Jennifer Lopez Already Uses Threads Threads, Although Not Available In The European Union

Jennifer Lopez, one of the celebrities who has used Threads. (photo: Instagram @jlo)

JAKARTA - Meta Paltform Inc., the company behind social media giants Facebook and Instagram, has launched their new microblogging platform called Threads.

Threads is a new app similar to Twitter, allowing users to post text, images, or videos, as well as give likes, shares, or redistribute content.

Threads accounts are synchronized with Instagram at first, allowing users to keep using usernames and keep their followers. Posts can reach 500 characters and cover links, photos, and videos for up to five minutes.

One of the unadopted features of Twitter is the ability to send direct messages to other users, but Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg promises there will be future updates.

In a post on its app hours after its launch, Zuckerberg wrote: "The team has done a great job with Threads v1. There is still a long journey, but a talented group has built a strong foundation."

Is Twitter Threatened?

Threads is referred to as Meta's version of the "Twitter killer". The company has a long history of introducing new features based on the success of competing companies.

In 2016, Instagram added a "story" feature to Instagram, which is a user post that disappears after a certain time, in response to Snapchat's growing popularity. Recently, their new short video feature, "Reels," also aims to challenge TikTok's popularity.

The launch of Threads coincides with a series of decisions by Twitter owner Elon Musk, which has sparked controversy, including restrictions on the number of posts users can see.

Threads claims to have earned 10 million new users overnight, this is an impressive feat, including celebrities like Jennifer Lopez and Kim Kardashian, as well as a number of company brands that welcome users on the platform.

However, due to ongoing regulatory concerns, the app is currently not available in the European Union.

In May, Meta was fined 1.2 billion euros (IDR 19.6 trillion) by major European Union privacy regulators for its handling of user information, and ordered to stop transferring user data to the United States. It is not yet known whether and when Threads will be available in the European Union.