Meta, run by Mark Zuckerberg, is set to launch a web version of its microblogging app Threads next week, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
The report said that this move is aimed at reviving the app’s dwindling popularity and challenging competitors such as Elon Musk’s X Corp.
The desktop version of Threads, is expected to be introduced early this week, and responds to user demands for a more versatile platform.
While the text-first social media app initially garnered attention upon its July launch, usage has recently sunk, with users complaining about the absence of essential features, including a full web version.
Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram, confirmed the impending web version launch, stating that it is currently undergoing internal testing at Meta.
“It’s a little bit buggy right now, you don’t want it just yet. As soon as it is ready we will share it with everybody else,” he said.
Threads grew rapidly, becoming the fastest app to reach 100 million downloads in just five days.
Threads: Functionality limits, declining popularity
However, its popularity declined due to its limited functionality. Meta has also introduced other features recently, such as post notifications and chronological feeds.
Usage of the app has dropped significantly, with SimilarWeb reporting an 85 percent decrease in time spent on the app. From nearly 50 million daily active users worldwide at its peak, Threads now has less than 10 million users.
X Corp., formerly Twitter, has about 363.7 million monthly active users and 237.8 million daily active users as of July 2022, maintaining its competitive edge.
A web version of the text-based social media app is expected to enhance Meta’s position in the rivalry with X Corp, offering wider reach and better data collection capabilities.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg also announced plans for an improved search feature for Threads in the near future, focusing on enhancing the user experience by allowing keyword-based post searches.
Follow us on
