Meta’s Threads, the popular messaging app and competitor to Twitter, is reportedly on the verge of launching its web version later this week. The long-awaited web version of Threads is set to bring enhanced functionality and search capabilities to users, addressing a key demand from the app’s user base. Currently available exclusively on iOS and Android platforms, the introduction of a web version is expected to provide users with more convenience and flexibility in accessing the platform.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the web version of Threads will debut in the coming days. This announcement comes after Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s promise to roll out a web version with improved search functionality. Instagram’s Head, Adam Mosseri, also confirmed that the web version is currently undergoing testing. However, Mosseri cautioned that the release is being approached with care due to some lingering bugs in the system.
Mosseri stated in an Instagram post, “It’s a little bit buggy right now, you don’t want it just yet. As soon as it is ready we will share it with everybody else.”
The introduction of a web version is a significant step for Threads, addressing a highly anticipated feature requested by its user community. Threads, which initially experienced a robust start with over 100 million users signing up within the first week of its launch, later witnessed a decline in daily active users (DAUs) by about 80 percent by mid-August. The web version’s launch is expected to reinvigorate user engagement and attract new users seeking the convenience of web-based access.
Threads has been actively enhancing its features to retain and engage its user base. Recent updates to the app included the ability to set notifications, view posts in chronological order, and label state-controlled media outlets. Additionally, the introduction of a “repost” tab has streamlined the process of viewing all reposted content. The shift from “retweets” to “reposts” aligns Threads’ approach with the renaming of the same feature by its competitor, X.
Threads is competing in the social media landscape against industry giants like X. While Threads experienced a drop in DAUs following its initial surge, it remains a strong contender as an alternative to X. As of August 2023, X reported approximately 238 million DAUs and 364 million monthly active users, underscoring the significance of a web version launch for Threads.
The arrival of the Threads web version is particularly timely, offering users an alternative platform as X recently placed its popular Tweetdeck tool behind a paywall, impacting social media enthusiasts who relied on the tool for advanced functionalities.
