Meta challenges Twitter through threads, millions of users in a few hours from Reuters

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Mark Zuckerberg mounted a direct challenge to Twitter with the launch of the Threads app, attracting millions of users in a matter of hours and capitalizing on his rival’s momentum after a series of confused decisions by owner Elon Musk. Tried to.

The first new users of Meta’s new platform include celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez, and notable politicians such as United States Democratic Representative, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

“Let’s get started. Welcome to Threads,” Zuckerberg wrote with a fire emoji in the first post about the app. The Facebook (NASDAQ: ) founder said the app hit 10 million signups in seven hours.

In addition, Zuckerberg posted a famous meme on Twitter of Spider-Man fighting another Spider-Man, sarcastically alluding to the rivalry with Musk and between the two social networks.

According to analysts, Threads’ tie-up with Instagram could provide it with a user base and advertising tools. It could take away advertising money from Twitter at a time when the new CEO is trying to revive the struggling business.

Even though Threads is launched as a standalone app, users can log in using Instagram credentials and follow the same accounts, potentially accounting for more than two billion monthly active users of Instagram. Can add to current habits.

(Translated by Chiara Scarsiglia, editing by Gianluca Semeraro)