Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg has claimed that Instagram’s new text-based app and Twitter competitor, Threads, gained over 10 million new users in the first seven hours after it went live.
The chairman and CEO behind Facebook and Instagram says that the new Twitter-like social media app which launched on Wednesday, 6 July, managed to accrue 5m new accounts in just four hours before doubling that amount in the following three. Wowzers.
However, given that it is essentially a text-based companion to Instagram and people on the photo-centric app can create the accompanying account with the press of a button, it could potentially rise to around 2 billion in the coming weeks.
Marketed as the chat-based version of Instagram, Threads ports over all your profile’s existing details and followers and allows users to carry out “real-time updates and public conversations”. After taking one glance, you can quite clearly see that it is quite literally just Twitter without the same logo:
Yes, we can confirm that The Manc is one of those 10m+ Threads users.
From controversies surrounding freedom of speech, purging bots along with verified accounts and the whole ‘Twitter blue’ subscription thing, not to mention most recently limiting how posts people can see in a day, the billionaire kind of just made what was a straightforward app into a bit of a mess.
The platform had never been perfect (far from it) and certainly needed improvements, especially when it came to things like racism, misinformation, online abuse and so on, but with this stripped-back alternative now on offer, it seems millions are likely to make the move away from it.
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Threads allows you to like, reply, repost; pretty much do everything else Twitter already did and more, only Zuckerberg didn’t have to pay £38.1bn to have his company’s name on it, admitting: “Twitter has had the opportunity to do this but hasn’t nailed it. Hopefully we will.”
Kicking off the social media platform with the first ever thread, the 39-year-old simply tweete——sorry, posted, “Let’s do this. Welcome to Threads”, along with a fire emoji. He also went on to say that although it will obviously take time, he predicts there will be “over a billion people on it” before we know it.
Some of the advantages the new app definitely does have over its spiritual predecessor is that character limit, which taps out at 500, as well as the ability to not only share the usual links and pictures but also videos of up to five minutes.
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While Threads is currently unavailable in the EU as it is yet to be fully reviewed by the union’s privacy and data protection regulator, it has already rolled out in over 100 different countries including the UK, US, Ireland and Australia.
Zuckerberg also insisted that this is merely an “initial version” of the app and that the team at Meta will keep developing the platform and intend to “actively listen to feedback” from the community already growing on there. The question is, will Threads see Twitter go extinct or do you think it’s a bubble waiting to burst?
Featured Image — The Manc Group (via Threads)/Wikimedia Commons
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Manchester United issue response after banning Manchester Evening News and select journalists from press conference
Danny Jones
The Manchester Evening News (MEN) along with a number of sports journalists have reportedly been banned from attending a Manchester United press conference after publishing a story on an apparent rift at the club, claiming that manager Erik ten Hag has ‘lost the dressing room’.
The popular local outlet shared the news that their own journalists and three other media channels have been “blocked from attending ten Hag’s pre-match press conference” this Tuesday, 5 December ahead of the Chelsea game on Wednesday night following an article published at the start of the week.
Citing the reason behind the ban as being due to Chief Man United Writer and well-known sports reporter, Samuel Luckhurst’s recent story, which claimed that ten Hag is “losing the confidence” of his players, he and at least three other journalists won’t be in attendance after Sky Sports went so far as to suggest as much as “50%” of the dressing room.
It is thought that Sky‘s chief reporter Kaveh Solekhol, David McDonnell of The Mirror and ESPN‘s Rob Dawson are among the other individuals to have been barred from joining this afternoon’s presser as per instruction from United‘s Director of Media Relations and Public Affairs, Andrew Ward.
❌ The MEN are amongst a number media outlets that have been BANNED from today's press conference at Old Trafford.
Erik ten Hag and the club are clamping down on the likes of Samuel Luckhurst who continue to generate "negative" reports within the team…#MUNCHE | #MUFCpic.twitter.com/9MmVmHM5Sr
Journos from the MEN, Sky Sports, Daily Mirror and ESPN are said to have been banned from the United vs Chelsea pre-match interview.
