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Threads users down by more than a half

bbc.com

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Re: Threads users down by more than a half

#11

Post by jedberg »

SilasX wrote: post #8

Okay something that confuses me: to replace Twitter (sorry, X), it has to be something whose posts get linked just as much, from outside that site. I have yet to see a single Threads post get linked anywhere -- not here, not Reddit, not even from Facebook. (Edit: Or at least, I'm too ignorant to realize what such a post would look like, in which case, branding fail.)

I've seen threads posts linked from Instagram stories. I think that's the main sharing use case right now. I don't know because I haven't bothered signing up for threads.

Re: Threads users down by more than a half

#12

Post by elicash »

MildRant wrote: post #5
davidw wrote: post #4

It seems to have enough people that it has some legs. I am really looking forward to a web version of it, but otherwise enjoy it, despite some growing pains. Edit I'm here: https://www.threads.net/@davidnwelton Edit2 If I think about it some, the biggest drawback about Threads for me is swapping one egocentric billionaire who is rapidly going off the rails for another who is, for the moment, more stable, but has stil…

I would be awestruck if they made a web version. Instagram goes through great pains to screw web users. Apps have more control and collect more data after all.

They have already said it's in the works.

Re: Threads users down by more than a half

#13

Post by ceejayoz »

elicash wrote: post #7

I think, in retrospect, they made a mistake in launching quickly before having core features. There was a desire to capitalize on twitter technical issues. > Mr Zuckerberg [...] described the situation as "normal" and said he anticipated retention to improve as new features were added to the app. I think if it was normal, they wouldn't have publicly spiked the football after the admittedly incredible signup numbers.…

It'd be a lot more compelling to me if it had a "people I follow" feed. I get that they didn't want it to be empty on launch, but at least giving me the option would mean I could at least have a chance of seeing mainly people I know on there.

Re: Threads users down by more than a half

#14

Post by terhechte »

A part of these users might be europeans? Initially it worked here if you created a US App Store account, but after 10 days they disabled it based on VPN & IP. Like everybody in my European network had the app installed and is not using it anymore because of this.

Re: Threads users down by more than a half

#15

Post by elicash »

ceejayoz wrote: post #13
elicash wrote: post #7

I think, in retrospect, they made a mistake in launching quickly before having core features. There was a desire to capitalize on twitter technical issues. > Mr Zuckerberg [...] described the situation as "normal" and said he anticipated retention to improve as new features were added to the app. I think if it was normal, they wouldn't have publicly spiked the football after the admittedly incredible signup numbers.…

It'd be a lot more compelling to me if it had a "people I follow" feed. I get that they didn't want it to be empty on launch, but at least giving me the option would mean I could at least have a chance of seeing mainly people I know on there.

That launched like a day or two ago -- though it doesn't remember your last setting and is hard to find.

Re: Threads users down by more than a half

#16

Post by SilasX »

jedberg wrote: post #11
SilasX wrote: post #8

Okay something that confuses me: to replace Twitter (sorry, X), it has to be something whose posts get linked just as much, from outside that site. I have yet to see a single Threads post get linked anywhere -- not here, not Reddit, not even from Facebook. (Edit: Or at least, I'm too ignorant to realize what such a post would look like, in which case, branding fail.)

I've seen threads posts linked from Instagram stories. I think that's the main sharing use case right now. I don't know because I haven't bothered signing up for threads.

That's the problem: if you don't sign up (as I haven't), you can remain blissfully unaware of Threads. The same isn't true of Twitter.

I stand corrected on other Meta properties linking it, but, of course, they have to get links outside of that sphere to compete with Twitter on mindshare.

Re: Threads users down by more than a half

#17

Post by mrcwinn »

operatingthetan wrote: post #9

This is being reported in a strange way. We don't typically write about startups gaining initial signups and then compare them to the active users as if they lost something by not getting 100% of them to engage. Do we even have numbers for what percent of twitter users actively engage versus total user base? I don't think they are doing very bad considering it's mobile only right now.

"Not getting 100%" is a bit of a straw man argument.

"Less than half" is significant, particularly when the CEO (to his credit) is calling it out as something that must improve. And it matters to balance the existing narrative from the Verge, which seems to just regurgitate Meta's VP's language about it being a runaway success.

Re: Threads users down by more than a half

#18

Post by input_sh »

ceejayoz wrote: post #13
elicash wrote: post #7

I think, in retrospect, they made a mistake in launching quickly before having core features. There was a desire to capitalize on twitter technical issues. > Mr Zuckerberg [...] described the situation as "normal" and said he anticipated retention to improve as new features were added to the app. I think if it was normal, they wouldn't have publicly spiked the football after the admittedly incredible signup numbers.…

It'd be a lot more compelling to me if it had a "people I follow" feed. I get that they didn't want it to be empty on launch, but at least giving me the option would mean I could at least have a chance of seeing mainly people I know on there.

There should be one? Don't use it personally, but apparently they've introduced it a few days ago: https://www.androidcentral.com/apps-software/threads-update-...

Re: Threads users down by more than a half

#19

Post by laserbeam »

> Meta has since added new features, such as separate "following" and "for you"' feeds

I haven't used Threads, but it's 2023. People have years of experience and expectations using social media, also probably shorter attention spans. I'm fairly sure that an launch ready MVP in 2023 should be WAY more feature full than 5-10 years ago.

I know there are other factors at play here as well regarding retention, but I don't think one can easily recover from a highly popular lauch with uncompetitive features.

Re: Threads users down by more than a half

#20

Post by davidw »

SilasX wrote: post #8

Okay something that confuses me: to replace Twitter (sorry, X), it has to be something whose posts get linked just as much, from outside that site. I have yet to see a single Threads post get linked anywhere -- not here, not Reddit, not even from Facebook. (Edit: Or at least, I'm too ignorant to realize what such a post would look like, in which case, branding fail.)

It took a while for people to start linking to Twitter (sorry, X). I'd give it a bit. You can link to stuff though:

https://www.threads.net/@carnage4life/post/CvPrxHdr4Y2/?igsh...

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