Meta’s Threads platform is now available in the European Union , according to the company’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg . “ Today we’re opening Threads to more countries in Europe ,” Zuckerberg wrote in a post on the platform. The app was initially launched in the US and more than 100 other countries around the world, including the UK, in July 2023. However, until now it was not available to users in the EU, and the company had even blocked access via VPN.
In addition to the platform's launch, Meta is giving users in the region the ability to browse Threads without needing a profile. However, posting or interacting with content will still require an Instagram account.
See also: Threads now brings tags (similar to hashtags)
Meta was said to have been delayed in bringing Threads to European Union countries due to a recent digital market law designed to curb abuses by Big Tech companies and level the playing field. While Meta didn’t directly name the law, Instagram chief Adam Mosseri said the delay was due to “ the complexity of complying with some of the laws that will come into effect next year .”
See also: How to use Threads without an Instagram account?
There was speculation that Threads' close connection to Instagram could cause problems with EU regulators. When the app launched in July 2023, users had to sign up using their existing Instagram accounts. Threads amassed 100 million users within days, but it raised concerns that Meta could be violating rules against self-preferencing.
Threads is no longer as tightly tied to Instagram. In mid-November, the platform added the ability for users to delete their Threads account without affecting their Instagram account. But you still need an account to post on the service.
See also: How to temporarily disable your Threads account
While Threads was immediately very popular (due to Instagram and the chaos that was going on at the time with Elon Musk and Twitter), the data showed that users gradually declined. Now, with its launch in the European Union, it is almost certain that Threads will gain many new users. It remains to be seen how the public will respond.
As Threads continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how this platform will impact the way users communicate and share information online.
Source: www.theverge.com
