Meta's Threads: A Lost Opportunity in Long Term

When Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the launch of Threads, a new app designed for "close friends," many people were excited. The app seemed to offer a new way to connect with friends and family in a more intimate and personal way.

However, there was one major problem with Threads: it was linked to Instagram accounts. This means that Threads was never really a separate ecosystem. It was always just an extension of Instagram.

This was a missed opportunity for Meta. By linking Threads to Instagram, Meta limited the app's potential reach. Not everyone uses Instagram, so Threads was never going to be able to reach the same number of users as a standalone app.

In addition, linking Threads to Instagram meant that the app was subject to the same privacy concerns as Instagram. Instagram has been criticized for its lax privacy policies, and there is no reason to believe that Threads would be any different.

Finally, linking Threads to Instagram meant that the app was more likely to be used for marketing purposes. Instagram is a powerful marketing tool, and Meta was likely to use Threads to promote its other products and services. This could alienate users who were looking for a more private and personal communication platform.

Why did Zuckerberg link Threads to Instagram?

There are a few possible reasons why Zuckerberg linked Threads to Instagram. One possibility is that he was trying to boost initial signup numbers. By linking Threads to Instagram, Zuckerberg was able to tap into Instagram's existing user base. This likely led to a surge in initial signups for Threads.

Another possibility is that Zuckerberg was trying to make Threads more accessible. By linking Threads to Instagram, Zuckerberg made it easier for people to use Threads. This is because people who already use Instagram would not have to create a new account to use Threads.

However, there are also some downsides to linking Threads to Instagram. As mentioned earlier, this limited the app's potential reach and raised privacy concerns. In addition, linking Threads to Instagram made it more likely that the app would be used for marketing purposes.

What could Meta have done differently?

Meta could have avoided these problems by launching Threads as a standalone app. This would have allowed the app to reach a wider audience and avoid the privacy concerns associated with Instagram. In addition, launching Threads as a standalone app would have made it less likely that the app would be used for marketing purposes.

Of course, there is no guarantee that Threads would have been a success if it had been launched as a standalone app. However, it is clear that linking Threads to Instagram was a missed opportunity. The app could have been a major success if it had been given a chance to stand on its own.

Should have played the long game

In the long run, Meta would have been better off building a fresh new platform for Threads. This would have allowed the app to reach a wider audience, avoid privacy concerns, and be less likely to be used for marketing purposes.

Of course, building a new platform takes time and resources. However, it is clear that Meta is willing to invest in new products and services. If Meta had been willing to invest in Threads, the app could have been a major success.

As it stands, Threads is a lost opportunity. The app could have been a major success, but it was limited by its association with Instagram. In the future, Meta should be more willing to build fresh new platforms, even if it means taking a risk.

In conclusion, Meta's decision to link Threads to Instagram was a lost opportunity. The app could have been a major success if it had been launched as a standalone platform. However, by linking Threads to Instagram, Meta limited the app's potential reach, raised privacy concerns, lost opportunity for users to build an entirely new ecosystem of followers and connections, and made it more likely to be used for marketing purposes.