Meta’s Latest Twitter Alternative App ‘Threads’ Has Appeared in Some App Stores

That is interesting timing, considering the present restrictions on viewing tweets.

Yesterday, with no warning, Meta’s latest Twitter-esque message board app – which is seemingly going to be called ‘Threads’ – appeared within the Google Play Store in some regions.

I personally don’t understand how ‘Threads’ is the name that it’s going with, on condition that Meta already launched and shuttered a separate messaging app called Threads back in 2021. Seems potentially cursed – but Meta looks to be going with it anyway.

As you’ll be able to see in these promo shots, shared by app researcher Alessandro Paluzzi, Meta’s latest ‘Threads’ app will enable users to port their IG username over to the brand new, conversation-based platform, which essentially opens up DM chats on a more public basis.

So like Twitter, but with an IG Direct tilt.

As per the Play Store description of the app:

“Threads is where communities come together to debate all the things from the topics you care about today to what’ll be trending tomorrow. Whatever it’s you’re enthusiastic about, you’ll be able to follow and connect directly along with your favorite creators and others who love the identical things – or construct a loyal following of your personal to share your ideas, opinions and creativity with the world.”

So, yeah, that’s a reasonably concise description of Twitter, which is how Meta’s pitching its latest app.

Meta’s been working on its text-based platform for a while, with first reports emerging back in April that it was exploring a ‘decentralized social network for sharing text updates’.

The decentralization element now appears to be a lesser consideration, with Meta as an alternative focused on using the size of Instagram as a springboard to construct a viable Twitter alternative, and a house for the various cast-offs who’re unhappy with Elon Musk’s changes on the app.

Which, as noted, might be about to achieve a brand new peak, with Twitter implementing latest limits on what number of tweets people can view, in an effort to combat data scrapers.

If Twitter users following a trending topic – like, say, the war in Ukraine, or NBA free agency – at the moment are being impacted by these latest limits, they might indeed be increasingly keen for a brand new conversational home – though the brand new app is seemingly not actually available, with the Play Store listing only showing up in only a few regions at this stage (you’ll be able to try for yourself it’s energetic in your region at this link).

So why has it suddenly appeared, with little fanfare, and on an extended weekend of all times?

It might be a glitch, a mistake on the Play Store end in making it viewable too early, or it might be a limited test by Meta, because it moves to the following stage.

Either way, it does now look like a brand new tweet alternative could be very close.

Which might be a brand new battleground for Twitter and Meta, each literally and figuratively, with Twitter owner Elon Musk and Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg reportedly set to interact in a cage match, which was sparked by early discussion of Meta’s rival app.

That fight could reportedly be hosted on the Colosseum in Rome, with reports suggesting that the Italian Government has inquired about hosting the bout. Italy’s Ministry of Culture has denied this – however the fight itself could actually be going ahead, with the 2 mega billionaires set to interact in a physical fight to prove… something.

Which could also be just window dressing, a publicity stunt, as Meta seeks to drink Twitter’s milkshake.

And with the broader shift towards DM chats, versus feed posting, perhaps now could be the proper time for the brand new iteration of Threads – though again, I remain concerned that launching a brand new app of the identical name is a doomed strategic blunder from the start.