Creating the “Federal Universe”! What is Threads’ ambition?
Have you Threads-ed today?
Threads, a new social platform launched by Meta, the parent company of Instagram, debuted in July 2023 and attracted tens of millions of users within just seven hours.
As Threads approaches its first anniversary, its monthly active users have surpassed 175 million. However, within Meta’s strategic vision, Threads is more than just a platform for posting or viewing trivial or political content. Threads leverages the “ActivityPub” communication protocol, enabling users to interact across platforms, forming what is known as the “Fediverse.”
Currently, users over 18 with public accounts can access the Fediverse beta, allowing them to share their content across preferred servers and platforms seamlessly.
What makes cross-server and cross-platform interaction special? Let’s first understand the significance of “ActivityPub.”
Threads, a social platform newly launched by Meta, attracted tens of millions of users within seven hours of its launch.
ActivityPub Protocol Empowers User Data Mobility
“ActivityPub” is a protocol standard established by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). Its primary function is to facilitate communication between different servers and allow users to move their data across platforms. This data includes their lists of followers or fans.
Thus, through the ActivityPub protocol, users can control their data, content, and audience, carrying them across any platform, making it unnecessary to re-follow friends or celebrities when using new platforms that support ActivityPub. This data portability is unlike what we’re accustomed to with Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
This “open social network” also implies that social applications built on this protocol are interoperable. Apart from data like follower and fan lists, users’ posts can be viewed or shared across any platform supporting ActivityPub, forming an interconnected Fediverse.
Through the ActivityPub protocol, users can control their data, content, and audience, carrying them across any platform.
Independent yet Interconnected Fediverse
Fediverse, short for Federation Universe, is essentially a social network universe composed of servers that operate independently but can communicate with other servers using the same communication protocol. This includes sharing posts, messages, user information, and more.
Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, mentioned in an interview that the benefit of exchanging data within the Fediverse is that even if someone wants to leave the Threads platform, they can still bring their fans and content with them.
Another improvement to the current state of social media is breaking down barriers to content consumption. For instance, viewing posts or photos on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter often requires setting up a new account. However, with the interoperability of the Fediverse, you can read and share content you like on any compatible system.
If you downloaded the Threads app last year and linked your account, you may notice “threads.net” next to your username on your personal page. Clicking on it will reveal a message previewing future interoperability features across other Fediverse platforms like Mastodon, allowing you to find and interact with others using your full username (e.g., @[email protected]).
“threads.net” next to the username on Threads’ personal page hints at future interoperability features.
Currently, users over 18 with public accounts can access the Fediverse beta. However, it’s important to note that each universe operates independently. Once a post is published to a platform outside Meta’s jurisdiction, Meta relinquishes control and management.
Additionally, many users are curious whether ActivityPub will make Threads a decentralized platform.
In fact, while ActivityPub itself is a decentralized, open network social protocol, Threads remains an application controlled by Meta. Even though users can carry their data with them, Meta still collects personal information while using Threads.
Are Ads on the Horizon?
Threads’ introduction, coupled with the ActivityPub protocol, is changing how people engage with social communities. Beyond users, businesses are also discovering new marketing and advertising opportunities on Threads.
Threads’ compatibility with decentralized social media applications like Mastodon presents unique opportunities for the cryptocurrency industry. For communities valuing peer-to-peer relationships and decentralized operations, this platform feature is crucial.
Unlike traditional social platforms, Threads’ algorithm expands reach and influence, offering marketing professionals advantages in reaching potential investors and cryptocurrency enthusiasts. Additionally, Threads’ rapid user adoption from launch, though currently ad-free, could benefit marketing efforts if advertising hosting is introduced in the future.
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Source:
The Verge
,
BeInCrypto
,
CoinDesk
Proofreading Editor: Gao Jingyuan
