Facebook is set to launch a new app to rival Twitter

Look out, Elon.

Meta, who own Facebook, is about to launch its new app to rival Twitter this Thursday. The new app, called Threads, is described as a "text-based conversation app… where communities come together to discuss everything from the topics you care about today to what'll be trending tomorrow". It is currently available to pre-order in the Apple Store Threads, which is linked to Instagram, is noted as a direct response to Elon Musk's current management of Twitter, which has seen the controversial launch of its subscription service Twitter Blue and gone through various app-breaking changes in recent months. [caption id="attachment_773989" align="alignnone" width="640"] Elon Musk has plunged Twitter's future into doubt. (Credit: Getty Images)[/caption]

Facebook is set to launch a new app to rival Twitter

Just a few days ago, Twitter users found themselves unable to see any Tweets as Musk announced that the app was limiting views "to address extreme levels of data scraping & system manipulation." In another unwelcome move by the South African businessman this week, it was announced that the popular user dashboard, TweetDeck will go behind a paywall in 30 days time. Meta, which is known for opportunistically jumping on trends (like launching Reels in response to TikTok) has clearly spotted a chance to match up with arguably Facebook's biggest rival since its inception. With Meta being as big as it is, the new app could be the largest threat to Twitter under Musk's reign, which has seen other apps like Mastadon and Bluesky fail to cause a major existential threat to the bird app. The app launch also marks another chapter in the ever-expanding rivalry between Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and Musk. Just last month, the two billionaires exchanged jabs over social media which ended up floating the idea of a cage match. Since then, the potential fight has now been touted to take place in Rome's Colosseum.

Data concerns for Threads

With all things Meta, data and security concerns are a hot topic ahead of the launch of Threads. Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey has already highlighted the massive data access that Threads is asking from users.

All your Threads are belong to us https://t.co/FfrIcUng5O pic.twitter.com/V7xbMOfINt

— jack (@jack) July 4, 2023

Dorsey tweeted a screenshot of the data that the Threads app may collect from users which includes financial info, contact info, user content, browsing history, usage data, purchases, contacts, identifiers, sensitive info, location, search history and health and fitness tracking. While Twitter also collects a similar amount of data, it doesn't collect financial info, sensitive info or health and fitness tracking.

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