Threads vs Twitter: Which is Better?

Threads has been around for more than a week, and the most recent data shows that it has more than 100 million users. For a new social network, that’s not too bad.

People thought it was amazing that ChatGPT hit 1 million users in just five days, but Instagram Threads surprised everyone, even Facebook, which didn’t think it would do this well so soon.
Now, one thing is for sure: Threads is going straight after Twitter. But the most puzzling questions are: What will get you more views and engagement? What are the major differences between Threads and Twitter? Which is a better option for you?

Well, with a detailed comparison side by side between Threads and Twitter (Threads vs Twitter), this article will answer these questions shortly.

Threads vs Twitter: At a Glance

Character and video restrictions

Registration requirements

Advertising Policies

Privacy

Safety

Pricing

Verification

Messaging

What Are the Main Differences Between Threads and Twitter?

Threads adapts Twitter features for Instagram users in a variety of ways, though it is clear that this is still a work in progress. It could even be said to excel at a few tasks that Twitter does not.

Threads is not a replacement for Twitter, however, because there are several key differences in how you would use each site. Here’s a more in-depth comparison of Threads and Twitter!

#1. Character and Video Restrictions

According to Meta, threads have a 500-character limit, whereas unverified Twitter users have a 280-character limit. Threads requires users to have an Instagram account. They can import their Instagram followers as well as their bio information.

Threads allows users to post five-minute videos, whereas Twitter only allows non-verified users to post two minutes and twenty seconds of video.

#2. Registration Requirements

To sign up for Threads, you must have an Instagram account. After creating an account, you can download the Threads app for iOS or Android.

When you first launch the app, you can choose to automatically follow every account you currently follow on Instagram, or you can select only a few of them. How much content overlaps between Instagram accounts you follow for their stunning images and accounts you want to read for their prose or hot ideas on politics and TV? We’re looking forward to seeing how this plays out.

Because Twitter is a stand-alone social media platform, no other account is required. Although it does not bother many people, this distinguishes the two platforms: Threads are part of Fediverse, a platform shared by the Meta apps. Twitter, on the other hand, is a unique company that is not shared with other platforms.

#3. Advertising Policies

Twitter, like every other social media platform, has advertisements. It contributes to the financing of the service and all employees at the company. Because it is a new technology, the Meta-made platform is completely ad-free.

We can assume that the company is operating at a loss on the platform in order to support its short-term growth. However, ad integration could be on the horizon. It is no surprise that most advertisements are unnecessary; in this aspect of the Threads vs. Twitter comparison, Meta’s new app takes the lead.

#4. Privacy

Similarly to Twitter, you can make your Thread account public or private. You can also specify who can respond to a public post—everyone, only the accounts you follow, or only the people you specify in the post.

Threads, on the other hand, is just as interested in your personal information as Instagram is. Similar to Instagram, it tracks where you are, what you look at, and what you do within the app. Assume that when you sign up for a Threads account, Meta will have access to all of the information that Facebook and Instagram have accumulated about you over time, both on and off their apps, in order to target advertisements and personalize your experience.

#5. Safety

One advantage it has over Twitter, according to Meta, is security. Threads will follow the same content guidelines that are already in place on Instagram. As a result, Threads users will be unable to buy weapons, threaten individuals or organizations, or aid terrorists or hate groups.

Users under the age of 16 are also automatically assigned a private account. Furthermore, users will be able to limit who can comment on their conversations to those they follow or have explicitly named in a post.

#6. Pricing

Threads has no features hidden behind a paywall because it is completely free to download and use. There are currently no advertisements on Threads, but this will most likely change. After all, Instagram has begun to feature a lot of advertisements and shopping.

Twitter also has advertising. A number of services on the website’s “Twitter Blue” subscription tier, however, are only available to paying users. Twitter Blue costs $8 per month or $84 annually.

Twitter Blue users can expect new features on a regular basis. Subscribers can now edit a tweet after it has been sent, change the appearance of the Twitter app icon, and, most recently, increase the number of Tweets they can see each day.

#7. Verification

As you scroll through your Threads feed, you’ll notice blue checkmarks next to certain account handles. These tick marks indicate that the user has been validated. Thread verification is carried over from Instagram.

Threads will therefore verify you if you are verified on Instagram. Check Instagram’s policies to see if you meet the verification requirements.

Twitter’s authentication procedure is a little more complicated. Before Elon Musk took over the platform, Twitter had verification requirements based on your public reputation, similar to Instagram.

A Twitter Blue subscription can now be used to buy a verification badge. Government accounts, which receive a grey check, and a few reputable organizations and news organizations, which receive a gold check, are the only exceptions.

Threads vs Twitter: Other Minor Differences and Similarities Between Threads and Twitter

Accessibility

Twitter has been around for over a decade, but it has recently evolved dramatically. It was first introduced as a website when mobile apps were not yet available. Threads, on the other hand, follows Instagram’s lead and is a mobile-first platform, with the website simply redirecting users to the appropriate app stores.

