Twitter has already survived countless mass exodus, but Instagram’s new rival for the bird app, Threads, may be the final nail in the coffin. And this is especially true because it launched not long after Elon Musk announced a limit on how many users can scroll through tweets.
Meta’s new social media site has had a whopping 10 million signups in its first seven hours, including brands, celebrities, and industry people. If you want to get in on the action or are just curious about what the site is all about, we’ve got you covered.
FAQ
What is Thread?
Like Bluesky, Mastodon, and Hive, Threads is a direct competitor to Twitter. However, it leverages users from Instagram rather than starting from scratch.
Unlike Instagram, it’s primarily a text-based app with a scrolling feed of posts from accounts you follow, as well as suggested accounts based on your interests.
Messages can be up to 500 characters long and can contain images, GIFs, and videos up to five minutes long.
You can like, reshare, and comment on posts, as well as unfollow, mute, and report other users.
Like Twitter, there are buttons to search for accounts, create a thread, check your notifications, and go to your profile.
Is Threads a new app or part of Instagram?
Threads is owned by Instagram, which is owned by Meta, but it’s a separate app to Instagream. You can download it now on iOS and Android and you don’t need an invite code.
Please note that this app on the Google Play Store in the UK isn’t the first result – so hit our link (labeled ‘Android’) if you’re having trouble finding it. The photo for the product page is below.
Do you need an Instagram account to use Threads?
Yes, you need an Instagram account to use Threads. Accounts are free and you can sign up here.
Can I get Threads on desktop or web?
At the time of publishing this article, there is no web app for Threads, so you’ll need to install it on your phone or tablet.
Meta hasn’t made a statement on when it will be available, but we’d be surprised if it isn’t being worked on.
How is Threads different from Twitter?
There are a few key differences between Twitter and Threads, these are:
- There’s only one feed at the moment, so you can’t choose between “following” and “for you” like on Twitter. Both accounts you follow and suggested accounts appear in your feed
- You can’t DM users right now
- There are currently no ads and Meta has confirmed there won’t be any this year
- There is no option to get a different username – you have Instagram’s
- There is no scroll limit
How to sign up for Threads
It’s relatively easy to sign up for Threads (provided you already have an Instagram account). Here’s what you need to know:
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
You can download it now on iOS and Android – these links should work on your smartphone. The app may not be the first result in your app store, so search for “Threads, an Instagram app.”
- Select ‘Log in with Instagram’
![Sign up for Threads screenshot](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/sign-up-for-threads.png?w=1200)
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
If you have multiple Instagram accounts, you can switch between them with ‘Switch accounts’. You can’t sign up without an Instagram account, so create one first.
![Take your profile Threads screenshot](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/create-your-profile-threads.png?w=1200)
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
You can import the information directly from Instagram to save time
- Choose who you want to follow
![Choose your follower threads](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/follow-the-same-accounts-as-instagram.png?w=1200)
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
You can select “Track All” or skip this step altogether
- Choose whether your account is public or private
![Threads Privacy screenshot](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Threads-Privacy-screenshot.png?w=1200)
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
A public profile means anyone can see what you post and share your posts, while a private profile means only followers can see it
- Click “Join Threads”
![join threads screenshot](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/join-threads-screenshot.png?w=1200)
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
The onboarding information will give you more information about how to use the app
Once you’ve done this, you’ll be taken to the homepage feed where all the accounts you follow will post.
Will deleting my Threads account also delete my Instagram?
If you’re about to create a Threads account, here’s a warning: if you want to permanently delete your Threads account, you must also delete your Instagram account via the Meta control center.
We’ve created a dummy account for testing and can confirm that this is the case. See the screenshot below directly from the app:
![Wires Instagram removal](https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/threads-deletion.png?w=1200)
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
However, you can deactivate a profile at any time, although this is temporary – you can restore your profile by logging in again. This means that your messages will not be visible, but the app will keep your data. Here’s how to do it:
- Go to your profile in the Threads app
- Click on the two bars at the top right
- Click on ‘Account’
- Click on ‘Deactivate profile’
- Confirm your choice by selecting ‘Deactivate Threads Profile’
You can also read our guide on how to uninstall Twitter