Tag: Threads

  • Apple drops WhatsApp, Threads from China app store on official order: report

    Apple drops WhatsApp, Threads from China app store on official order: report

    Beijing (AFP) – Apple has removed the Meta-owned WhatsApp and Threads from its App Store in China following an order from the country’s top internet regulator, Bloomberg reported Friday citing the tech giant.

    Beijing engages in some of the world’s most extensive internet censorship, with web users in mainland China unable to access everything from Google to many foreign apps without using a virtual private network.

    “We are obligated to follow the laws in the countries where we operate, even when we disagree,” said Apple in a statement, according to Bloomberg.

    “The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) ordered the removal of these apps from the China storefront based on their national security concerns,” said Apple, referring to China’s internet regulator.

    “These apps remain available for download on all other storefronts where they appear.”

    A Meta spokesperson referred AFP to Apple, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    The CAC and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology — another top Chinese internet regulatory body — also did not immediately respond.

    China is a key market for Apple, which last year topped the country’s smartphone market for the first time.

    But thorny issues of censorship and national security have long hounded the US-based firm’s operations in China as Beijing and Washington engage in a fierce battle for technological supremacy.

    In January, China said it had cracked Apple’s encrypted AirDrop communication service, which had once given protesters a vital channel for sharing information during the major 2019 pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.

    State-backed experts said in January that they had devised a way to reveal an iPhone’s encrypted device log, allowing them to then identify an AirDrop user’s phone number and email accounts.

    Many online platforms that are popular in much of the world — including Google, Facebook, X, WhatsApp and TikTok — are blocked in mainland China.

    But savvy iPhone users in China have still been able to download banned platforms through Apple’s app store, then use a VPN to get around the restrictions.

    Removing WhatsApp and Threads from the Chinese app store will greatly complicate the ability of new iPhone users to access the apps.

    The latest development comes a day before a scheduled vote in the US House of Representatives to force the wildly popular video app TikTok to sever all links with its Chinese parent ByteDance.

    US officials have raised concerns in recent years over potential national security and privacy threats posed by TikTok, despite repeated assurances by the firm that it presents no risks to the American public.

    Beijing has frequently lashed out against US restrictions on Chinese tech, claiming they are a pretext to contain the country’s economic rise.

  • Meta set to unveil web version of Threads, challenging X

    Meta set to unveil web version of Threads, challenging X

    Meta is getting ready to launch the web version of Threads, which is its rival to X (previously known as Twitter). This launch is expected to happen early this week, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. Threads, which offers short-form posts, has been missing a web version since its start.

    Mark Zuckerberg, who is the CEO of Meta, mentioned that they’re working on adding this feature along with a better search function. Right now, the search function is quite limited; you can only search for usernames. These changes are expected to be ready in a few weeks.

    However, The Wall Street Journal’s sources say that the exact launch plans are not set in stone and could change. Adam Mosseri, who posted on Threads, shared that they’ve been testing an early version internally for a short time. But before it’s released widely, some more work is needed.

    Threads started as a basic version similar to Twitter just about a month and a half ago. Surprisingly, it quickly gained over 100 million users and attracted celebrities and brands. However, it has been missing some important features. The company has been slowly adding improvements, like a follow feed and the ability to verify a link using a Mastodon profile. This suggests that Meta might be considering integrating with the decentralised social network protocol Activity Pub.

  • Threads’ hype cools as user activity drops by 79%

    Threads’ hype cools as user activity drops by 79%

    Threads, Meta’s social media application, burst onto the scene in early July, making an impressive debut with an astonishing 5 million user registrations mere hours after its launch. This rapid uptake established it as the most swiftly downloaded app, with a staggering 100 million individuals signing up within the span of just one week.

    However, the initial excitement surrounding Threads has since fizzled out, as evidenced by the declining daily usage of the app.

    Despite its promising start, Threads is grappling with a marked reduction in user engagement. Data from Similarweb shows a notable drop of 79 per cent in active users from its peak of 2.3 million in July to 576,000 by August 7. This waning user activity raises concerns for Meta, given the initial buzz and rapid user acquisition.

    Moreover, significant brands such as Wendy’s, Anthropologie, and Rare Beauty are scaling back their presence on Threads, with reports of “Threads fatigue” indicating dissatisfaction with the platform’s performance.

    Threads’ struggle to compete with Twitter is evident, as even at its peak, Threads had less than half the daily users of Twitter, which boasts over 100 million active users. This discrepancy underscores the challenge Threads faces in unseating Twitter as the leading text-based social media platform.

    Threads was initially positioned to capitalise on the turmoil at Twitter following Elon Musk’s takeover. However, Twitter’s substantial changes, including layoffs and policy shifts, have negatively impacted user satisfaction and advertising revenue.

    Despite the rivalry between Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk, the concept of a cage fight has been abandoned. Zuckerberg expressed scepticism about Musk’s seriousness, signalling a shift in focus.

    The declining user engagement raises questions about Threads’ long-term viability. While Meta has refrained from commenting on the app’s performance, the departure of prominent brands and the downward trend in engagement suggest a struggle for Threads to regain its initial momentum.

    Threads’ explosive entry into the social media landscape has been followed by a notable decline in daily usage. The challenges faced by Threads, combined with changes at Twitter, highlight the difficulty of disrupting the text-based social media sector. The fate of Threads as a contender in the industry remains uncertain.

