Instagram introduces Threads, a new messaging app

Its name is Threads and it's the latest Instagram app that will soon be available on IOS and Android. It's a sort of private club that allows you to share content with selected users included in the "Close Friends" section of Instagram. 

“Threads is a standalone app designed with privacy, speed, and your close connections in mind. You can share photos, videos, messages, Stories, and more with your Instagram close friends list. You are in control of who can reach you on Threads, and you can customize the experience around the people who matter most.” 

Robby Stein, Director of Product at Instagram, explained. 

When you install the app, it connects to your Instagram account. Once started, the camera opens and at the bottom of the screen you will see the users you interact with most on Instagram via a direct message. How does it work? Just take a picture or make a video, choose the person you want to share content with, confirm by scrolling up. There is an inbox section where you can read messages sent and received with close friends and also the possibility to start a group chat.

Threads introduces the new "Status" feature, a way to keep friends up to date on what we're doing. The choice is between a new state, one suggested by the app or an "auto status". All with an emoji. 

This last option has caused some issues about privacy. The problem is that the auto status is based on information such as your location and activities usually do during the day, a kind of virtual stalking that many people don't like. For this reason, Facebook and Instagram have explained in a post that the new app will use information about: “location, movement, battery level and network connection from your phone in order to determine what context to share.” It also stated that:

“Before this is enabled, you’ll be told what information Auto Status is requesting and will be asked to specifically agree. Auto Status will not share your precise location with your friends, and when Threads sends location information to our server to look up locations, it’s not stored there – this information is only stored on your device for a limited time…precise location information collected for Auto Status is a new feature specific to Threads and will not be used for ads”.

After recent scandals, Mark Zuckerberg's company wants to avoid additional problems. Will this strategy work?