The social media platform dubbed the ‘Twitter killer’ witnessed an initial surge in sign-ups upon its July launch
Meta has introduced a web version of its microblogging platform, Threads, commonly referred to as the “Twitter killer.” This move aims to revitalize the platform’s usage, which experienced a recent decline. The parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp unveiled Threads in July, positioning it as an alternative for users disenchanted with Elon Musk’s Twitter, which has undergone a rebranding to X.
Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, announced the release of the desktop version on Tuesday. He shared a photo of his younger self in his dorm room posted on Threads, accompanied by the caption: “Actual footage of me building Threads for the web. Rolling out over the next few days.
The addition of web browser functionality brings Threads a step closer to matching the features offered by X.
Despite experiencing a surge in sign-ups initially, with 100 million new users registering within a week of its launch on July 5, Threads faced a significant drop in daily user engagement just three weeks later. While it peaked at 49 million users shortly after its launch, the number dwindled to 12 million active users by July 22, as reported by internet traffic analysts at Similarweb.
Threads was introduced during a tumultuous period on the then Twitter platform, marked by substantial staff cuts and alterations to moderation enforcement and functionality by Musk, triggering a backlash from users and advertisers.
Meta’s response to Twitter emerged shortly after one of Musk’s heavily criticized decisions as the owner, wherein he opted to limit the daily number of tweets users could access on the platform.
Zuckerberg introduced Threads as a fresh platform for real-time updates and public conversations, featuring an interface akin to X. This interface allows users to interact, repost, and like each other’s content.
In the ongoing competitive narrative between Meta and X this month, Zuckerberg declared his intention to cease discussing the potential cage fight with Musk. He accused the Tesla chief executive of not taking the idea seriously. The suggestion of a fight was initially proposed by Musk in response to Meta’s efforts to launch a Twitter competitor.
Zuckerberg stated, “If Elon ever gets serious about a real date and official event, he knows how to reach me. Otherwise, time to move on.