What Authors Need to Know About the Latest Social Media Platform: Threads

I can sense the collective eye-roll happening right now…another social media outlet?! 

You can breathe a sigh of relief - I’m not telling you that you have to join. But I do think it’s important for you to be aware of things that are happening on social media and to see if it might be a good fit or if it’s something you might actually be interested in. 

In a nutshell, Threads was launched by Meta’s Instagram division in response to what’s been happening with Twitter. Ever since Twitter changed ownership late last year it has been going downhill very quickly. Twitter used to be a great place to talk about current events and I know many people really miss how that community and platform used to be.

So when Meta announced Threads this week, I was curious and signed up. Let’s explore what Threads is all about and why you might want to check it out for yourself.  

How Threads Work

If you’ve used Twitter before, it’s very similar…but it doesn’t feel as clunky as Twitter does. You can share the same type of content that you would share on other outlets, but it limits the text to 500 characters. Something that many authors loved about Twitter was that it was more text based and conversational. This is the vibe that Threads is going after as well. 

The focus, as the name implies, is creating conversation threads with followers on topics that are important to you.

How do hashtags, photos, and videos work?

Hashtags don’t seem to be prevalent right now, but that could change. It doesn’t have a “suggested hashtags” feature or anything like that. I expect to see more changes and improvements coming in the next few months. But Threads allow up to 10 images in a single post (just like on Instagram). This is a step up from Twitter which only allowed four images in a single post.  The maximum length of a video you can upload is 5 minutes - more than twice of what Twitter allows without paying for their blue checkmark subscription.

The Benefits of Using Threads

For authors who favor more text focused posts rather than photos or video, Threads is going to be a great place for you. It can be easier for writers to engage with readers by simply typing out some text rather than creating a video or graphic. 

Secondly, it’s very easy to set up. If you have an Instagram account and want to set up Threads, you just download the app and you can transfer your Instagram username, bio, and profile image. It takes less than 30 seconds. And you get a head start with followers, since all of your Instagram followers who have joined Threads transfer over as well.

With the high maintenance of creating videos, graphics and other visuals, Threads seems to be a welcome addition to the social media space. I’ve spent some time on there today and I actually really enjoyed it! This surprised me because I was not a fan of Twitter. 

What Authors Should Share on Threads

When authors focus on creating content that connects with their readers - unlike chasing trends or specific outlet requirements - what you post will be relevant on whichever social media outlet you are on. The outlet isn’t the answer - it’s what you share, and that’s your content. 

That’s why I created The Content Vault for Writers - it has over 365 content ideas (that work on any social media platform) a content calendar, tools to come up with new ideas, and more. You can get your copy here. 

Do you have to join Threads? No you don’t. Can you observe it for a while to see if it’s the right fit for you? Absolutely! It’s always good to be aware of what’s going on and making the decision that is best for you. And since getting started is so easy for Instagram users, why not try it out?

If you have questions, let me know in the comments! 

And don’t forget to grab your copy of The Content Vault for Writers - so you know exactly what to post, no matter what social media outlet you use.