More than 10 million people have signed up to a new app touted as a rival to Twitter within hours of its launch, according to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. The platform, known as Threads, was developed by Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram.
It went live in the UK at midnight on Thursday. The launch was brought forward by 15 hours and made available in 100 countries, excluding the EU due to regulatory concerns. Linked to Instagram, Threads allows users to post up to 500 characters of text, five minutes of video and links, as well as pictures.
High-profile figures such as chef Gordon Ramsay, pop star Shakira, and YouTuber LadBaby have already joined Threads. Downing Street is reportedly considering getting Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the app. His official spokesman said: "As with other social media sites we will use the best tools available to us to communicate the Government's priorities to the public. This one was launched today, we'll evaluate it and make a decision at the appropriate time."
