Launching a social network today may seem more difficult than it actually is. With so many options at our disposal and well-established ones, it is logical to think that there is no room for more. However, this has not prevented new alternatives from emerging, such as Threads.
However, it would be fallacious to omit that Threads already has a big head start. Elon Musk’s questionable actions regarding Twitter have caused many to look elsewhere, such as Mastodon or BlueSky. Now, Threads has arrived at the ideal time to position itself as the definitive alternative to Twitter and having Meta behind it is a major plus.
Having a large user base is essential for any social network to stay alive. Threads has a great advantage over the multiple alternatives to Twitter: its reach. When it comes to creating an account, we can transfer our Instagram profile information in a matter of seconds. As a result, the social network managed to register more than 10 million people in a matter of hours.
What does Threads do with my data?
Threads was launched “worldwide” on July 6. At the moment, it is available in more than 100 countries, except those belonging to the European Union. Why is this? Well, because of the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
This law mainly targets large technology companies such as Meta. It aims to create a safe digital space where companies cannot act as they please and to establish a level playing field between brands.
However, this is not the only problem Meta faces. The EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Digital Services Act (DSA) mean that Zuckerberg’s conglomerate must ask permission to be able to use its users’ data. In Threads’ case, this can even include medical and financial data.
And not only that: the new microblogging network can even access your search history, contacts and purchases. As if that weren’t enough, deleting your Threads profile also means deleting your Instagram profile.
It is also important to emphasize that this practice is not exclusive to Meta. Without going any further, we know that platforms such as YouTube or TikTok are among those that collect more information from users to then offer personalized advertising. This reminds us of a phrase that can be applied to most Internet business models: if something is free, you are the product.
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