Content Restrictions

In posts on both platforms, you can include images, videos, GIFs, and links. GIFs, on the other hand, can only be shared on Threads if they are saved in your phone’s gallery. While Threads allows you to share text posts with up to 500 characters, Tweets have a character limit of 240 on a basic account. Twitter Blue subscribers can send Tweets with up to 25,000 characters.

Similarly, Twitter allows you to include four items in your post. Threads, on the other hand, allows you to share up to ten items in your post, similar to Instagram. Threads allows you to be more creative when sharing content because of the carousel posts; Twitter isn’t as fun with additional content because it’s a text-first platform.

User Interface

The user interfaces of Threads and Twitter are very similar. Users can share their thoughts in a similar text box and react to and re-tweet/re-share posts in similar ways.

The methods for tagging your friends and followers on a post and commenting on posts are also similar. Though Twitter relies on hashtags to reach relevant people and increase an account’s reach, Threads is still working on such a feature, and the virality of a post is determined by how your friends react to it.

Account Deactivation

You can log out and deactivate your Twitter account if you want to take a social detox or express your opposition to Musk’s policies. That is not possible with Threads. Because your Threads account is linked to Instagram, you cannot leave the platform without also quitting Instagram.

You can delete the app from your phone to stop using it permanently; however, this does not remove your account information from Meta’s servers.

Direct Communication

Aside from Tweeting or tagging someone in a tweet, Twitter allows you to enter their DMs and have a one-on-one private conversation. In addition to text messages, you can share links, images, GIFs, and emojis in Twitter’s message box.

Threads, on the other hand, does not allow you to send a direct message. On Instagram, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp, Meta already has a direct chat feature. The social media behemoth appears to have decided not to clog up inboxes. Because most of your friends and followers are already on Instagram, sending them direct messages is simple.

Search

Twitter is the world’s fastest medium for disseminating news. It has an advanced search feature that allows you to look for trending news, keywords, people, hashtags, people, and usernames. Threads search, on the other hand, is limited. As of now, it only allows you to search for accounts. Though this may change in the near future, we’re not sure when Meta plans to add platform-wide search capabilities to Thread.

Feeds

The Threads feed is currently very basic. It only displays posts from users you follow or posts that are trending. There is no way to customize the feed to your liking. Threads, the new social media platform, allows you to mute words or people who are assisting you in decluttering their feeds.

Twitter, on the other hand, allows you to heavily customize the content you see in your feed. If you only want to see content from the accounts you strictly follow, select “Following.” If you want to relax a little and see more relevant content, go to the settings and select “For You” to see a mix of relevant content and posts from the accounts you follow.

Because Meta and Twitter rely heavily on advertising revenue, they collect massive amounts of user data from all relevant platforms. Your Twitter feed is always full of advertisements and sponsored content, though Blue subscribers see fewer advertisements.

In fact, Twitter is experimenting with ad revenue sharing with influencers and content creators.

Threads, on the other hand, is currently ad-free. This means that while your feed is ad-free, you cannot promote any posts in order to reach more users.

Can You Communicate With Your Friends on Both Platforms?

The main messaging feature distinction between Twitter and Threads is that Twitter provides in-app messaging while Threads does not. So, in this section of our Threads vs. Twitter comparison, Twitter is the clear winner.

You can use Twitter’s messaging tool to contact mutuals (or any user, depending on their privacy settings) in a variety of ways. Voice messages, photos, GIFs, and texts can all be sent. A tweet can also be easily shared with another user via messages.

Although you can share a Thread with someone via text, there is currently no in-app alternative to tagging someone in a post’s comment box. If you want to contact a Threads user, try their Instagram DMs first.

Is Threads Completely Reliant on Instagram?

Twitter is a self-contained platform governed by its own set of policies and principles. Musk has revealed his plans to turn Twitter into a super app with a slew of new features, including the ability to accept payments.

Threads, on the other hand, is extremely reliant on Instagram. Instagram is responsible for everything, including its policies, log-in credentials, user acquisition, and more. While this reliance has ensured that Threads is the fastest to reach 100 million active users, it does limit users in a close-knit ecosystem, which can be frustrating.

How Many Tweets Constitute a Thread?

Threads allow your Twitter community to easily follow the conversation. Twitter allows you to include up to 25 tweets in a single thread. And, like any other tweet, each tweet in that thread can include images, GIFs, polls, and so on.

What Are Twitter Threads Used For?

A thread can draw an audience to your content, whether you’re Tweeting on your personal profile or for a brand or business. It allows your followers to interact with multiple Tweets and spend more time on your timeline, which may help you reach a larger audience than a single Tweet would.

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Threads vs Twitter: At a Glance