Elon Musk threatens lawsuit as microblogging platform sets record for fastest downloads
Threads, Mark Zuckerberg’s “Twitter-killer,” surpasses 70 million sign-ups in under 48 hours, achieving over double the growth seen on its initial day of availability on app stores.
After being launched in 100 countries this week, the newly introduced microblogging platform rapidly attracted a substantial user base, surpassing 30 million within its initial 24 hours and potentially claiming the title of the fastest downloaded app to date. Nevertheless, on Friday, Zuckerberg revealed on his Threads account that the number of users had more than doubled that remarkable figure.
As of this morning, Threads has amassed a staggering 70 million sign-ups, surpassing our wildest expectations,” he expressed. The global launch of Threads took place on Wednesday at 7pm EST in the United States.
In response to the emergence of the new rival, Elon Musk’s Twitter has issued a formal threat to sue the “copycat” app, accusing it of infringing upon its intellectual property rights.
Threads, which is linked to Instagram, is accessible to users at no cost, requiring them to have an Instagram account for logging in. Once logged in, users have the ability to transfer the accounts they follow on Instagram to their Threads account, resulting in a substantial increase in the size of the new social network.
Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Threads and owner of Instagram through Meta, has expressed his intention to prioritize “kindness” as a central aspect of the app’s appeal. This emphasis on promoting a more positive environment comes in response to concerns that the rival platform, boasting over 250 million users, has become excessively hostile for some individuals.
Expressing his aspirations for the platform’s growth, he stated on his Threads account, “The objective is to maintain a friendly atmosphere as we expand. I believe it’s achievable and will ultimately be the cornerstone of its success. That’s one of the reasons why I feel Twitter didn’t achieve as much as it could have, and we aim to approach it differently.”
Continuing the discussion in subsequent messages, he emphasized, “We are actively prioritizing kindness and striving to create a welcoming environment for all users.”
According to the Stanford Internet Observatory (SIO), an organization that monitors social media platforms, Threads has the potential to thrive as a viable alternative to Twitter’s “vitriolic arena.”
SIO’s research manager, Renée DiResta, stated on Thursday, “While Instagram has faced its own set of challenges, it remains a space where users follow their friends, influencers, and public figures to gain insight into their daily lives.”
Maintaining a positive tone can make Threads highly appealing to advertisers, especially considering Twitter’s reputation as a hostile environment where different groups come together to publicly criticize their adversaries.
