Instagram launch of Twitter rival ‘Threads’ expected on Thursday

  • The app, called Threads, will function similarly to Twitter, with text-based posts that can be liked, commented on and shared, according to screenshots on the App Store
  • Twitter’s existing rivals, such as Mastodon and Bluesky, are more nascent and have not yet built their networks to be viable alternatives

Silhouettes of smartphone users are seen next to a screen projection of the Instagram logo in this picture illustration. Photo: Reuters

Instagram’s highly anticipated Twitter rival is expected to launch on Thursday, according to a listing on Apple’s App Store.

The new app, called Threads, will function similarly to Twitter, with text-based posts that can be liked, commented on and shared, according to examples of screenshots on the App Store listing. People will be able to follow the accounts they follow on Instagram and keep their same user name. Instagram, owned by Meta Platforms, declined to comment.

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