Instagram Threads vs. Twitter: What's the Difference?

It's a digital showdown as Meta's new app, Instagram Threads, steps into the Twitter arena. Here's what you need to know:

1. With Threads, you'll log in using your Instagram credentials and can choose to carry over your Instagram profile and follow list. Deleting your Threads account means saying goodbye to your Instagram account too. Twitter, on the other hand, stands alone - you can create, manage, and delete your account independently of other social media platforms.

2. Twitter allows access both on a website and mobile app. Threads, for now, is exclusively mobile, available only on iOS and Android app stores.

3. Threads is free with no current ads, but this could change given Instagram's ad-heavy approach. Twitter also features ads and offers premium features via their "Twitter Blue" subscription ($8/month or $84/year).

4. Verification on Threads carries over from Instagram. Twitter, however, now allows you to buy a verification badge via a Twitter Blue subscription.

5. Threads allows for lengthier posts with a 500-character limit, outpacing Twitter's 280-character limit.

6. Both platforms let you share website links, videos, images, and GIFs. However, Threads allows you to post up to 10 items at once, whereas Twitter restricts you to four. Threads also has a carousel-like feature for browsing collections of photos and videos.

7. Both platforms allow likes, comments, reposts, and shares. Threads' Activity tab lets you monitor all your interactions. On Twitter, you can view all your past likes in a separate tab.

8. Threads provides a singular feed that includes content from accounts you follow and trending posts. Twitter gives you a bit more control, letting you opt for either a personalized feed or one strictly from accounts you follow. Currently, Threads only allows account searches, making it less suitable for finding news or trending topics.

9. Twitter has an in-built messaging feature, while Threads does not. You'll need to head over to Instagram DMs to privately chat with Threads users.

It's clear both platforms have unique strengths and potential drawbacks. As always, the best choice depends on your needs as a user.