Meta Launches Web Version of Flagging Threads App – Meta has introduced a web-based version of its social media platform Threads, often referred to as a rival to Twitter, allowing users to access it without needing to install an app. This move comes as Meta aims to regain momentum following a decline in usage.
The parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp had unveiled Threads in July as a response to users seeking an alternative to Elon Musk’s Twitter, which has subsequently rebranded as X. Meta’s chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, announced the release of the desktop version on Tuesday, with a photo of his younger self in his dorm room posted on Threads, captioned: “Actual footage of me building Threads for web. Rolling out over the next few days.”
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It’s a step closer to matching X with the added web browser functionality. When Threads was introduced on July 5, there was a surge in sign-ups, attracting 100 million new users within a week. However, just three weeks later, the daily user engagement dropped significantly. Initially peaking at 49 million users shortly after its launch, by July 22, the active user count had fallen to 12 million according to Similarweb, internet traffic analysts.
Threads was launched amid turbulence on the Twitter platform, marked by Musk’s significant staff cuts and changes to moderation enforcement and functionality, which sparked backlash from users and advertisers. Meta’s response to Twitter came shortly after Musk’s widely criticized decision to limit the daily number of tweets users could view on the platform he owned.
Zuckerberg introduced Threads as a new space for real-time updates and public conversations, featuring an interface similar to X, where users can 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 criticized the Tesla CEO for not taking the concept seriously. This fight concept was originally proposed by Musk as a response to Meta’s endeavors to introduce a rival platform to Twitter.
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