Instagram is expected to launch its “text-based conversation” app, Threads, in the near future. If plans move forward as many expect, the app will enter a growing field of Twitter alternatives that includes Spoutible, Spill, Mastodon and Jack Dorsey’s latest endeavor, Bluesky. As the launch of Threads reportedly grows closer, former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has decided to take a swipe at the new Bluesky competitor. On July 3, Dorsey shared a screenshot of Threads’ app privacy settings. According to his screenshot, the app has the ability to collect a user’s financial info, contact info, browsing history, usage data and much more.
“All your Threads belong to us,” he captioned the photo.
“Yeah,” Twitter’s newest leader, Elon Musk, replied.
Dorsey’s tweet about the app’s privacy settings was met with agreement from some, but criticism from others.
“The guy who allowed Trump to incite an insurrection on his platform, and launched a new app without a block button, is now criticizing Instagram Threads. The Twitter alternative wars are heating up,” Spoutible Founder Christopher Bouzy commented.
“Looking at the same App Privacy section on Twitter, the platform that Dorsey co-founded, some of the data that is link to users that the developers collect includes purchases, contact info, user content, browsing history, usage data, location, contacts, search history, identifiers, diagnostics. Twitter seemingly collects a similar amount of data from its users minus health and fitness, financial info and sensitive info,” Deadline Editor Armando Tinoco added.
Despite Dorsey’s commentary, Threads is expected to launch on Apple’s App Store on July 6, 2023. At this time, there is no word as to when the app will officially launch on the Google Play Store.
All your Threads are belong to us https://t.co/FfrIcUng5O pic.twitter.com/V7xbMOfINt
— jack (@jack) July 4, 2023
