Threads has a chance to work because users want it to work, mostly because they are tired of all the drama that comes with Elon Musk and Twitter.
Let the battle commence. Threads, the new social media app that could potentially challenge Elon Musk's Twitter empire, is now live, giving Twitter a run for its money. Owned by Meta and serving as an Instagram companion, Threads has made a strong start, attracting over 30 million users within the first 16 hours of its launch. Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, expressed his satisfaction with Threads' early performance in a post on the platform, stating, "This is as good of a start as we could have hoped for!" He later added, "Feels like the beginning of something special." CNN's Clare Duffy compared the atmosphere on Threads to the first day of school, with early adopters eagerly trying out the app and sharing their initial posts. Some even questioned whether Threads could become the "Twitter killer." Within a short period, Threads climbed to the top spot among free apps on Apple's App Store and became a trending topic on Twitter itself. Threads leverages Instagram's popularity to gain traction. NPR TV critic Eric Deggans noted the app's clever move of allowing users to transfer their connections from Instagram, as it helps in establishing a large and engaged community. Deggans emphasized the importance of building a substantial user base for new social media platforms, where people feel motivated to participate and believe their involvement has a meaningful impact. Regarding the competition between Threads and Twitter, it is still uncertain whether Threads can truly rival the established platform. The New York Times' Mike Isaac highlighted that many tech companies have attempted to capitalize on Twitter's recent turmoil, but Threads has an advantage due to Meta's deep pockets and the vast user base of Instagram, which exceeds two billion active monthly users worldwide. However, The Washington Post's Geoffrey A. Fowler and Naomi Nix pointed out that Threads also carries the baggage associated with Meta, including concerns about privacy, moderation, and algorithmic feed practices. The app presents recommended posts from accounts and brands that users may not follow or have an interest in from the moment they log in. Both The New York Times and The Washington Post offer comprehensive comparisons between Twitter and Threads, providing insights into the strengths and weaknesses of each platform. The burning question remains: Can Threads pose a serious challenge to Twitter? Is it the long-awaited "Twitter killer" that some anticipate? When asked about the threat posed by Threads, Axios media reporter Sara Fischer expressed her belief that while the shift in advertising dollars might not be immediate, Threads could gradually impact Twitter's engagement. Once influential voices start breaking news on Threads, it will become harder for Twitter to keep up with that momentum. However, Threads will only introduce ads once it gains a significantly larger user base. It is worth reading Sara Fischer's article, "Meta's copycat machine," which explores the history of apps that have mostly failed due to low user adoption. Fischer noted that while most of these apps reached hundreds of thousands of users, Threads already boasts tens of millions. Threads has a genuine opportunity for success because users want it to succeed, primarily due to growing frustration with the drama surrounding Elon Musk and Twitter. This includes recent temporary measures by Twitter, such as limiting the number of daily tweets one can read and putting its popular TweetDeck behind a paywall starting next month. The Wall Street Journal's Joanna Stern and Ann-Marie Alcántara aptly described Threads as Twitter with fewer Elon Musk-related controversies, which is precisely what many users desire. Inevitably, Twitter has responded to the rise of Threads with legal threats. Semafor's Max Tani reported that Twitter sent a letter to Mark Zuckerberg, alleging "systematic, willful, and unlawful misappropriation of Twitter's trade secrets and other intellectual property." Meanwhile, Mark Zuckerberg broke his long social media silence, tweeting for the first time since 2012 and only the second time since 2009. His tweet received a positive response.
In other media news:
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch music critic Kevin C. Johnson penned a powerful piece explaining why he doesn't feel comfortable reviewing Morgan Wallen's concerts, citing Wallen's past use of racial slurs and his subsequent apologies. A Black LAPD officer shared his experience of racial profiling within his own department, as reported by the Los Angeles Times' Libor Jany and Richard Winton.
- The New York Times' Emma G. Fitzsimmons delves into the veracity of New York City Mayor Eric Adams' story about a fallen officer, questioning whether his narrative holds up.
- Wesley Lowery discusses journalism education, objectivity, and learning by doing in an interview with Nieman Lab's Sophie Culpepper.
- Drew Magary's scathing article for SFGate criticizes GQ for removing a critical story about Warner Bros. Discovery boss David Zaslav after pressure from Zaslav's team, highlighting the negative consequences of such actions.
- Victoria Amelina, a novelist killed by a Russian missile strike on a Ukrainian pizzeria, had her final piece published in The Guardian, highlighting the importance of telling her story.
- Olesya Khromeychuk's piece for CNN emphasizes the need to tell Victoria Amelina's story, reflecting on her life and tragic death.
- Meteorologist Bob Van Dillen has joined Fox Weather as an on-air host, bringing his expertise to the network.
- Fox Sports 1's sports debate show "Undisputed," hosted by Skip Bayless, will return on August 28 after a hiatus since co-host Shannon Sharpe's departure. The replacement for Sharpe has yet to be announced.
- The ongoing legal battle between Twitter and Meta continues, as Twitter accuses Meta of misappropriating its trade secrets and other intellectual property.
- Finally, Mark Zuckerberg made a rare return to Twitter, marking his first tweet in over a decade.