Meta's Threads app surpasses 10 million users in hours, poses strong challenge to Twitter
Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, playfully took a jab at Elon Musk with a Spiderman meme
Meta's new app, Threads, has made a remarkable entrance into the social media scene, attracting over 10 million users within just a few hours of its launch.
The app, designed as a direct rival to Twitter, became available on Apple and Android app stores in 100 countries.
Notably, the release in Europe has been postponed due to concerns surrounding data privacy.
Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, took to his official Threads account on Thursday, to express his excitement about the overwhelming response on the newly launched app.
He wrote, "10 million sign-ups in seven hours."
Threads is being considered as the most significant challenge yet to Elon Musk-owned Twitter, which has faced several potential competitors but has managed to maintain its position as one of the largest social media platforms.
In a playful dig at Elon Musk, Zuckerberg shared a Spiderman pointing at Spiderman meme on his Threads account, highlighting the similarities between the two platforms.
Meta hopes that Threads will emerge as the preferred platform for celebrities, companies, and politicians.
By leveraging its existing user base of over two billion from Instagram, Meta aims to establish Threads as a go-to platform for public conversations.
Analysts anticipate that Threads has the potential to attract a substantial user base, with even a fraction of Instagram's monthly users enough to rival Twitter.
Musk's Twitter has faced criticism due to reduced content moderation, glitches, and controversial decisions, leading many users to seek alternative platforms.
While Meta's Threads has received overwhelming support, concerns about privacy remain.
The delayed release in the European Union is attributed to the need for regulatory clarity, as Meta wants to avoid violating regulations like the Digital Markets Act, which restricts data sharing between platforms.
Celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, and Hugh Jackman are already active on the platform.