  • TikTok introduces text posts to compete with Threads and X

    TikTok introduces text posts to compete with Threads and X

    In an unexpected twist, TikTok, the leading platform for short videos, is stepping up to compete with Meta’s Threads and X (previously known as Twitter) with its latest addition: text posts. This innovative new format breaks through conventional boundaries, offering TikTok’s dynamic community an exciting new medium to flaunt their stories, poems, recipes, and a treasure trove of written content.

    TikTok has always been at the forefront of nurturing creativity in all its forms. With a diverse array of content formats, such as videos, photos, Duets, and Stitch, the introduction of text posts adds yet another dimension to the content options, enabling creators to effortlessly share their written brilliance and captivate audiences.

    Creating and sharing text-based content on TikTok has never been simpler. Users now have the option of three choices on the Camera page: photo, video, and text. Opting for text opens the text creation page, providing creators with a user-friendly interface to pen their thoughts and ideas.

    Once on the Post page, users will find a suite of familiar customization options, ensuring that their text posts are just as dynamic and engaging as any video or photo. TikTok continues to stand out from the crowd by enabling sound addition, tagging locations, enabling comments, and inviting duets, all contributing to an immersive experience for users.

    The introduction of text posts comes with exciting features that aim to amplify creativity and captivate audiences like never before. One such feature is the collection of expressive stickers that complement the content and add an extra dash of personality to text posts, giving creators even more tools to make their posts stand out.

    As the platform evolves and adapts to the needs of its community, TikTok’s commitment to empowering creators remains steadfast. The addition of text posts demonstrates TikTok’s dedication to providing innovative tools that inspire self-expression and ensure that the TikTok experience continues to be engaging and exciting for users worldwide.

    Creators and TikTok enthusiasts alike are eagerly anticipating the release of text posts, ready to explore this new frontier of content creation and see how it sparks creativity within the community. With the power of written words combined with TikTok’s dynamic features, the possibilities for expression are limitless.

  • Taliban praises Twitter’s freedom of speech and credibility amidst Threads launch

    Taliban praises Twitter’s freedom of speech and credibility amidst Threads launch

    Twitter’s challenges in attracting advertisers, maintaining site functionality, and retaining users have been widely discussed. However, amidst these struggles, an unexpected endorsement has emerged from an unlikely source—the Taliban. Anas Haqqani, a prominent figure within the Taliban, recently expressed his appreciation for Twitter in light of Meta’s Threads, a rival platform that gained over 100 million users within a few days of its launch.

    Haqqani, in justifying his decision to remain active on Twitter, highlighted two key advantages the platform offered. “The first privilege is the freedom of speech,” he stated. “The second privilege is the public nature & credibility of Twitter. Twitter doesn’t have an intolerant policy like Meta. Other platforms cannot replace it.”

    Meta, the parent company of Threads, has made it clear that the new platform will adhere to the same content guidelines as its sister app, Instagram. This includes a stipulation that explicitly prohibits support or praise for terrorism, organised crime, or hate groups.

    Elon Musk’s involvement in Twitter’s operations has been marked by a series of seemingly arbitrary policy decisions, the loosening of moderation guidelines and enforcement capabilities, resulting in chaotic circumstances, and a focus on prioritising paying users. Under Musk’s leadership, instances of hate speech have surged, and ad sales for the platform have experienced a significant decline of 59% since the previous year.

    It is difficult to argue that having members of the Taliban celebrate the extent to which they can exploit the platform does not present a compelling case for potential ad buyers. Twitter, grappling with these challenges, must now confront the task of restoring confidence in its ability to provide a safe and appealing environment for both users and advertisers alike.

  • Twitter’s worst nightmare: Facebook to launch Threads on Thursday as a rival to Musk’s platform

    Twitter’s worst nightmare: Facebook to launch Threads on Thursday as a rival to Musk’s platform

    Meta Platforms plans to launch a microblogging app called Threads, which aims to compete with Twitter. This development comes shortly after Twitter CEO Elon Musk faced criticism for implementing a temporary cap on the number of posts users can read on the platform.

    According to a listing on Apple’s App Store, Threads is expected to be released on Thursday. The app will enable users to maintain their followers from the photo-sharing platform Instagram and keep the same username.

    This rollout represents a direct challenge to Twitter, which has encountered several controversies since Musk acquired the company for $44 billion in 2022. Last week, Musk introduced new restrictions on the app, limiting the daily number of tweets users can view. This move sparked outcry among many Twitter users.

    Although alternative microblogging sites like Mastodon and Blue Sky have experienced an increase in user numbers following Musk’s acquisition, neither has managed to rival Twitter. However, Instagram already boasts hundreds of millions of registered users and has a track record of incorporating successful features from other social media platforms.

    In response to the growing popularity of Snapchat, Instagram introduced a feature called “stories” in 2016, allowing user posts to disappear after a certain period. More recently, Instagram’s “Reels” feature has aimed to compete with the rising prominence of TikTok.

    The launch of Threads poses a credible threat to Twitter under Musk’s leadership. His attempts to boost revenues and reshape the platform in his own image have faced significant criticism. Following the acquisition last year, Musk downsized the company by approximately 80 per cent and reinstated several banned accounts, including those of former US President Donald Trump and the conservative satirical news site Babylon Bee.

    Concerns over an increase in harmful content on the platform led hundreds of advertisers to pause their spending on Twitter. Internal documents viewed by Reuters also revealed a decline in engagement among the platform’s most active users.