Mark Zuckerberg launched a second Twitter. We checked how the Threads application works

As a reminder, Threads has so far appeared in 100 countries around the world, but it remains unavailable in Poland and the entire European Union. regarding the protection of personal data (GDPR). And Meta recently had a hard time with European regulators anyway. However, there are many indications that the new social network will soon appear with us.

Threads also operates in Poland. But first, you have to put in some effort

At the moment, when logging in from Poland, we will not find the Threads application in Google Play and we will not download it to the phone. The website www.threads.net displays only the logotype and name of the social network. The solution is to use a VPN and change the location, e.g. to Great Britain or the USA, to download the app on your phone. An alternative is to download the apk file from an unofficial source and install it yourself, but it is not a very safe way. Once Threads is on your smartphone, it also works normally in Poland (without the need to use a VPN).

Meta Threads app photo screenshot from the Threads app

The application welcomes us with a login screen, and this action must be performed using your Instagram account (it is not possible to create an account directly in Threads). Users who have not used Instagram before must therefore set up an account on this platform, which means the need to download another application or enter the social network website in the browser. And that’s quite annoying. It is surprising that it is impossible to register on Instagram from Threads.

Next, the program explains what Threads is and how it works, and guides us step by step through a short process of adjusting the account to your preferences. You can choose to make your profile public or block it so that only confirmed followers can see it. Further, we can automatically follow some or all of the accounts that we previously followed on Instagram. If these people are not yet on Threads, they will only be automatically followed when they join the platform. It is noteworthy that the entire application has been accurately translated into Polish. So it seems that Meta is preparing for the imminent launch of the platform also in our country, although so far it does not reveal details about it.

Meta Threads app photo screenshot from the Threads app

Threads looks very familiar. It’s almost a copy of Twitter

When the process of logging in and customizing the account is over, we can go to search for people and companies that interest us. Of course, there are not many of them yet, although Mark Zuckerberg boasts that the number of accounts on Threads is growing at a rapid pace (10 million users joined within the first seven hours of the launch of the platform). The entire application is deceptively similar to Twitter. Starting from the location of the logotype (centrally at the top of the screen), through the buttons at the bottom, to the characteristic blue marker of the verified account, which has been functioning on Twitter for years.

Meta Threads vs. Twitter photo screenshot from Threads and Twitter

There are, of course, some differences between the platforms of Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk, but rather symbolic ones. In Threads, we can like a post with a heart, reply in a thread, quote or forward a message and share outside Mark Zuckerberg’s platform. It’s almost the same on Twitter. However, Threads doesn’t allow you to send private messages to people, but who knows if that will change soon. Zuckerberg also lacks the division into the “For you” and “Following” tabs, so all posts are displayed in one string.

Meta Threads app photo screenshot from the Threads app

Despite the huge similarities to Twitter, it must be admitted that Threads works quite nicely and may turn out to be an interesting alternative to Elon Musk’s portal. There are some problems (e.g. unfortunate login via Instagram account), and Threads seems to be quite an empty place at the moment (the first posts appeared by few people and companies, which are also very few), but it will probably change in the future coming weeks.