Mastering Instagram Threads: Your Complete 2024 Guide to the Ultimate Text-Based App!
In the ever-evolving social media landscape, a new contender emerged in 2023: Threads. Launched by Meta (formerly Facebook), Threads quickly garnered attention for its unique focus on text-based conversations and its close integration with Instagram. But with so many social media platforms vying for our attention, is Threads worth a download in 2024? Let’s unravel the app and see if it weaves into your digital tapestry.
So What’s Threads?
Threads, nicknamed “Instagram’s Twitter” is a Text-based Clone App launched by Meta on 6th July, 2023 at 7:30 PM. The App first launched on iOS Devices, then on Android. Functionality-wise, Threads remains equivalent to X (formerly Twitter); where you can post text, images, and videos, as well as interact with other users’ posts through replies, reposts, and likes.
According to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Threads just took a few hours of its release to achieve 5 Million Sign Ups Worldwide, and just 5 Days to achieve 100 Million Users breaking the record previously set by OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Threads has an active user base of 200 million worldwide, with India ranking as one of the most active countries globally, accounting for 20% of all Threads downloads.
Threads Logo and Indian Connection
So I won’t be delving into the design theory of the Threads logo, its history, meaning, and so on. In a nutshell, I’m including Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri’s Threads here.
Here the Focus will be on whether the Threads logo truly has an Indian connection or if it’s just a rumor. Some Indians humorously poked fun at the Threads App by sharing lyrics from the song “Yeh Moh Moh ke Dhaage” on Social Media. The word “Dhaage” translates to “Threads of Cloth” in Hindi. Our fascination with the Threads logo led to a trend where we created memes comparing it to the Indian sweet, Jalebi.
The Discussion about Threads Logo and its possible Indian inspiration started with Canadian rapper Tesher posting a Thread jokingly claiming to call his lawyer posting both logos together that the Logo was similar to his famous song Jalebi Baby’s symbol. And that sparked an international discussion online about the possibilities of a platform’s logo inspired by Indian cultural elements with Indians worldwide posting memes comparing Logo Design with Jalebi Design.
Following, there were widespread speculations online that Indian users from the southern region resembled the logo with the Tamil letter “Ku” and others with the Malayalam letters “Thra” and “Kra”. Many users presented their logical theories from their perspectives. One “conspiracy” tweet about the Threads logo claimed that the logo resembles the Tamil letter “ku,” as the Twitter logo represents a kuruvi (sparrow in both Malayalam and Tamil). Meanwhile, some individuals have claimed that the logo resembles the Om symbol. It appeared like a jalebi for some users, which was interesting.
Judge Yourself Below 👇
So does that mean Threads logo has Indian Connection? Remember, these are all Speculations. The Answer to this Question is Tricky. It’s Yes and No Both. Any Person with Sharp Eye and Strong Visual Understanding can judge that Threads logo is the Inspiration of Tamil Alphabet “ம”. Question arises what does Meta officially says about this? According to the Internet, the News Sources claimed that “Meta has officially confirmed that the Threads logo is indeed inspired by the Tamil letter “ம”, which gives it a clean and modern look.”
However, the News Outlets failed to mention when and where the statement was sourced. For example, Instagram Head Adam Mosseiri posted the Thread explaining the Thread logo’s meaning and inspiration. Then, where is Meta Representative’s Thread or Post anywhere where they accepted that Inspiration is a Tamil Letter? Where’s the YouTube video or Interview where they accepted this fact?
There are almost no official claims regarding the Threads Logo’s Indian connection. Therefore, any unfounded claims and speculations should not be taken at face value unless Meta itself makes an official statement. In conclusion, the assertion that the Threads Logo has an Indian connection is untrue as Meta has not made any such claim. However, these speculations and users’ curiosity sparked interesting discussions about the Threads Logo and its cultural inspiration on the internet. This led to the creation of thousands of memes that became popular in no time.
And that’s something Meta wanted. Meta wanted people to enjoy creating and posting content, as well as engaging in interesting speculations about topics that would increase traffic on their platform, build community engagement, and generate profits. Interestingly, we should take these logical but unverified theories and speculations at face value in a lighthearted manner, rather than being too serious about it. Therefore, I agree that the Threads Logo has an Indian connection, but it should not be taken too seriously.
There is a discussion on Reddit claiming that the logo for ‘Threads’ seems to be a copy of the logo for the German brand apotheken.de. In German, “Apotheke” means pharmacy. The Apotheken’s logo is similar to Meta’s Threads logo, with differences in colour, size, and boldness. The Threads logo is bold, white, and nearly aligned. This doesn’t prove anything, but it’s interesting to see people speculating online and sparking discussions.
What’s Different from X then?
I know what you’re thinking. If you believe that both Threads and X are similar functionality-wise, then why should I sign up for Threads? But here’s the catch. With X, you don’t need to rely on another app to create your Account. However, that’s something different case with Threads though. Without Instagram, you can’t explore Threads. The Language used in Threads is different from X. In X, they say “Tweet and Retweet if you like”, but in Threads, it’s swapped with “Post Thread and Share if you like”.
Hence, Multiple Differences make your Threads Experience Unique compared to X. However, I will release another comprehensive blog for the Threads Series to let you know what’s difference and why better plus the reasons to opt for Threads over X and Vice Versa or both.
How to get started now?
Firstly, Download the App searching on Google Play Store or Apple App Store with keyword “Threads, an Instagram app”. As of today, there are other ways Meta introduced to make downloading the app easy for you. Alternative way to download Threads is to Tap on Hamburger Icon located on Top Right of your Instagram Page, Scroll down to the Bottom, and you are good to go tapping on Threads from “Also from Meta” Section.