Issuing a statement to The Manc and journalists across the country, the club said: “We’re taking action against a number of news organisations today, not for publishing stories we don’t like, but for doing so without contacting us first to give us the opportunity to comment, challenge or contextualise.
“We believe this is an important principle to defend and we hope it can lead to a re-set in the way we work together.” It is unclear how long the suspension is set to be upheld but it is likely they will only serve a one-match ban — pardon the pun.
The MEN reiterated that the initial story was “multiply-sourced”, adding that they had not been banned as a result of previous stories that were largely seen as critical of the Man United head coach and/or his squad, including prior claims players were starting to “doubt” his tactics and managerial style.
Furthermore, the outlet goes on to state that several other journalists have claimed they were prevented from asking questions in press conferences by Ward in the past “over perceived negative coverage”, adding that the club have expressed their “regret” over having to issue the ban. The move has been welcomed by many fans, with several saying it is reminiscent of Sir Alex Ferguson’s hardline approach to the media.
Luckhurst and the MEN banned by todays press conference…
Man United have made one of their worst starts to a campaign in decades and, despite winning their first trophy in six years under the Dutchman with an EFL Cup win last season, have unfortunately been breaking all manner of unwanted records of late.
ten Hag’s team suffered another disappointing loss against Newcastle at the end of November and now face another tricky task as they prepare to face a Chelsea side who are starting to gather some semblance of form.
Countless Reds and neutrals alike will no doubt now be tuning in for his pre-match press conference at 1:30pm ahead of the mid-week Premier League fixture against the West Londoners on Wednesday night (8:15pm kick-off).
The former Ajax manager has made no secret of the troubles he faced when he first arrived at Old Trafford but is clearly keen to avoid others from airing any of their rumoured dirty laundry.
"I had to set some standards"
Erik ten Hag claims there was not a good culture among staff and players before he joined Man United 😬pic.twitter.com/DJWe42mDXY
Featured Images — The Manc Group/Manchester United
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Adult film star and LGBTQ+ icon Sophie Anderson dies aged 36
Danny Jones
Adult film star and much-loved LGBTQ+ icon Sophie Anderson has sadly died aged just 36, as confirmed by colleague, influencer and friend Rebecca More.
The recognisable UK porn star and internet personality, best known for being one-half of the viral online duo ‘C*ck Destroyers’ alongside More, was announced dead on Tuesday, 5 December following reports from numerous media outlets before being confirmed by her former co-star.
Sharing the news on social media, Rebecca wrote: “I’m devastated hearing the awful news of Sophie’s passing. We shared some amazing times together and that’s how I’m going to remember her.
Anderson’s death comes just over a fortnight after the shocking passing of her boyfriend, Oliver Spedding (a.k.a. ‘Damian Oliver’), another fellow actor in the adult industry and former Crystal Palace youth player. Neither his nor her cause of death has been released at this time.
As the statement goes on to say, she describes the Bristol-born performer as “the bubbly, funny, kind-hearted soul who was outrageous on the outside but also so gentle behind closed doors.”
Despite having parted ways following a fall-out back in May 2021, More insisted: “We were very close, and we shared a crazy time together that was totally unique to us. That’s how I will remember her.”
She signed off by adding, “This is so tragic but I know you are now at peace. I will always, always love you and hold a special place in my heart”.
Her heartfelt sentiment was echoed online as countless people on social media have paid tribute to the viral sensation who was an advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community and all things queer culture, as well as sex positivity in general.
Sophie Anderson, social media superstar and 1/2 of the C*ck Destroyers, has passed away. She was a champion of sex positivity, an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, and a truly joyous member of the community.
As mentioned, it was only on 17 November that her ex-partner Spedding himself passed away, but the former footballer was also disturbingly found to be the one behind previous claims she had died that turned out to be a hoax earlier this year.
Regardless, the news unfortunately appears to be genuine this time and it’s clear from the reaction online how saddened so many people from all walks of life are to learn of her passing.
Rest in peace.
We’re so sad to hear about the death of Sophie Anderson.
Sophie and Rebecca have done so much to support our work — taking on challenges to raise money and tackle HIV stigma.
Danny Jones -
6th July 2023 
