Instagram Threads vs Twitter: A comprehensive comparison for social media enthusiasts

The competition between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg has heated up, as Meta made a bold move to challenge Twitter by unveiling a new app called ‘Threads’.

Recently, Mark Zuckerberg's return to Twitter after a 11-year absence has ignited fire on the internet. On 7 July 2023, Zuckerberg tweeted the famous Spiderman meme of Spiderman pointing at another duplicate Spiderman, supposedly a tongue in cheek reference to how the two platforms are similar.

At the time of writing this story, his tweet gained an astounding 15.5 million views and took the number one spot in the social networking apps category, followed by WhatsApp.

While Zuckerberg’s jibe at Twitter might suggest that the two platforms hold a lot of similarities, there are a few differences we will highlight.

Formatting

The primary difference between tweets and threads lies in their format and purpose. Tweets serve the purpose of expressing opinions, providing information, or entertaining followers. They are typically short and concise, often lacking in-depth context.

On the other hand, threads offer a longer format that allows users to demonstrate their expertise and provide more substantial value within a series of connected tweets. With Threads, individuals have the opportunity to conduct research on topics in a more detailed manner, providing comprehensive insights and expanding upon their ideas beyond the limitations of a single tweet.

Character limit

Meta has officially announced that Threads will provide users with a character limit of 500, surpassing the maximum limit of 280 characters for unverified Twitter users. Additionally, verified Instagram accounts will retain their blue badge on Threads, whereas Twitter offers a similar feature at a cost of $8 per month. Subscribers to Twitter's paid service also benefit from an increased character limit of 25,000, but Meta has not yet introduced a comparable option for Threads.

Video duration

Threads will allow all users, including the unverified ones, to post videos that have a maximum duration of five minutes. In contrast, Twitter users without the verified blue badge are limited to posting videos with a maximum duration of two minutes and 20 seconds. This distinction provides Threads users with a greater opportunity to share longer-form video content compared to Twitter's limitations for non-verified accounts.

Focus on close connections

Threads is designed as a companion app for close friends, emphasising more private sharing. This focuses on a smaller, trusted circle of connections that can appeal to users who prefer a more personal and controlled social experience.

Protocol

According to Connor Hayes, the Vice President of Product at Meta, Threads offers a unique advantage by being built on the ActivityPub social-networking protocol, which is also utilised by decentralized social-media apps like Mastodon. This shared protocol enables users who establish a following on Threads to eventually engage with a broader community beyond the confines of Instagram.

Certainly! It's important to note that user preferences and the social media landscape can evolve rapidly, and the success of Threads will depend on its ability to continuously innovate, address user needs, and differentiate itself on the platform.