In a notable turn of events on July 6, 2023, social media giant Twitter sent a formal letter to Meta, formerly known as Facebook, accusing the company of misappropriating its trade secrets and intellectual property. The grievance is particularly aimed at Meta’s development of a new social media app, Threads.
Semafor first reported the contentious letter, which suggests that Meta recruited several former Twitter employees privy to confidential information about Twitter’s products and services. Twitter alleges that Meta exploited this inside knowledge to shape the development of Threads, a text-based social media app bearing striking similarities to Twitter.
Within the letter, Twitter emphatically demanded that Meta desist from using any of Twitter’s intellectual property or trade secrets. The social media platform also reserved the right to pursue legal action should Meta fail to heed their warnings.
However, Meta staunchly denied the allegations, insisting that no ex-Twitter employees were implicated in the development process of Threads. Moreover, Meta maintained that Threads is a “completely new product,” developed independently of any Twitter influence.
Despite the public exchanges, it remains to be seen if Twitter will escalate the matter to a lawsuit. Nevertheless, the allegations expressed in the letter underscores Twitter’s dissatisfaction with Meta’s launch of Threads.
Threads, a newcomer in the social media landscape, is designed as a more intimate and personal conduit for connecting with friends and family. It offers users the ability to share photos, videos, and text messages with a curated group of individuals. Notably, Threads is integrated with Instagram, facilitating effortless sharing of content on Instagram Stories.
Following a beta release in 2022, Threads was officially launched for the general public in July 2023. However, its arrival has stirred mixed reactions among users. Some laud the app for its focus on personal connection, while others criticize it as an imitative Twitter clone.
According to Dexerto, Threads amassed over 44 million registered users in less than 24 hours after its public launch on July 5, 2023. This means that the app averaged about 1.8 million new users per hour.
It is worth noting that this number is based on registered users, not active users. It is possible that some of these users have not actually used the app. However, the sheer number of registered users in such a short period of time is still impressive.
The long-term performance of Threads remains uncertain. If it proves successful, Twitter may have a formidable competitor on its hands. Conversely, if Threads fails to captivate a substantial user base, it could be deemed a failed venture by Meta. Either way, the tension between the two social media giants suggests that the battle for dominance in the digital realm is heating up.
