Threads

Who?

Threads is a text-based social media platform created and operated by Meta Platforms, built by the Instagram team for real-time public conversation and short-form textual updates. It’s essentially Instagram’s answer to Twitter (now X), leveraging Instagram’s infrastructure and user base .

Issue

Users today are craving more conversational, text-rich social networks—especially after shifts in platforms like Twitter under new ownership. Threads steps into this void, focusing on straightforward conversation, community engagement, and Instagram’s existing network without the noise of algorithm overload.

Need-to-know

• You log in with your Instagram account; your username, bio, profile picture, and follower connections can carry over (and can be customized separately).

• Posts (called “threads”) support up to 500 characters, and may include links, photos, carousels, or videos up to 5 minutes long .

• The app features Following (chronological) and For You (algorithmic) feeds, plus interactions like replies, likes, reposts, and quotes .

• The platform is expanding to support Fediverse interoperability (ActivityPub), allowing cross-platform sharing with apps like Mastodon .

Talk

Threads soared upon launch—amassing over 100 million users in just five days, breaking records for fastest-growing consumer app . By August 2025, it’s active in over 100 countries and continues evolving—especially on the web front .

Recent enhancements include:

• Migration from Threads.net to Threads.com, making the web address cleaner, more intuitive, and the primary access point .

• A richer web interface: users can now customize columns, view liked and saved posts via the menu, use a floating “+” composer, and copy posts as images for easy sharing .

• A tested feature lets you upload a follower list from X (Twitter) to help locate and connect with familiar creators on Threads .

Reveal

Through Instagram’s identity and community foundation, Threads delivers a seamless transition for users and creators looking for a fresher, conversation-driven social experience. It’s tailor-made for text-rich, thoughtful posting, enhanced by visual/media support and strong integration with Instagram and, soon, the broader Fediverse.