Threads is by-default linked with your Existing Instagram Account; you’ll be prompted to log in with your Instagram credentials. If you manage multiple Instagram Accounts, you can link each one to a separate Threads account. Once logged in, Customize Threads Profile by adding DP, writing bio, and add link to profile or external website. Unlike Instagram which allows Users to add 5 Links, Threads allows only 1 for now. To Add Multiple, use Link-in-Bio. You also have option to Import Bio from Instagram and Public/Private Account.
Interface Navigation
The Interface of Threads is Super-Easy for Beginners to Navigate. It consists of 5 Tabs: Home Feed, Search, Compose Thread, Notifications, and Profile. Let’s Break Down Each:
Home Feed: Here will be all the posts from the accounts you follow. You can switch between the algorithmic and chronological feeds to tailor your experience. Also helps you discover new content and accounts. Based on your interests and interactions, Threads suggests posts and profiles that you might find interesting.
Search: Suggests you Profile based on your Interests and Recommended by the Algorithm. Also, allows you to search the ones you want.
Compose Thread: Tap on the Plus Icon and you get all the options of the Format you want to post the content. Besides posting text, you can add Images and Videos, can click and directly post pics, add GIFs, Post Audio Message, Add Hastag (1), and Add Polls. To “Add AI Label” to Content, tap on 3 dots on Top Right Corner. For Public Profiles, there’s a option for marking content as “paid patnership”.
Moreover, to post long Threads, you can Add Threads below. Plus, you can decide who can reply, quote, and vote your Threads. Whether it’s Everyone, Only Followed Profiles, or the only ones you mention. You can Discard Thread and Save Draft to post Later as well.
Notifications: Here you stay updated with your Posts, New Followers, New Threads, Suggested Profiles, and other relevant activities. You can filter notifications according to your needs.
Profile: Displays all your Posts, Followers, and Following Lists. When you tap on Followers, you find a Section called “Pending”; where you see Instagram Pages who are not on Threads, but once they join, you will be able to follow them automatically. Also, you can selectively cancel the particular profiles who don’t want to automatically follow or you can tap on “Cancel All” too. Also can access your settings from here to adjust privacy controls and other preferences.
Content Engagement
Here’s how you can do it:
Liking and Commenting: Engage with other users’ posts by liking and commenting. This fosters interaction and helps build a community around shared interests.
Reposting and Quoting: Similar to retweeting on X, Threads allows you to repost content from other users. This is a great way to share interesting posts with your followers. Have some Opinions to share with your followers? Repost with a Quote adding to what you think about the post you’re sharing to your profile.
Direct Messaging: To DM someone on Threads, view their profile by tapping their profile picture in a thread or using the search function. When you visit a user’s profile, you’ll see an Instagram icon at the top-right. This indicates that the user has a related Instagram account, and tapping the icon will take you to their Instagram profile. Congrats on completing the process! You can now use Instagram’s DM feature to send a message from the user’s profile.
Crossposting: Make your presence known across platforms with Meta’s new crossposting feature between Instagram & Facebook to Threads. Meta’s recent update allows Instagram & Facebook users to automatically share their content to the Threads app through composer settings. This crossposting feature enables sharing messages across multiple platforms, saving time by updating all followers at once. Want your followers to know about Threads Presence?
First, Post the Thread on the App Individually, then tap on Share, and you find options to Share on Instagram Feed, Instagram Stories, Messenger, WhatsApp, and More. Want to share as a DM? Tap on any name or search of your familiarity. If not found, tap on “More”; then Instagram Chats and you’re good to go.
Bonus Tip: Post often, talk to others, and join in conversations to be actively engaged on Threads. Embrace authenticity by openly sharing your genuine thoughts and experiences. This builds trust and forges deeper connections with your audience. Stay updated on trending topics to gain visibility and attract new followers.
So What Now?
Here’s everything you’ve learned about the Threads app so far. But wait, it’s not over yet — it’s part of a series on the go. This blog provided an overview of Threads, including its logo, brief similarities and differences with X, starting point, interface navigation, and content engagement.
Is Threads worth a download in 2024? If you enjoy other social media platforms or dislike X, it’s worth considering. Threads offers seamless Instagram integration, allowing you to switch between apps without losing your experience. If you value diverse experiences and want to retain the Instagram feel, downloading Threads is a great option. It’s not essential to do so, but if you want to enhance your Instagram experience, giving the app a shot is definitely worthwhile.
I prefer using only 2 social media platforms. I haven’t used X for years and find text-based platforms boring due to word limitations. However, I enjoy using Threads, which is easy-to-use and has a 500-character limit like X. It lacks advanced features, but it’s a blessing for someone new to X like me. I learned Threads in just two hours on the day it was released, while learning X would take me a week.
Hence, for Twitteratis, Threading is Revision and they’re already Champion. For Newbies, threading offers an alternative way to tweet. Once you’ve mastered threading, you’ll be able to learn tweeting in no time. Considering the app's recent updates, seamless integration with Instagram, and user-friendly experience, I highly recommend downloading it this year.
Stay tuned for my next blog post where I’ll dive deep into Threads’ new features, monetization options, analytics, updates, and tips and tricks to elevate your Threads experience to the next level! 🚀
Got questions about Threads? Drop them in the comments below! Let’s unravel the Threads mystery together, one post at a time. And remember, there’s no such thing as a silly question — only silly answers, which I promise to provide in abundance! 😉
