What is Threads and why did I download it?
“Why would I need to journal when I have Threads?”
Yesterday I downloaded Threads, Instagram’s latest social media app going head-to-head with Twitter. Plans for the new social sharing app were reportedly confirmed just three months ago and gained 5 million users signing up in its first hour. There are now over 100 million user sign ups.
To me, threads is the unserious Twitter. In 2015, I was forced to step down from my position as a One Direction stan account and now, being on Twitter for work purposes, I’ve had to ensure any evidence of this has been wiped off the face of the internet – directing authors and their publishing team to your account for them to uncover a picture of Niall Horan doing the ice bucket challenge, soaking in a white vest as your header image is not a good look.
A visual for anyone who needs to be reminded of this iconic 2014 moment.
My experience of Twitter is that it is the app for the modern professional. It is more like Linked-In’s offspring to me than a fun, carefree space. In my head, Twitter is for news, for politics, to advertise your side hustle or to follow public figures and see what they’re doing – a new book? TV series? To read their opinion on something you have probably just read for yourself and should probably be forming your own opinion on. That last one was a note to self.
As somebody who loves and wants to write, having a space where I can do so freely and easily (my journal for example) is so important. I was crossing the road today when the thought struck me, “why would I need to journal when I have threads?” shortly before opening the app and typing out in the same breath, “I’ll never have to journal again now I have threads”. It acts like the most easily accessible, readily available diary, because let’s be honest, our phones are always in our hands.
It lets me dump my thoughts however big, small or silly without fear of them being discovered by a linked-in recruiter or publishing professionals trying to ram a new proof copy of their latest debut down my throat. Thanks Threads.