The new social media platform from Meta, entitled Threads (www.threads.net), has become the fastest growing app of all time, with over 100 million new sign-ups in the first week.
I have previously announced that I will be permanently moving to Threads once it has become more viable as a replacement for Twitter (http://scottishgenes.blogspot.com/2023/07/scottish-genes-is-now-on-threads.html), and have already deleted my longest running account there, @chrismpaton, which I had for 14 years. According to the Washington Post, Twitter is now paying right wing 'influencers' to post on its platform, degrading the brand even further (https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/07/13/twitter-creators-payments-right-wing/), whilst Reuters is reporting that Twitter's new seemingly toxic strategy seems to be putting off the advertisers, with a huge drop in revenue against what Musk was projecting (https://www.reuters.com/technology/elon-musk-says-twitters-cash-flow-still-negative-ad-revenue-drops-2023-07-15/). It's a far cry from the environment surrounding Twitter as a platform just a year ago - every day now I have to block right wing followers, bitcoin pushers, and a whole range of other folk clearly not in it for the genealogy! It's tiring, it's tedious, and it was never asked for.
Threads is shaping up to be a great replacement, but it is worth flagging up what Threads cannot do just yet, because it still has some way to go as a new-born. You can't use hashtags yet to focus on a topic, there's no chronological feed, and you can't view posts ('threads') from only those who are your followers. Accessibility features also need more priority. These are some of the more important projects that Meta says is on its to-do list, and the sooner they arrive, the better. What is great about the platform is that posts can be 500 characters in length, and video clips can be added up to 5 minutes in length, which I will exploit at some stage soon! The first update has just been announced for the app (https://www.imore.com/apps/meta-brings-out-the-first-of-many-updates-for-threads-on-your-iphone-whats-been-fixed), there will be plenty more along the way.
I am delighted to see 185 followers already on @scottishgenesblog, and hope you will switch from Twitter to join me there, or at least as well as there! And if Threads is not quite your cup of tea, you can also find me on Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.
Chris
Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.
TY for your honest review of Threads. As much as I dislike the current Twitter setup, I'm remaining there (and on Mastodon) while I wait for Threads to add much-needed functionality such as hashtags.
ReplyDeleteNo probs Marian. Threads has the potential to be absolutely brilliant - but it needs to get a move on before folk get tired waiting. I'll be continuing on Twitter also for a bit, but am now also cross posting content to both Mastodon and Threads.
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