Ten Million Threads Users Sought Answers to Interesting Questions

(Patria) - In the first seven hours of launching the new Threads app, Meta's answer to Twitter, about ten million people signed up, and now there are over 80 million users.

Threads allows you to sign up using your Instagram account and you will be able to follow all the accounts you already follow on Instagram, automatically as they join.

You can send posts up to 500 characters, including images, GIFs, and videos up to five minutes long.

It's a lot like Twitter – short text-based content, likes, and reposts.

Why are people I don't follow appearing in my feed?

One of the main criticisms of Threads in the hours since its launch is that people are seeing a mix of posts from accounts they follow, and then a bunch of random accounts. Meta has indicated that it is a mix of followed accounts and algorithmic recommendations. Currently, there is no way to see only posts from people you follow, and the company has not indicated whether it will provide this option in the future.

Can I send a DM?

Currently, there is no way to message other users.

Can I keep my Instagram private and my Threads account public?

Yes, if you want your Instagram to be more personal, you can keep it locked and have public threads. And if you are under 16, your Threads account, like Instagram, is private by default.

You can make your threads private at any time, and also choose who can reply to your posts in threads.

How can I access it?

Currently, you can only access the network via the iOS or Android apps. There is no desktop version at this stage, and Meta could not say when it might make it available.

Will it have ads?

Meta has hinted that it will not monetize Threads this year, but has left the door open for ads in the future.

Can I get a different username?

For now, Meta only allows people to sign up using their Instagram login, and you will keep the username you have on that account for Threads. This is good news for accounts that might be worried that someone could take over their username.

Can I find followers from other platforms?

Not at this stage, but Meta wants the app to be similar to rivals like Mastodon, and to be decentralized and allow users to transfer accounts to other platforms.

The company is working to make Threads compatible with ActivitiPub, which allows social networks to be interoperable and allows Threads users to take their accounts and followers to other apps that support ActivitiPub.

What is the moderation like?

It's basically what you'll find on Instagram. This means it will be stricter than Twitter on things like nudity, and will enforce content rules regarding hate speech that Twitter has lacked since Elon Musk took over.

Why wasn't it launched in the EU?

Meta sources have stated that regulation is the reason for delaying the app's launch in European Union countries, with concerns about whether the app will comply with the EU's strict data privacy rules.

Privacy advocates have pointed to the amount of personal information Trads can collect, including health, financial, contacts, browsing and search history, location data, purchases, and “sensitive information,” reports The Guardian.