Meta, the prominent player in the realm of social media, is on the cusp of introducing the web iteration of its app Threads, aimed at rivaling Twitter/X, according to a recent report by the Wall Street Journal. This strategic move by Meta underscores its commitment to expanding the reach of Threads and diversifying its platform offerings.
The report underlines that Meta is gearing up to unveil the web-based version of Threads in the early days of the coming week. However, it’s worth noting that the company’s plans remain subject to potential modifications. While users have had glimpses of Threads posts on the web, access has been intentionally limited, given that Threads was originally tailored with mobile users in mind, highlighting Meta’s focus on adaptability and user experience.
Adam Mosseri, CEO of both Threads and Instagram, confirmed the ongoing internal testing of the web version of Threads just last week. In response to a comment concerning Threads, Mosseri expressed, “We’re working on it! We’ve been using an early version internally for a week or two. Still needs some work before we can open it up to everyone though…”
The recent enhancements to Threads encompass the introduction of a following tab and the empowering capability for users to validate a link through their Mastodon profiles. To tackle the pervasive menace of fake news and propaganda, Threads has initiated the display of labels for state-controlled media outlets—a step toward ensuring the authenticity and reliability of the content circulating on the platform.
Despite the promising start Threads enjoyed since its launch on July 5, positioned as a direct response to the changes introduced by owner Elon Musk on social media platform X, the app’s traction appears to be waning. The platform was embraced with enthusiasm by users, amassing an impressive 100 million monthly active users within a mere week. However, recent data from SimilarWeb indicates a notable decrease in active users, hovering around the 10 million milestone as of August 7.
In a comparative context, Insider Intelligence estimated that X currently boasts approximately 363.7 million monthly active users, underscoring the competitive landscape and market dynamics. Notably, in its last quarterly earnings report issued in July of the preceding year, X disclosed that it enjoys a substantial base of 237.8 million daily active users.
Meta’s foray into expanding Threads onto the web, accompanied by a concerted effort to enhance its feature set, represents a strategic maneuver aimed at solidifying its standing in the evolving social media landscape. As the platform evolves and faces challenges, Meta’s response highlights its agility and dedication to providing users with innovative, accessible, and reliable social media experiences.
