Threads just launched last week and I definitely can see how it will be useful in the long run. As a GenXer who embraced tools during the dot.com era and then again during Web 2.0 boom (these terms are aging me right?!), we understood that future success was linked to adopting early.
I remember setting up social profiles on every single platform possible in a desperate hope to maintain relevance and play the game of appearing active everywhere. That indeed did pay off. We spent years of building up content and maintaining active engagement in such a way that certain platforms rewarded us for our content.
We now know that the algorithms evaluate our engagement, and the people who moderate them, associate us with perceived best answers aka Google’s SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages); yesterday’s Organic results and keyword ranking.
Bottom line, we jump in early on head first to the deep end and tinker and play.
Here are our predictions for how Threads will be different (and the same) as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and others before it.
- Atmosphere. The New Yorker says, as Willey Staley wrote in the Times, that “the atmosphere of Twitter has lately gone from one of a decaying dinner party to that of a bar where the bartender has to eject the last swaying patrons.”So for Threads has maintained an excited “who’s here too” vibe and, like other platforms before it, the shiny object factor will wear off and conversations will begin that hopefully do turn into Slack conversations that can be isolated. However, it will most definitely turn into a positive version of Twitter.
- Connections. As a publicist, we spent years reaching out to journalists, media, editors, publishers, celebrities and influencers on Twitter and found great success with starting conversations that either went to DMs or emails or nowhere (not Erewhon – that would have been better – just playing on words here folks).We hope that those that want to truly connect (think Clubhouse 2 summers ago), we believe that Threads will level the playing field once again bringing humility and chillness to starting conversations with banter. Let’s leave debates for those awful comments on other platforms.
- Community. Given that one can’t delete their Threads account without deleting their Instagram account, this forces everyone who started on the platform to go ALL IN.And so we will embrace the community. We could start with a Day 1, Day 2, Day 3 approach until we tire out. We could do a bad dad joke per day.Or one can try to listen to their followers from prior platforms and try to deliver the type of threads that don’t tread in creepy, cringy, annoying…. there’s that.Reinvent yourself and find your voice. Whether you are here showing off your personal style, sharing personality or dropping gems of wisdom/love/etc. – do it.
- Influence.
Tomorrow’s influencers will be those who either had a massive amount of Instagram followers and influencers or are simply those who’s charm, wit and personality are rewarded EARLY ON in today’s opening weeks of the platform. Thrive. Engage.
Just like Meta/Facebook/Instagram’s algorithm rewards your posts in the “For You” Feed vs showing you accounts that you follow…. the more you engage, the more likely you will persuade and get rewarded with top visibility.
It may feel like a non-threatening Hunger Games scenario where there can only be a small group of winners on the social battlefield…. but please do NOT look it at that way. We are here to have fun, make friends, exchange friendly banter, type what we think in sweet little poems, share memes, pontificate about society’s strengths and weaknesses and observe the willingness of many to overshare and under-filter their thoughts, opinions and stresses.
Bad dad jokes and motivational quotes… here we go!
How to sign up to Threads
TOTAL TIME
- 3-5 minutes.
WHAT YOU NEED
- Your iPhone or Android
- and your Instagram login.
Step 1: Download the Threads app.
On either your iPhone or Android, open the Google Play store or Apple Store on your phone. Search “Threads” and hit download. The app is free. (You can also find a direct link in your Instagram app — tap the three lines in the top right corner to open Settings, then click “Threads”, which will take you to your app store.)
Step 2: Log in with Instagram.
When you open the Threads app, a button at the bottom of the screen will guide you to log in with your Instagram account. You can switch between Instagram accounts, choosing which one to use, if necessary.
Step 3: Create your profile.
From there, you’ll be asked to create a profile, with a picture, a bio, and the option to add links. You can also import your info from Instagram, so whatever is in your current Instagram profile automatically migrates to Threads.
Step 4: Decide whether you want your profile to be public or private.
Threads will then ask you to choose between public and private profiles. With a public account, anyone on or off Threads can see your content. If private, your account will only be available to approved followers.
Step 5: Follow accounts.
You can either instantly follow all the accounts you already follow on Instagram, or choose who to follow manually. If you follow someone who isn’t on Threads yet, they’ll appear as “pending” until they’ve joined.
Step 6: Start exploring!
Your account is now ready to go. You can browse through the home page, follow more accounts, and post your own Threads. If your feed is full of accounts you don’t follow, you can change the settings using this guide. Let’s see how it all works out.
Now you’re signed up, Mashable has a few guides that might make your arrival on Threads a little smoother.
- How to pause notifications on Threads
- How to change your Threads feed to accounts you actually follow
- How to hide Threads replies based on specific words
- How to unblock Threads from the EU
