Staff Reports
Despite the claims that Meta's new Threads app is a "Twitter Killer," it appears that the reception has been lackluster. Left-wing whiners who enthusiastically hopped ship to Threads to escape the alleged tyranny of Twitter and the evil Elon Musk don't seem to do much on the new app other than complain about Twitter and Musk.
Twitter Losing out to Threads? Not Likely, as Users Declare They're Leaving, Then Crawl Back https://t.co/BY95vyV9Yp
— RedState (@RedState) July 11, 2023
Comparable to having a fiancée who continually disparages her ex-boyfriend. This does not augur well for the development of a wholesome relationship.
Threads not exactly off to a great start. Hey Instagram, threads is verbal, so the whole skimpy bikini thing is not going to work so well if your influencers can’t actually formulate a sentence… IMHO you may want to rethink cutting off those who can. pic.twitter.com/vBKIOjg8Z8
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) July 6, 2023
Breaking…I’m taking my business to THREADS. Haters stay the fuck out.
— Ron Perlman (@perlmutations) July 10, 2023
So I’m done here I’m on threads
Same name bye #auspol— Patricia Karvelas (@PatsKarvelas) July 6, 2023
People have reached out and asked me to post daily videos here still. So I will – but if you want proper engagement I’m at the other place @RNBreakfast #auspol pic.twitter.com/Rja9UCNBPQ
— Patricia Karvelas (@PatsKarvelas) July 10, 2023
So, is Threads the solution we've all been waiting for, or is it just another platform in need of organization? Mark Zuckerberg undoubtedly did not realize that the name of his new text-based social media platform is a perfect metaphor for the situation, but it is. Will Threads be a gorgeously stitched fabric or a tangled mass that requires sweeping?
Remember why people are abandoning Twitter in the first place. Millions of users are repulsed by Elon Musk's actions and Twitter's inability to control trolls and bots. But is it wise to adopt a new platform owned by a defective company that hasn't even resolved its own problems?
So far, it appears that the intertwined chaos is victorious. As a person who genuinely has a brand ("As the Girl Turns"), I attempt to assert my social media presence on every applicable platform. However, I am completely uninterested in Zuckerberg's latest effort to monitor and control the world. As this article demonstrates, Zuckerberg is the last person to whom we should entrust the security of our information or the promotion of free speech.
The days of social media pandemonium and diversions are over. The majority of us desire a straightforward, harassment-free platform that does not attempt to sell us superfluous items. The CEO of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, is aware of this, and he intends for Threads to be a "friendly place" for public discourse. However, can they actually fulfill this promise? Threads has already fallen lacking in terms of protections. Similar to Twitter, phony profiles and algorithms have followed me on the platform.
Not to mention the flagrant censorship of conservatives on Facebook, which has now spread to Threads. If you attempt to follow Donald Trump Jr., you will reportedly receive a message stating that he has repeatedly posted fraudulent information and violated community guidelines. Trump Jr. recognizes the absurdity of a platform that purports to be for conversation shutting down… conversation.
There are also grave concerns regarding the privacy of Threads users. Meta is reticent about sharing user data with third-party applications, and given Zuckerberg's history of selling data to the highest bidder, we shouldn't expect Threads to be any different. Experts have warned of potential privacy concerns, such as the sharing of data with platforms with inadequate privacy safeguards or server locations in China. The terms of service are intentionally ambiguous, making it difficult to hold Meta accountable for our data once it has been released.
The entire concept of the "fediverse" sounds extremely unsettling. Zuckerberg appears to be attempting to be sci-fi, but instead he reminds us of surveillance dystopias such as "Person of Interest." Do we want our data to be distributed across numerous platforms without Meta's oversight?
However, optimism springs eternal for the audience that enjoys restricted speech and regulated opposition. Leftist actor Ron Perlman, who hasn't done much since Hellboy, claims he's done with Twitter and intends to join Threads because of its purportedly less toxic environment. Don't be concerned, no one is crying over his departure. And similar to this Australian journalist who abruptly quit Twitter for Threads and returned a week later, Perlman will likely return as well. These Twitter users will depart when they cease virtue signaling, which will never occur.
Zuckerberg has a solid game with advertisers despite Threads' lackluster features, whereas Musk struggles to find committed sponsors. There is also the matter of whether Twitter functionality has been hijacked by Threads. Due to the numerous employee departures since Musk took over, it was inevitable that this would become an issue. The outcome of this affair and the subsequent lawsuits will determine whether Threads will dominate or fall into obscurity like other failed platforms.
The feud between Musk and Zuckerberg has devolved into a Mean Girls confrontation. But let's be honest, they are both behaving like childish brats.
