Observed Signal · Jul 7, 2023 · Product Launch · Source: Trending Topics · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
Meta's Threads Launch: EU Users Find iOS and Android Workarounds
Meta launched Threads, a text-based social app resembling Twitter and tied to Instagram, in early July 2023. Within hours, over 30 million users installed the app globally, but it was not made available in the European Union. Meta cited the Digital Markets Act, saying it did not want to release an app that was not future-proof. The article explains how European users can still install Threads: Android users can sideload an APK file, although this bypasses Google Play Protect and carries potential malware risks. iOS users can either switch their Apple ID region to a non-European country or create a US-based Apple ID. The author tested one APK and described the installation steps.
Meta's launch of Threads is a notable social media platform event, but this article focuses on European installation workarounds rather than advertising features or industry impact.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Meta launched Threads, a Twitter-like app tied to Instagram, in July 2023.
- More than 30 million users installed Threads within a few hours, excluding Europe.
- Threads was withheld from the EU due to uncertainty around the Digital Markets Act.
- Android users can sideload the Threads APK outside the Play Store, with potential security risks.
- iOS users can change their Apple ID region or create a US Apple ID to download Threads.
Connected Companies & Entities
3 Entities mapped“hat sich Meta aufgemacht, die Nutzer:innen auf die andere Seite der Macht zu locken...”
“sicher nicht im Interesse von Apple ist, mit falschen Adressen hantieren zu müssen...”
“Die Dateien kommen nicht aus dem Play Store, sind also nicht durch Google Play Protect geschützt...”
Ontology Mapping & Concepts
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