Meta has yet to respond to requests for comment. This situation sheds light on the kind of behind-the-scenes negotiations that transpire when securing a coveted domain or username.
Notably, Threads Software Limited was not the only entity using the “Threads” name when Meta launched its Twitter competitor. American Threads, a fashion retailer, held the @Threads handle on Instagram at the service’s debut. The retailer humorously addressed the confusion between the clothing brand and Meta’s service. About a month later, the retailer’s Instagram account switched to @americanthreads, while Meta gained control of the @Threads handle.
Representatives for the clothing brand have not provided a response to the situation. This scenario bears similarities to how Meta quietly obtained control of the @Meta handle on Instagram more than a year ago, which was initially controlled by a separate entity, an independent motorcycle publication called META.
