I know my web3 friends do not care about web2 platforms, but as a content creator who is curious about everything (and make content for his Web 2 friends), I decided to check out the most trending topic today about the Twitter-killer dapp, Meta-Thread.
I use the term Meta-Thread because there is another Thread app, Leo-Thread, a decentralised social media dapp that was launched two months ago on the Hive blockchain. Surprising right? Well not really. Most web2 platforms like Meta-Thread copy ideas from Web 3 platforms. There are several examples but that's not why we are here today.
Today, I will review the Meta-Thread platform, highlighting its pros and cons. In addition, I will also share my first-hand experience on the app and compare it to Twitter and LeoThread.
So Meta-Thread is a microblogging platform by Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook. The application has a very minimalistic design which is its key feature. It takes away all the complexities associated with most microblogging platforms and gives the user a clean experience.
Also, Meta-Threads integrates seamlessly with its sister app, Instagram. Users are required to sign up with their Instagram account. So anonymity won't be a huge issue as accounts can easily be traced to their Instagram/Facebook/WhatsApp applications. This might be a deal breaker for those who would like to maintain different personas or anonymity in the digital space.
When it comes to content discovery, Meta-Thread is relatively poor. The algorithm doesn't factor in users' interests. You simply get bombarded with content from influencers and celebrities. Also, the hashtag feature is missing (not working), so users cannot curate content effectively. If you don't have a decent following on Instagram, there is a huge chance you have a poor user experience on Meta-Thread
Also, Meta-Thread is a controlled digital environment. There have been reported cases of censorship and I had my fair share of it earlier today. After posting a link to my leofinance article, I noticed that my content was shadowbanned. That for me was a huge red flag. It is certainly not a space for free speech which is consistent with Zuckerberg's other platforms.
TWITTER VS THREAD
There isn't much of a comparison here, Twitter is more advanced than Meta-thread with tons of valuable features, i. e spaces, communities, etc Threads cannot grow or develop along those lines because it already has Facebook. It would be redundant to add more features to Meta-Threads.
I honestly do not think much thought was put into creating Meta-Threads. I think Zuckerberg saw an opportunity to capitalize on Twitter's recent bad PR. Maybe new features would be added to Thread to make it stand out because it looks and feels like a poor imitation of Twitter.
LEOTHREADS VS META-THREAD
In terms of size, Meta-Threads overshadows Leo-Threads. There is no competition here. Meta-Thread was created on the back of Meta's usernase which no platform can rival. However, Leofinance Team are not gunning for 70 million users (now). Rather, they are focused on building a solid product with longterm benefits for its users and the web 3 space.
Feature-wise, Leo-Thread is superior to Meta-Threads. Leo-Thread is built on a decentralized blockchain with high censorship resistance and an inbuilt wallet that allows users to transfer value seamlessly. Also, users can earn from their creative endeavours or interactions. This posts Leo-Threads light years ahead of its Web 2 counterparts.
Who should use Thread?
Well, if you are looking for a watered-down version of Twitter and you don't mind being shadow-banned then Meta-Thread is the right platform for you. If you also have a large following on Instagram you will also gain some traction on Meta-Threads. Asides from these options you are better off exploring decentralised social media platforms that offer value not only to the creators but the consumers as well.