Threads, introduced by Instagram (a Meta property), is a dedicated app for intimate sharing and real-time chat. Launched officially in July 2023, the point is to present a parallel alternative to the now X owned service where you can post your thoughts. Upon logging into Threads with their Instagram credentials, users automatically follow the same accounts and carry their machine-curated network over to the app. The app is about speedy, simple posting — you can even blast 500 characters at once and share media. It is designed to work in unison with Instagram, allowing its users to take content from people they follow on its photo-sharing app and interact with their Stories in a dedicated space for ‘real’ moments, with no high-gloss, social celebrity polish.