of rebuilding their communities from scratch.
Described as a hub for diverse communities to engage in discussions, Threads aims to cover a wide range of topics—from current interests to upcoming trends. The App Store description emphasizes the ability to connect directly with favorite creators and like-minded individuals or establish a dedicated following to share ideas, opinions, and creativity with the world.
Although Threads is closely linked to Instagram, it will function as an independent application. Limited details are available from the App Store listing alone, but it appears that users will have the ability to like, comment on repost, and share posts. The accompanying App Store screenshots reveal a feature allowing users to customize the audience that can respond to their posts, including options such as everyone, people they follow, or specifically mentioned individuals.
The announcement of Threads doesn’t come as a surprise, as information has been gradually leaking over the past few months. According to an Instagram spokesperson cited by Money Control, Threads is described as “decentralized.” Furthermore, leaked slides from a briefing with top creators suggest compatibility between Threads and Mastodon, a decentralized network hosted on ActivityPub. However, it remains to be seen how this aligns with Threads being part of Instagram, a predominantly centralized platform. Nevertheless, most of the rumors surrounding Threads appear to be confirmed, as the details in the App Store listing align with the information from the leaked slides.
Meta, the parent company of Instagram, has had mixed success with its subsidiary apps in the past. Some offerings, such as the anonymous teen app tbh and the Cameo-like app Super, were discontinued. However, with Threads entering the scene amidst Twitter’s ongoing challenges, the timing seems opportune. Ultimately, the decision rests with consumers as to whether they are willing to embrace Meta’s influence in yet another aspect of their social media experience.