X and Threads have over 550 million and 175 million monthly active users respectively. X features Spaces, Communities, Polls, monetization avenues, etc. On the other hand, Threads features debates, group chats, engaging threads, great privacy controls, etc.
Each day, new social media platforms keep emerging, and you need to be at the forefront to ensure you remain updated and keep up with the latest trends. The most common ones are TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X (Formerly Twitter), Snapchat, etc. Most people are on the platforms and also strive to join other community apps like Discord to interact with like-minded people.
Threads is a new social media integration affiliated with Instagram. Threads is so similar to X (Formerly Twitter) in its functionality, however, there are certain differences between the two. The Threads app was established to link family and friends to easily share their thoughts and ideas. Unlike X where anyone can see your Tweets, Threads posts are limited to your following.
Social media platforms can play a huge role in the growth of your business and personal interactions. Therefore, you need to always be updated to ensure your brand stands out in all avenues. We will explore the features of Threads and X (Twitter) to see what works best for you or your business.
Comparison Table Of Threads Versus Twitter (X)
Here is a short comparison table of X (Twitter) versus Threads.
Features X (Formerly Twitter) Threads Character limit 280 per tweet 500 per thread post App Availability Yes Yes Accessibility Website, iOS app, Android app iOS app, Android app Price Free but there are some paid exclusive features for verified users. Free Active Monthly Users Over 556 million 0ver 175 million Affiliation/Extension None Instagram Account creation Standalone Need an Instagram account Multimedia content Limited images and videos per post More images and videos per post (horizontal carousel view) Video limit 2 minutes, 20 seconds 5 minutes In-app messaging Yes No Monetization Subscription, ad revenue sharing No Community Building X community, polls Live debate Live features Live videos, spaces No Launch date 21st March 2006 5th July 2023 Posting of videos, photos, links, etc. Yes Yes Features Trending topics, hashtags, X spaces, X community, X subscription mode, Direct Messaging Extended character limit, group chats, live debate, privacy controls
What is X (Twitter)?
X (Formerly Twitter) was established in 2006 but was later taken over by Elon Musk in 2022 and that’s when it changed its name. When it was changed from Twitter to X, more features were added to enhance it, plus a new user interface. It has over 556 million monthly active users making it a great place to reach a larger audience if you want to promote your brands, products, or services.
Additionally, it allows conducting surveys & polls to get a better overview of certain subjects. On X, you share short-form content with a limit of 280 characters per thread. Otherwise, if the story is long, you can create a thread with multiple posts for easy following. It also has an easy-to-use interface making it easy to interact with like-minded people.
Additionally, it is possible to customize your feeds so that you can see what interests you most. The 280-character post limit can lead to misinformation since one can only write short messages, therefore, leading to less information provided leading to misunderstanding or sharing unverified information. Additionally, it is easy to face harassment or cyberbullying on the platform since anyone can comment on anything.
Distinct features of Twitter (X)
Twitter (X) has some distinct features that make it stand out from the Threads platform.
- Trending topics and hashtags – Even if you are not sure of what’s going on, you can check the trending topics & hashtags to check the most discussed subjects and popular discussions. Also, you will be updated on upcoming events & conferences and even engage with your followers.
- X community: X communities allow users with similar interests to create and join groups based on different interests or topics. This leads to more engagement and interactions for deeper conversations.
- Direct messages (DMs) – Just like most popular social media platforms, Twitter (X) allows private conversations/direct messages to ensure personal interactions without necessarily posting publicly. Therefore as a brand, business, or individual, you can benefit from it.
- X Spaces – Spaces are live audio chat rooms where users can host meetings and participate in conversations. This breeds a platform for live discussions where like-minded people can air their views. A host can schedule an X space, invite the public X members, choose speakers, and host it.
- X Premium subscription – X (Twitter) now has a subscription-based model for account verification in which the subscribers enjoy reduced ads, the ability to edit tweets, and creator subscriptions.
What is Threads?
Threads is an extension of Instagram that was launched on 5th July 2023. It got over 70 million users in just two days after launch but boasts over 175 million monthly active users currently. One great thing about Threads which makes it stand out is the “conversation moderation”. It aims to create a space for respectful discussions and easily flags content that is hate speech, threats, sexual content, or even terrorism.
It also has a clean interface that makes it easy to find what you are looking for easily. For instance, if a user posts multiple media files, they will be shown in a horizontal carousel that you can easily swipe through just like on Instagram. Also, it is more limited in that your Threads feed is only visible to those who follow your account. However, it is still possible to create groups and customize your experience there. Unlike most social media platforms, It doesn’t feature any promoted content or ads, however, they might be introduced with time.
In as much as Threads is amazing, it has some limited functions and doesn’t support hashtag or keyword searches. Users can easily like and reply to Threads conversations, however, that kind of engagement is not enough. Since it is an extension of Instagram, you need to first have an IG account to create a Threads account and if you delete an Instagram account, your Threads account goes with it, however, luckily, you can delete Threads independently.
Distinct Features Of Threads
- Extended character limit – In Threads, you have a character limit of 500 per post, allowing you to write more content. This allows you to provide text, links, videos, or photos of your choice to your audience.
- Group chats – It also allows you to create group chats for easy collaborations with other people or even teams. This is a beneficial feature when creating an event or collaborating on a project when in different locations without necessarily leaving Threads.
