THREADS SOCIAL
Written by Drew Hamley 06/07/23
Threads, the new social media app from Meta, has just launched! How can artists and businesses utilize it? Let's explore!
Threads, the brand new social media app from Meta, has already gained 10 million active users within 24 hours, positioning itself as a direct competitor to Elon Musk’s Twitter. It functions as a text-based microblogging platform similar to Instagram, allowing users to upload photos, videos, and external links.
The app shares similarities with Instagram, such as the inclusion of heart, comment, and share buttons, while also incorporating a repost option reminiscent of Twitter’s retweeting feature.
Now, with this new social media app available, let’s examine how musicians, artists, and businesses can leverage it to enhance their brand identities.
SIGN UP
Currently, the only way to sign up for Threads is by linking an existing Instagram account. By connecting your Instagram, you can transfer your followers, profile picture, bio, and website links.
As more users join the app and import their followers/following lists, your follower count will increase. Verified Instagram users also retain their checkmark on their new Threads account. Notably, only a profile picture is available; there is no banner picture for your profile page.
POSTING
Threads primarily focuses on text-based content. The current character limit for a post is 500, surpassing Twitter’s limit of 280 characters (or 10,000 characters with a Twitter Blue subscription).
TAGGING
Similar to other platforms like Twitter, you can tag other users on Threads, whether or not you are following them. The exact limit for the number of tags is unclear, but there is likely a limit. Tagging also contributes to your character count when posting.
WEBSITE LINKS
When you include a website link in your post, it appears as a thumbnail with a meta description, provided you have assigned a thumbnail and meta description to the webpage. Both the website link and thumbnail function as active links, redirecting users to the external webpage. This feature was missing from Instagram posts until now, making it a valuable addition.
PHOTOS
In addition to text, you can upload photos saved on your phone. Each post can include a maximum of 10 photos. However, it seems that photos are currently not uploaded in high resolution. More information regarding resolution guidelines will be provided in the future.
VIDEO
Threads allows you to upload videos with a maximum duration of 5 minutes. Since the app is designed for portrait view on mobile devices, portrait videos are favored over landscape videos. While the exact resolution support is uncertain, the highest quality video is expected to be 1080×1920, 30fps, in portrait mode.
MIXED MEDIA
You can combine various media types in a single post. Each post can include a maximum of 10 media items, including a mix of photos and videos. The items will be presented in a carousel format based on the order you upload them. Additionally, you can include website links within the text field of your post, which will be hyperlinked for direct access.
HASHTAGS
Threads does not support the use of hashtags, which is intriguing. Instead, the reach and engagement of your posts rely solely on Meta’s algorithms.
EDITING A POST
Currently, you cannot edit a post once it has been created. Your only option is to delete and recreate the post. Future updates may introduce editing functionality.
SHARING
When it comes to sharing Threads posts to other platforms, several options are available through the Share icon:
- Add your Threads post to your Instagram story.
- Post your Threads post to your Instagram feed.
- Share your Threads post directly to Twitter.
- Copy your Threads post link and open it in a web browser from the Threads website. It may also be possible to embed the Thread post on your webpage.
- Utilize the ShareVia option to share the Threads post through text, WhatsApp, and more.
IS THREADS A GOOD PLATFORM FOR ARTISTS AND BUSINESSES?
After spending a few hours testing the app and setting things up, it appears to work quite well. Similar to Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, navigating the interface and posting content is relatively easy.
For musicians, influencers, and businesses, Threads can be a valuable tool for reaching users with media content. Although video and photos may be compressed, the resolutions seem reasonable for the platform. Allowing 5-minute videos sets Threads apart, as Twitter’s non-subscribers are limited to 2 minutes and 20 seconds. Furthermore, the inclusion of website links in posts is a fantastic addition, as Instagram lacks this feature.
However, without the use of hashtags, engagement with content relies on Meta’s algorithms, which will be interesting to observe. Despite the app being in its early stages, the 10 million followers who signed up within 24 hours indicate its potential as a platform to build a following.
Our recommendation is to set up your accounts promptly and start publishing content during these initial stages. There is a high chance of gaining a substantial following as the user base grows.