ads FAQ – Everything you need to Know about marketing

Since its launch on July 5, Threads is the fastest growing social media platform ever.

In the first hour, Meta received five million sign-ups. This was just three months after Meta announced that it was developing an version of Twitter.

It is a big deal for marketers to hear about Threads, as they have taken a step back after Elon Musk took over Twitter last year. This resulted in a 59% decrease in ad spending across the US. Marketers now explore new platforms for their campaigns, without compromising on quality or reach.

What is the best alternative to Threads for advertisers? What you need to Know…

What is Threads?

Threads is the new social network app operated by Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta Platforms. It is tightly integrated with Instagram and is currently available only on iOS or Android devices. Meta describes Threads as ‘Instagram’s text-based chat app.

Threads allows users to share updates, text, images, and videos. They can also interact with the posts of other users by liking, reposting, and replying. Threads, as described on the app store is:

• The place where communities can come together and discuss anything from what you’re interested in today to the next big thing.
• You can connect with other people who share the same interests and build your own loyal following to share your opinions, ideas and creativity.

Zuckerberg says that although the app and Twitter are similar in many ways, one key difference is the emphasis on “kindness” or being “friendly”. He wrote this on his Threads page:

• The goal is to maintain its friendliness as it grows. “I think it is possible and will ultimately lead to its success.”
• We want to change the way we do things.
• “We will definitely focus on kindness and make this a friendly environment.”

Threads and Instagram are very tightly integrated. Users can’t even sign up for Threads without having an Instagram account.

How many people are on Threads?

Since its launch, Threads has been used by more than 100 millions people.

Zuckerbeg, who has his own Threads page, commented on his app’s success so far.

• Threads has reached 100 million signups in the past weekend.” “That’s mostly natural demand, and we haven’t turned on any promotions yet.”
• “I can’t believe that it has only been five days!”

It took Instagram a full week to reach 100,000 users when it launched in 2010.

What brands have already signed up for Threads?

According to the National Retail Federation, nine of the ten largest retailers have activated their Threads accounts. This includes Walmart, Kroger and Kroger. Costco is the only retailer that has not yet activated their accounts on Threads.

Only Reese’s, one of the five largest consumer brands in the world, has signed up. Only Nike, out of the top 10 fashion brands has activated their account. This is believed to be because advertisers want to wait and see how Threads grows before committing.

Other big names, like Calvin Klein, Kith Allbirds Shein Uniqlo and Uniqlo, have already signed up and have accounts.

What celebrities have signed up for Threads?

Many famous people have joined Threads, including Oprah and Jennifer Lopez. Kim Kardashian, Shakira, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kim Kardashian are also members.

Sex and the City’s Parker announced that she has joined Threads via her Instagram account. She wrote:

• “I’m giddy in the hope that @threadsapp is a new way to share titles of books, photos of my time spent in NYC or elsewhere, and support for our libraries. I can also share a thin-cut pork chop cooked on the bone, or whatever else you think deserves your attention.
• “I hope @threadsapp could prove to be a place where people are kind, thoughtful and don’t feel compelled to be mean or aggressive… this could mark a new era.”

Does Threads contain ads?

The option for marketers to buy ad space is not available on Threads. Sources told Axios, however, that Instagram is working to make their branded content tool available soon. Ads are expected to be added when Threads reaches critical mass. Marketers are encouraged to disclose paid partnerships using text or hashtags until then.

Instagram and other Meta brands launched without advertising. Instagram is now one of its biggest revenue sources.

Why is Threads not available in Europe?

Threads is currently not available in the European Union. It’s because Threads’ data privacy practices are not in compliance with the EU Digital Markets Act.

Carissa Veliz, an associate professor at the Institute for Ethics in AI at the University of Oxford, told the Guardian:

• “Meta is not only continuing to use its current business model but also wants to continue to run targeted advertising, which is essentially surveillance advertisement.”
• “To this end, the company tries to collect as many data points as possible, and to continue on the same path as it did from the beginning despite all scandals, public backlash, warnings from regulators, fines. It is not reimagining the business model in order to be more respectable towards its users.
• It can include race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, biometrics, union membership, pregnancy status and political beliefs. All of these data could be sent to a third party.

There are currently no plans to launch Threads in EU-based countries. A person with knowledge of the matter has told Bloomberg Meta is waiting for further guidance on the Digital Marketing Act in order to determine if a launch in the EU will be possible later.

More details are expected from the European Commission, but not before September. The launch date of Threads in EU countries has not yet been confirmed.

How does Threads track users?

