Speaker 1 (00:00):
This week, Facebook’s parent company Meta is set to launch a new social media app called Threads. It’s being seen as an attempt to lure away Twitter users who are unhappy with the current state of the app under the leadership of new owner Elon Musk.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
All right, Fox 5’s, Teresa Priolo joins us now from the newsroom with more on what Meta’s new app will look like and what it means for Twitter. Teresa?
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Yes, Steven and Natasha, Threads is essentially Twitter for Instagram and other Meta platforms. It’s been built to mimic it. And it comes at a time when Elon Musk is changing the way paid users interact with the platform, and some believe it also comes at the expense of those not willing to pay up.
Speaker 4 (00:35):
I feel like you’re not a billionaire unless you’re out of your mind a little bit.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Elon Musk strikes again.
Speaker 5 (00:39):
He’s kind of doing whatever works for him as opposed to what works for his customers.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
The eccentric billionaire and the owner of Twitter shaking things up on the social platform in the hopes of driving revenue. However, the only thing he might be generating is controversy and potentially a mass exodus.
Speaker 5 (00:57):
I’ve really converted over to other social media platforms, so it’s not really been top of mind for me anymore.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Twitter is limiting the amount of Tweets users can see per day based on their subscriber level. In a tweet, Musk said, “Users with verified accounts are limited to reading 6,000 posts a day. Unverified accounts to 600. And new Unverified accounts to 300.”
Speaker 4 (01:21):
I know they’re just burning money, so you got to do something.
Speaker 6 (01:23):
It’s really a shame because a lot of people who’ve been on Twitter, they have a very loyal user base, and they’re like chasing out some of the people who utilize the website.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
He claims the move is temporary to eliminate data scraping and system manipulation. It comes at the same time he’s throttling Tweet deck, allowing access to only verified or paid users. It also coincides with the rollout of Threads by Meta.
Speaker 7 (01:48):
If this is the future that you want to see, then I hope that you will join us.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Threads is essentially Twitter on a Meta platform.
Speaker 8 (01:55):
It will be strategically, intentionally, unashamedly similar to Twitter.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Officially, it’s been categorized as Instagram’s text-based conversation app.
Speaker 8 (02:05):
But I think that the key for this for Meta will be that it gets as many people on as quickly as possible. It makes it as accessible as possible. It has content creators and content that appeals to a broad mainstream audience, and that brands feel that it’s a safe space…
Speaker 3 (02:22):
It is going to be an interesting 24 to 48 hours as we wait for Elon Musk’s reaction and response to Threads. By the way, it’s due to launch on Thursday. Steven and Natasha.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Very well.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
See what happens.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Yeah.