The text-based social network Threads, which was recently launched by Meta as part of Instagram, is now available on the web. Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, announced that the web version of Threads would be rolling out over the next few days, and some users already have access to it. Threads was initially launched in July as a simple text-threading app and gained a massive user base, with 100 million people signing up within the first five days. However, the app still has some limitations, such as the lack of compatibility with direct messages and its unavailability in the European Union due to regulatory reasons.
The arrival of Threads on the web makes it more widely usable, although most users will still access it through their mobile devices. This move is part of Meta’s strategy to create a compelling application that can compete with other social apps such as X, Bluesky, Mastodon, Spoutible, and Post. Additionally, Meta aims to revive the usage and engagement of Threads, which experienced a significant drop in daily active users after its initial surge. While the app has seen some improvement in daily active users since mid-August, the time spent on the app per user has decreased.
Some users, like media scholar Ethan Zuckerman, express their preference for using social media on laptops rather than mobile devices, highlighting the barrier created by cross-posting between web-based and mobile-only apps. Nevertheless, the availability of Threads on the web expands its accessibility and potential user base.