Threads collects a large amount of data about its users in the same manner as Meta’s Facebook and Instagram platforms. Meta’s applications collect and store the information users provide, including sensitive data such as:

• Information on health and fitness
• Financial information
• Location
• Browse history
• Search History
• Address
• Email Address
• Phone Number
• Cameras
• Photos
• Information about IP
• What type of device is being used?
• Signals from devices (such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi access points and cell towers nearby)

In addition to this, Threads stores data about how users interact with posts as well as who they follow.

The EU is concerned about the privacy of data stored by Threads.

Is Threads a safe product?

Threads enforces Instagram’s Community Guidelines for content and interaction. Users must be 13 or older to qualify for a private account. Users under 16 (or 18 years in some countries), will get one automatically. Parents are advised to still monitor their children’s online activities.

The users will be able to filter their settings so that they can control who is able to reply to them via text. Users will also be able block unwanted accounts, and any accounts they have blocked on Instagram on Threads will be automatically blocked.

Meta has invested over $16 billion in protecting users of its platforms, and stated that Threads safety is a priority.

What search terms can I use on Threads

Threads differs from Twitter in that you cannot currently search for topics or hashtags. Users can currently only search for other users, both those that they follow and those that they do not follow.

If a user does not already follow a profile that appears in the Threads results, he or she can choose to follow it immediately.

Why is an Instagram account required to join Threads

Meta announced on its Instagram blog that Threads would be linked to people’s Instagram accounts. It explained the reasons behind this decision:

• Our vision for Threads is that we take the best of Instagram and extend it to text. This will create a space where you can express yourself creatively and positively.
• Like Instagram, Threads allows you to connect and follow friends and creators that share your interests. This includes people you follow from Instagram.
• The benefits of open social networks protocols extend far beyond how people can follow one another. Developers can create new features and user interfaces that can be easily integrated into other open social networks. This speeds up innovation and experimentation. Each app compatible can set their own standards for community and content moderating policies. This allows people to select spaces that match their values.
• We believe that this decentralized approach will be important in the future development of online platforms. It is similar to email protocols and the web.
• “Threads, Meta’s first social network app, is compatible with open protocols. We hope that joining this rapidly-growing ecosystem will help people find the community they are looking for, regardless of what app they use.”

How do I change my username on Threads

Your username and name are shared between your Instagram profile and Threads. To change your Threads username, you must change your Instagram account name. You can do this by following these steps:

• To load your profile, tap the profile icon at the bottom-right corner.
• Click on the “Editor Profile” button located below your bio.
• The user can now enter a new Instagram name in the Username box.
• Select the checkmark at the top-right corner of the screen to save the settings.

What are the posting restrictions on threads?

Posts and videos are restricted.

• Posts_ Users are limited to posting posts of a maximum 500 characters. They can however include photos, videos, and links.
• Videos Video length is limited to five minutes.

What is Threads?

Threads is an app that works in a way similar to Twitter. How to get started

• You’ll need to sign up for an Instagram account if you don’t already have one. Sign up for Instagram if you don’t already have one.
• Sign in to the Threads App using your Instagram login details.
• After you log in, you will be asked if you want to follow the accounts you already follow on Instagram.
• It will then suggest that you follow other profiles it believes may be interesting to you.
• The app is now ready to use. You will see a mix of content from the people you follow and posts that are recommended. You can interact with these posts either by liking, replying, reposting or quoting them.
• You can also share videos, photos and posts on your profile, just like Twitter.

How do you delete your Threads account?

Users can deactivate their account by going to the profile tab and accessing the settings menu at the top-right corner. Then, they will press the “Account” button. The user will be asked to confirm whether they want to deactivate the profile.

After deactivating the profile, previous posts and interactions of a user will no longer appear on Threads. Deactivating a user profile does not affect the data collected by the platform or the Instagram account linked.

When a user deletes their Instagram account, Threads will be deleted as well. Logging back into the app is all it takes to reactivate a profile.

Instagram users who wish to permanently delete their account, rather than deactivate temporarily, will have to delete the account.

Does Threads replace Twitter?

Meta CEO Zuckerberg believes that Threads will eventually be larger than Twitter, but it will still take some time.

• He said: “I believe there should be an app for public conversations with over 1 billion people.” Twitter has the chance to do this, but hasn’t done it well. “Hopefully we will.”

Threads is a huge success. Twitter traffic dropped 5% during its first two operating days compared to a week prior. According to the web analytics firm SimilarWeb, it was also down 11% compared to a similar period a year ago.

Deep dive. For more information about how Meta uses your data, and how to delete a Threads Account, read the Threads Supplemental Policy.

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