What to know about Threads, the new social platform

Threads has become the fastest-growing app in history after its July 5 launch. With a focus on text-based conversations and a clean, intuitive design, the newest social platform from Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta has everyone talking. Here's what you need to know.

You can quickly sign up for Threads using your Instagram account. This gives you the option to automatically follow everyone you already follow on Instagram, instead of manually finding friends. You can choose to keep your account public (visible to anyone) or private, so people have to request to follow you.

Posts on Threads can include images, videos, links, or snippets of text up to 500 characters long. They’ll appear in a feed that blends posts by people you follow with algorithmically recommended content – join the conversation by liking, reposting, commenting, or sharing what you see.

You won’t be able to delete your Threads account without also deleting your Instagram account. You can deactivate your Threads profile, which will hide your profile and content, or you can delete individual posts. Be sure to stay aware of how the app collects and stores your data.

Meta’s plan is to build Threads as a decentralized platform, meaning that you’ll eventually be able to see and interact with Threads content on other social platforms, or even move your Threads audience with you to another service.

Since Threads is so new, it’ll take some time for new features to be added and more folks to join, though celebrities like YouTuber MrBeast, singer Shakira, and all-around-star Jennifer Lopez are early adopters. The platform’s vibe is still being established, too (many corporate accounts have opted for a casual, silly tone), but its rapid growth and role in the social space are sure to spark big conversations.