Threads vs Twitter: Comparing the App Features

Instagram Threads has arrived at a time when Twitter users face controversial platform changes that may or may not cause an exodus from the 16-year-old micro-blogging site. 

Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk’s promised cage match may never happen, but the battle between the social media companies they run is already heating up. This week, Meta Platforms Inc.’s Instagram officially introduced Threads, an app designed as a direct rival to Twitter.

Threads, a text-based app tied to Instagram was launched by Meta on Wednesday. The app garnered over 30 million people less than 24 hours after its launch.

According to the head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, Twitter’s “volatility” and “unpredictability” under Elon Musk provided the opening for competition.

We reports that Twitter’s owner, Elon Musk, removed legacy verified check marks of many notable people which were free and made it available through Twitter Blue, a paid subscription service.

Other recent changes under Musk’s leadership included limiting how many tweets people can view, and how they can view them.

Meta founder, Mark Zuckerberg, who lost his legacy verified check mark took a jibe at Elon Musk as he posted his first tweet in 11 years after Threads was launched.

Threads is strikingly similar to Twitter in key ways but there are also some apparent differences.

Here are nine opposing areas:

1. There is no paid verification on Threads for now, as there is on Musk’s version of Twitter. But, those with blue ticks on Instagram have that verification carried over on to Threads.

2. You can’t set Threads to view only posts from accounts you follow. Threads shows you posts from not just the people you follow but a range of other accounts you don’t. Meanwhile, on Twitter’s timeline, there’s an option to view tweets from people you follow (following) or other Twitter users (for you).

3. You can’t delete your Threads profile without deleting your Instagram account unlike Twitter which isn’t linked to any other app.

4. No ability to search posts in Threads. Right now, the search function in Threads only lets you find user accounts. Instagram said that “we’ll be adding a number of new features to help you continue to discover threads and creators you’re interested in, including improved recommendations in feed and a more robust search function that makes it easier to follow topics and trends in real time.”

5. Threads isn’t globally available yet. Threads is unavailable in European Union countries right now as the app has not been released in the region because of “complexities with complying with some of the laws coming into effect next year,” apparently a reference to the EU’s Digital Markets Act.

6. Mobile-only experience.

Threads is currently only available as a mobile app, while Twitter can be accessed on both mobile and desktop devices.

7. No direct messaging as Threads does not include any direct messaging capabilities, while Twitter has a direct messaging feature.

8. No Hashtags or Trending Topics. While Threads claims to be a “conversational app”, it does not highlight relevant topics or include the use of hashtags. Twitter is known for its trending topics and use of hashtags.

9. No Photo Filters. Thread users are already complaining about the absence of photo filters on the app. Twitter offers users nine photo filters to choose from.

July 07, 2023