By Adamm Ingals

(11-24-23) Threads and X (formerly Twitter) are both social media platforms that allow users to share short messages, or posts, with their followers. However, there are some key differences between the two platforms.

Threads

  • Longer posts: Threads allows users to post messages up to 500 characters long, while X has a 280-character limit.This means that Threads is better suited for sharing longer thoughts and ideas.
  • No ads: Threads is an ad-free platform,while X displays ads in users’ feeds.This means that Threads is a more distraction-free experience.
  • Chronological feed: Threads displays users’ posts in chronological order,while X uses an algorithm to curate users’ feeds. This means that Threads is a more transparent platform.

X

  • Larger user base: X has a much larger user base than Threads, which means that there is more potential to reach a wider audience on X.
  • More features: X has a wider range of features than Threads, including the ability to use hashtags, direct messages, and polls.
  • More established: X is a more established platform than Threads,which means that it is more likely to be around in the long run.

Overall, Threads is a good option for users who want to share longer thoughts and ideas without distractions. X is a good option for users who want to reach a wider audience and use a wider range of features.

Here is a table that summarizes the key differences between Threads and X:

A recent study by Morning Consult Pro found that Threads users tend to be younger and more educated than X users. Additionally, Threads users are more likely to describe themselves as politically moderate than X users. These findings suggest that the two platforms may be attracting different types of political users.

Demographics

  • Age: Threads users are more likely to be Gen Z adults or millennials (61%) than X users (45%).
  • Education: Threads users are more likely to have an advanced degree (33%) than X users (26%).
  • Income: Threads users have a higher median household income ($80,000) than X users ($65,000).

Political Views

  • Ideology: Threads users are more likely to describe themselves as politically moderate (51%) than X users (38%).
  • Partisan Affiliation: Threads users are more likely to identify as Democrats (36%) or independents (34%) than X users (29% and 31%, respectively).

Implications

These findings suggest that Threads may be attracting a more liberal and moderate user base than X. This could be due to a number of factors, such as the platforms’ different features and user interfaces, or the way that they are marketed. It is also possible that the platforms’ different user bases are self-selecting, with more politically moderate users being drawn to Threads and more conservative users being drawn to X.

It is important to note that these are just preliminary findings and more research is needed to fully understand the differences between Threads and X users.

However, these findings suggest that the two platforms may be playing a role in the increasing political polarization of social media.