Meta Platforms, a major market-cap company, launched its Threads social network in 2023.
Threads was released on July 5, 2023, as a text-focused social-media service developed by Instagram. Users could sign up using an Instagram account, linking the new service to Meta's existing social-network ecosystem.
The launch was widely viewed as Meta's response to changes and uncertainty surrounding Twitter, now known as X. Threads initially became one of the fastest-growing online services, although its engagement levels changed after the opening surge.
Threads is not the same product as Instagram's earlier messaging features or Facebook's text-posting system. Meta has continued adding features, including a web interface, chronological feeds, search improvements, and integration with the broader fediverse through ActivityPub testing.