- Privacy control – One great strength of Threads is the fact that it has a powerful privacy control. For instance, if below 16 years you will be placed under a private profile. Additionally, any Threads user can choose who can mention or reply to their posts. Also, it blocks the accounts you have blocked on Instagram already
- Live Debate – It features themed public conversations that allow users to create a debate topic, join in the debates, and even have real-time discussions. There are also Thread moderators to ensure respectful dialogues.
Comparison between Twitter (X) versus Threads.
Here is a vivid comparison between X and Threads. They both have similar features but have some disparity:
1. User interface
Both X and Threads have an almost similar layout that allows people to scroll through the feed of posts. However, for X, there is a “Home” tab that shows posts from everyone you follow while Threads has a “Direct” tab that shows messages with your friends. It also has a status bar such as Instagram, however, for X, it has a trending tab to stay updated on what's going on.
2. Customization and Discover abilities
X allows you to easily customize your feed based on trending topics, hashtags, interests, “for you” or “following” topics. However, Threads is a bit different, and you can discover more content through your Instagram's main feed, not like X which has a powerful search system. However, Threads introduced a new search feature which is only available for English and Spanish-speaking countries. (It is slowly being rolled out)
3. Ads
X allows creators to create ad campaigns and monetize content to promote products and services. (It has a powerful creator suite). Threads doesn't support ads or monetized content. The only mode of advertising is through crossposts and posting to Instagram for more visibility.
4. Account Deletion option
In X, you can choose to either deactivate or delete your account as you wish. However, since Threads and Instagram are interlinked, when you delete your Instagram account, your Threads account is also deleted. However, if you delete or deactivate your Threads account, your Instagram account won't be affected.
Once you delete the Threads account, you can't open another using the same Instagram account until the end of 90 days. Moreover, there is also a 30-day waiting period before complete account deletion.
5. Account Creation
You can create an X account easily without having any dependency issues; using your email, phone number, etc, unlike Threads in which you must first have an Instagram account. You can then customize your Threads profile as you wish. However, both processes are not hard based on the biography or personal details you want to provide.
6. Safety and Privacy controls
X allows users to set their accounts to be public or private. Threads also have privacy controls that allow users to control who can see their content
X features direct messaging, however, Threads doesn't feature direct messaging and all discussions remain public. Luckily, both X and Threads allow reporting of abusive behavior in which the reports are reviewed by a dedicated team.
7. Approach
X favors free speech with minimal moderation, unlike Threads which prefers meaningful moderated public conversations. Also, X offers premium users many post formats, extended posts, and video lengths however, Threads tends to miss out on some powerful features, but they are slowly being rolled out.
What are The Expected Future Developments for Threads?
Threads is continuously improving to ensure it meets all its users’ needs. You can even share Threads posts in Instagram direct messages, keep track of your liked threads, sort the list of accounts that you follow, add alternative text to images, and mention someone in your Threads post. There are certain expected future developments for Threads that include:
- The “trending topics” feature that will allow users to see the active discussions on each topic. Therefore, users will be able to know what's trending.
- The expected rollout of the “edit button” will make it easy for users to edit their posts five minutes into posting. Unlike previously where one had to delete a post and then repost.
- Another amazing feature still being developed is the “voice threads” which will allow users to create voice posts and even reply to them. The voice threads will be a great alternative for those who prefer voice-over-text.
- The already released “profile-switching” feature allows users to profile-switch on the mobile apps. It is also easy to add new profiles to it.
- In the future Threads will surely introduce “direct messaging (DM)” just like Instagram to enhance communication.
How Best Can You Utilize X?
X will continue to evolve technologically by producing new features and functionalities to enhance user experience and drive engagement. Brands can easily leverage the advancement to create compelling content. Users can utilize X spaces to host and participate in live audio conversations, and utilize Fleets which are temporary tweets that disappear after 24 hours like status/stories to share behind-the-scenes videos.
You can also utilize the lists function to organize accounts, create and share polls, check analytics to see how your account is fairing, monetize your audio conversations through Spaces by selling tickets to the events, use ads to reach a broader customer base and search for latest trends to understand what's going on.
FAQ
Q. How do user experiences compare between X (Twitter) and Threads?
X is known to provide real-time news to keep everyone updated, however, on the other hand, Threads offers a more intimate ad-free environment to provide meaningful conversations. However, X has a large user base which enhances engagement on the platform.
Q. What’s the comparison between engagement levels on X and Threads?
Engagement levels on X (Twitter) are more due to its large user base and public discourse. While Threads is more focused on creating a more engaging environment for in-depth discussions.
Q. How can you generate leads and build a network using the Threads app?
You should share valuable content, use relevant hashtags in your posts like on Instagram, engage other users, run contests & gateways, post regularly, use your bio to introduce yourself & your brand, and use visuals.
Q. What is the cost of having an X premium account?
The basic tier – is $3/month or $32/year, the Premium Tier – is $8/month or $84/year, and the Premium + Tier – is $16/month or $168/year. The price varies based on the country.
Boost Engagement Through Threads and X
Even though Threads has gotten significant recognition since its launch, it lacks brand recognition unlike X (formerly Twitter). Also, X has the ability for monetization, a larger user base, and more features that make it preferred. However, Threads intends to introduce more features which will be rolled out timely.
X is continuously improving to meet all users' needs due to its large user base. It is also a platform that allows high-level engagement and interactions with different kinds of people. Therefore, the strengths of X and Threads make them stand out. Let’s patiently wait for the future of them both. Boost your interactions easily on X and Threads! Don’t be left out.
