Meta, the firm behind Facebook, has thrown a rather fitting jibe at the Elon Musk-owned X (formerly Twitter) with its newest social media protagonist — Threads. It’s a mobile app that looks like a cross-bred version of X and Instagram.
Threads is purely a text-based app that can be supplemented with relevant imagery making it a more seasoned social tool than Instagram. But there is a lot more to Threads than just a few cool features and differences.
In this post, I am going to highlight just that with a comparative analysis. By the end of this piece, you should better understand how the Threads app works and differs from Instagram.
Key Differences Between Threads and Instagram
Before I delve deeper into the details, here is a quick table showcasing the features supported by Threads and Instagram, respectively. This should be a good headstart to what is about to follow:
| Feature | Threads | |
|---|---|---|
| Intimate communication | Yes | No |
| Real-time status updates | Yes | No |
| Photos and video sharing | Yes | Yes |
| Reels and Stories | No | Yes |
| Dedicated messaging experience | Yes | Yes |
| Enhanced privacy and control | Yes | No |
| Customizable and personalized experience | Yes | No |
| Video calls | No | Yes |
| Standalone text posts | Yes | No |
| Accessibility | Mobile | Mobile & Web |
Threads vs Instagram: Detailed Comparison
I used the Threads app for a week and shall now take up each differentiating parameter and highlight which app feels better for that specific use case. I’d also highlight a few exclusive and undiscovered traits that might just make Threads the next big thing in the social media club.
Note: I have also compared Threads with Twitter in a separate post.
1. Intimate Communication
Meta has designed Threads exclusively for close buddies. This means, that on Threads, for now, you can only connect with people who already follow or are connected to on Instagram. This keeps the conversations mildly private.
Even Instagram has the option to DM users, but it doesn’t simply connect you with known people. As it is the first point of contact for even using Threads, the idea behind Instagram isn’t based on the intimacy of communication.
The photos and videos you share on Instagram are visible to the public, depending on the privacy settings you have turned on.
Key Takeaway: Threads comes out as a clear winner when intimate communication is concerned.
2. Real-time Status Update
Threads feels more like Twitter when it comes to real-time updates. You can post and share anything that is on your mind in a few words. However, unless you plan on starting a live video or sharing a photo/video on Instagram, there is no actual way to send real-time status updates.
Key Takeaway: This round belongs to Threads, as having the flexibility to share text-based updates with friends in real-time is a really handy trait.
3. Media Sharing
Just like Instagram, Threads also allows you to share photos and videos. You can simply choose them from your device while creating a thread or a reply. Plus, you can even add stickers and text to the images.
However, Instagram comes with a better suite of features when media sharing is concerned, as it allows you to play around with effects, filters, and texts and even use the images and videos as stories — active for a short span.
When it comes to Stories and Reels, Instagram requires no introduction as it kind of laid the foundation for creator-friendly tools. On the other hand, Threads is specifically designed for sharing text-based content.
Note: Although Instagram is generally functional for media sharing and consumption, you may sometimes encounter issues such as audio unavailable.
Key Takeaway: When it comes to media sharing, Threads still has a long way to go. Instagram wins this round, hands down.
4. Dedicated Messaging
Threads don’t have a direct messaging option yet. Instead, you can start a Thread-like conversation by mentioning users and making a few privacy tweaks.
Or, you can simply open the profile of the close friend you want to connect with and hit the “Instagram” button to move to the Insta interface and private message the user.
Instagram, however, makes things easier. You can simply click on the message or chat icon in the upper right corner of the profile and start a direct conversation with almost anyone.
Key Takeaway: Despite Threads’ innovation, Instagram easily wins this segment.
5. Enhanced Privacy and Control
Threads has a host of enhanced privacy features, which align with the ethos of transparency and decentralization to a certain extent.
Firstly, you can set selective status updates, viewable to either everyone, close connections, or a handful of individuals, as part of the custom mode.
You can even change the way you receive notifications by either activating all or marking simply the important notifications.
You can even switch off the notifications mode for a more clandestine experience. And yes, you can still mute, report, and block accounts, if needed.
Instagram, on the other hand, doesn’t lag by a lot. It offers a host of privacy settings to allow you to control profile visibility, direct messages, and notifications.
Key Takeaway: If safety and privacy are your priorities, Threads seem like a better bet.
6. Customizable and Personalized Experiences
As far as profile customization goes, Threads lets you do the needful. You can change the bio, profile picture, and even the status. However, you will still need to head over to Instagram to change the profile name.
Threads is also working to bring in custom themes for profiles and even support for custom notifications. Instagram keeps the customizations minimal.
Yes, you can go a lot with the chat interface, bio, and more, but there aren’t active options for setting up a custom theme or custom notifications.
On Instagram, you can select between personal and professional accounts. Professional accounts can be either business or creator accounts, and come with customized tools and features. Compare business vs creator account.
Key Takeaway: Based on what both the apps have to offer in terms of features, I would still prefer Threads when it comes to profile customizability.
7. Text Posts
Threads require no introduction as it has been modeled similarly to Twitter’s text-based support. You can post pieces of text — 500 characters at once. If you want to add videos, you can fit in media that runs for up to 5 minutes or under.
Instagram doesn’t allow standalone text posts but only lets you post images and videos. However, they have got a feature to share small notes. If it’s not yet showing up in your account, here’s how to get it.
Key Takeaway: If you want a Twitter-like experience that doesn’t always need to be supplemented with images, Threads is something to consider.
8. Accessibility
First of all, Threads, for now, is just a mobile app. There is no web version as of now, something Instagram offers. The initial rollout of Threads is expected to hit 100 countries, whereas Instagram is already running strong in 190+ nations.
As for sharing posts is concerned, Threads allows you to share stuff on Instagram and even Twitter. You can even copy post links and use them across your social handles.
Instagram, for now, comes with a much bigger suite of services and sharing options, including direct sharing to Facebook.
Key Takeaway: As of now, Instagram has won this category with ease.
That’s all for the aspect-wise comparison. Now, let me quickly point out the cons of the Threads app to seemingly point out the reasons why it might not be your cup of tea:
- Firstly, Threads still recommends content from profiles that you do not follow. Per Adam Mosseri — Instagram head — this might continue to be a feature until more people come into the mix.
- You cannot kill your Threads profile without getting rid of the Instagram account. This type of dependency is certainly a bummer.
- As of now, you cannot manually search for posts or context on Threads. This is a feature Twitter is pretty good at.
TL;DR: If you want a text-based application that is new, has advertising interruptions, and is mostly friends-focused, which reduces cyberbullying, Threads is the way to go. Else, you can stick to Instagram.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Instagram is needed to use Threads. Even though it is a standalone application, it is connected to your Instagram credentials.
As of now, Threads doesn’t support hashtags. Threads focus more on intimate conversations.
Even though the UI of Threads might look similar to Twitter, there are quite a few differences. Twitter is meant for connecting with the world, whereas Threads is a sucker for intimate conversations.
Threads is considered to be safe as it offers end-to-end encryption and only allows you to connect with close friends — to reduce cyberbullying and other online perils.
Unlike Instagram, which can be accessed via the web, Threads is just a standalone mobile application available on Apple and Android ecosystems.
Wrap Up!
While Instagram is already an established player, Threads is relatively new to the scene. However, in under a week, this new kid on the social block has already attracted over 100 million users — a figure that is a testament to its rise.I want to remind you that I have previously shared a separate post where I compared Threads and Twitter.I want to remind you that I have previously shared a separate post where I compared Threads and Twitter.
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