PARIS: Instagram’s Threads app, designed to rival Twitter, has achieved a milestone by attracting over 100 million users in less than five days. This record-breaking growth surpassed the pace set by AI tool ChatGPT, which took two months to reach the same user count. In comparison, popular video-sharing platform TikTok took nine months, while Instagram itself took two and a half years to achieve this milestone after its launch in 2010.
The Threads app was launched on Apple and Android app stores in 100 countries last week, gaining rapid popularity. However, it is currently unavailable in Europe due to concerns by parent company Meta regarding compliance with the European Union’s data privacy legislation.
Despite Twitter having an estimated 200 million regular users, it has faced challenges since being acquired by Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Under his leadership, Twitter has experienced frequent technical glitches and controversial decisions, such as introducing charges for previously free services and reinstating banned right-wing accounts. While several rivals have emerged, most are niche platforms without the capacity to compete with Twitter on a large scale.
Threads, on the other hand, benefits from its association with Instagram, which boasts over one billion regular users. This connection allows Threads to attract users more easily as it taps into the existing user base of Instagram.
A data tracking website, Quiver Quantitative, reported that Threads reached 100 million users by 7:00 GMT on Monday. Other websites, based on the count of “badges” received by users who downloaded Threads, indicated that the app reached this milestone even earlier.
However, Meta is facing challenges regarding data privacy regulations in Europe. As an owner of multiple platforms, including Facebook and WhatsApp, Meta is prohibited by the forthcoming Digital Markets Act from combining data across its platforms. This hampers Meta’s business model, which relies on collecting personal data for targeted advertising. Since Threads accounts are linked to Instagram accounts, it raises concerns about compliance with data privacy laws such as the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Regarding Meta’s efforts to comply with the law, the EU’s industry commissioner, Thierry Breton, commended the company, stating, “Taking a little time to do so seems to me to be probably good policy.” He added that there are viable solutions to ensure compliance.
Meanwhile, Elon Musk has leveled accusations at Meta, threatening to sue the company for stealing trade secrets and intellectual property. However, Meta denies these claims. Musk and Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg have been engaged in a longstanding rivalry, which escalated when it became apparent that Meta intended to compete with Twitter. The feud escalated to the point of Musk challenging Zuckerberg to a “literal” p****-measuring contest. The tension between the two has heightened since Zuckerberg’s ironic tweet, featuring a popular meme depicting two Spider-Men, implying the similarity between Threads and Twitter.
In summary, Instagram’s Threads app has experienced unprecedented growth, surpassing 100 million users in record time. While its association with Instagram has facilitated this success, Meta faces challenges in navigating data privacy regulations, notably in Europe. Furthermore, tensions between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg continue to escalate, with legal threats and public spats adding fuel to their rivalry.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
