Connecting People, Sharing Moments

In this ever-evolving age, our appetite for novelty is insatiable. Because we spend so much time on social media platforms, their owners are constantly striving to introduce new features, visuals, written content and audio. The fear of missing out subtly drives us to seek out the next big thing. Although we may not openly admit it, there is a sense of satisfaction in being at the forefront, witnessing the birth of a trend and proudly proclaiming, “When I was there, it wasn’t even a thing”.

Photo by Christian Wiediger on Unsplash

Beyond the allure of novelty, there are benefits to being part of a widely adopted platform. The ability to quickly connect with others, learn from them, share ideas and even teach them creates a sense of community. However, the success of any new application depends on its usability. It has to strike a balance between familiarity and innovation. Threads currently has a simple and practical interface, but only time will tell how it evolves and adapts to users’ needs.

Sometimes the emergence of new applications is a response to the demands and frustrations of the masses. Twitter’s policies, for example, have angered many users, and Threads may present itself as an alternative solution. It remains to be seen whether Threads can successfully address these concerns and attract a significant user base looking for a different social media experience.

Ultimately, as users, we need to be mindful of the time we spend on these platforms and the impact they have on our lives. The introduction of alternatives is generally welcomed as it encourages healthy competition and provides users more value and choice. Threads has demonstrated its appeal by attracting 7 million users in just 10 hours.

But it’s important to remember that whatever the app or platform, the power of choice lies with the individual. If a particular app becomes annoying or does not meet your needs, there are always alternatives. We need to avoid letting these apps dominate our lives, but we also need to stay informed about technological advances and their implications.

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As a curious observer, I became part of this technological environment to better understand how it works and to witness its evolution. I have continued my observations since July 2023, when I wrote this article. I wrote my article that day to inform people to follow my account, but I realised something. The development of such social media meant that people would spend time on it all the time. It did not take long to realise that this was not the case.

Although I only used it to share links to the articles I wrote, I also analysed the users, their shares and reactions to the posts. Yes, at first it felt like a rush to judgement, but after such a record (and this medium was not even available in European countries at the time) you would expect nothing less.

So it took me back to the beginning. It really had no effect other than the fear of being left behind and the urge to prioritise and say “I’ve been here all along”. It had no meaning other than being a reaction to Twitter, which was the other popular medium at the time, now called X, and taking the momentary heat out of the public. In the last year or so it has become no different or interesting. I have not used it, nor have a handful of people followed each other.

I think Thread was a beautiful reminder of the need to curb our insatiable appetite for all things new and not be swept away too quickly by the tide of events.