Meta's Threads: Early Struggles and Future Prospects

Overview

• Meta’s new app, Threads, launched on July 5th.
• Initial engagement levels have drastically dropped.
  • Engagement drop: 60% decline in time spent on the app.
  • Active users: Daily active users fell from 49 million to 24 million within a week.

Initial Success vs. Current Reality

• Threads had the fastest growth of any social media app, reaching 100 million users in five days, exceeding ChatGPT's rise.
• However, initial interest seems misleading due to several factors:
  • Easy sign-up: Users can join using their Instagram accounts.
  • Follower transfer: Instagram followers can be transferred directly, creating a false sense of organic growth.

Account Management Issues

• Account deletion policy:
  • Users cannot delete their Threads account without deleting their Instagram account.
  • Can deactivate Threads but not permanently remove it.

Privacy Concerns

• Threads collects more sensitive data than Twitter, including:
  • Racial or ethnic data
  • Sexual orientation
  • Pregnancy and childbirth information
  • Religious beliefs and political opinions
  • Genetic and biometric data
• This extensive data collection is a barrier to launching in Europe due to strict privacy regulations.

Limited Features

• Feature limitations:
  • No dedicated home feed for followed accounts, which is currently in development.
  • Algorithm-driven content instead of chronological viewing, potentially reducing user engagement.

Comparison with Twitter

• Success of similar platforms often relies on improving user experience.
• Instagram improved upon Snapchat with new features, whereas Threads fails to enhance Twitter’s experience.
• Meta markets Threads as a “kinder” alternative to Twitter, but this may alienate users who enjoy political and trending discussions.

Competition and Future Outlook

• Twitter is responding to Threads by sharing ad revenue with content creators to retain engagement.
• Threads appears to be heading towards failure, joining the ranks of other Meta projects like Lasso and Hobbi.

Larger Vision

• Threads could be part of Zuckerberg’s broader strategy to develop the metaverse.
• Plans to decentralize Threads for compatibility with non-Meta networks could align with Meta’s vision of a cohesive online ecosystem.

Conclusion

• The rivalry between Zuckerberg and Elon Musk may extend beyond technology into personal challenges, potentially leading to public spectacles.
• Importance of skill development in technology emphasized, with a recommendation for learning platforms like Brilliant.

Personal Note

• Mention of a course on recommendation algorithms in Brilliant as beneficial for understanding technology better.