How does the Web3 industry view "Threads replacing X" both internally and externally?

Original Text:Is It Finally Time to ‘X-it’ Twitter for Threads?, Author:Megan DeMatteo, translated by Odaily Aya.

On July 6th, Meta launched a new app called Threads, similar to Twitter, which caused a huge sensation and quickly gained 100 million users in less than a week. Threads seems to have the potential to challenge Twitter, which has been the dominant social platform for a long time and recently rebranded as X. But things change very quickly on the internet: despite the initial hype, various data websites show that Threads' user engagement has dropped by as much as 70%. During this time, average usage time has also dropped significantly, from 21 minutes to 6 minutes.

At the same time, the concept of decentralized social media has also piqued people's interest, especially after Twitter unexpectedly rebranded.

So, is Threads ready to replace X and become the number one social website for crypto enthusiasts? We interviewed some respected Web3 community builders and social media experts about this.

Note: Threads is not actually decentralized

Meta promises that its new platform will soon become decentralized, but some Web3 enthusiasts are skeptical. The platform announced plans to be compatible with the decentralized social media protocol ActivityPub, which would allow users to interact with other social media platforms like the open-source Mastodon network, Bluesky, etc.

The future of interoperability and user-owned social media platforms is a big deal. However, critics don't believe Threads is the right choice. Currently, Threads users can only create accounts through existing Instagram credentials, which seems like a dubious convenience to lock in user data.

In the Threads metaverse, users also can't interact fully anonymously as their accounts are likely always linked to Meta accounts that require legal names and birthdates (encryption Twitter's anonymous culture members surely feel uneasy about "exposing" their true identities on a new platform).

But despite these concerns, Emily Parker of CoinDesk points out that, beyond the encrypted Twitter circles, most people care more about accessibility than privacy and decentralization. Regardless of technical abilities, anyone can easily enter Threads and understand the atmosphere. In terms of adoption, usability has consistently proven to be the most important factor.

In terms of functionality, Threads is very straightforward to use. Verified Instagram users will notice their existing verification information applies to Threads as well, and they can cross-post their posts as Instagram Stories. This cross-platform feature makes it easy to attract more potential viewers with the same content.

Pure decentralization enthusiasts may not like this, but perhaps this cross-platform publishing feature owned by Meta is the necessary first step in building a truly open Web3. In the decentralized future, users will be able to transfer content and interact with peers across different applications built on the same underlying standards. Could Threads be training us to adapt to this seamless integration?

"Personally, I hope decentralized social networks can succeed," strategist Riley Blackwell, focused on Web3 community building, said. While Blackwell noted she leans more towards Lens Protocol or Bluesky as alternatives to Twitter instead of choosing Threads, she acknowledges that Threads will "undoubtedly attract ordinary social media users" who are not as interested in understanding the underlying protocols.

Threads responds to the zeitgeist - but so far, nothing more

For a long time, Twitter has been a target of criticism, due to its frequently malfunctioning features and the guideline of inciting "freedom of speech", according to those who have left the platform, these guidelines have nourished hate speech and prejudice.

In contrast, Threads seems to be a friendlier, less controversial alternative choice: "I like people having different types of conversations on Threads," says Blackwell.

However, the true value proposition of Threads remains unclear. "While Zuckerberg and the Instagram team seem to have seized the hype with a new product, it feels like a missed opportunity," Blackwell says. "I don't need a clone of Twitter - I need Meta to think more deeply about creating new ways of connection."

More outspoken critics argue that Threads not only cheapens social connections but also commodifies them. Writer and online community strategist Carrie Melissa Jones says she initially had "hopes" that Threads could fill the void she felt after leaving Twitter, but now she feels that the app lacks the camaraderie she felt in the early days of Twitter.

Jones says, "I miss having a place to get news, ask questions, and have silly conversations. Meta cannot replicate that experience; their ambition for viral growth is stronger than their desire to build something with a unique culture and purpose."

In a recent LinkedIn post, Jones succinctly sums up her critique: "Mark Zuckerberg views community as a virus that reproduces most successfully without a genuine purpose."

And now, Twitter, after announcing its name change to X, is also facing similar criticism, with users believing that this move is self-driven.

The platform dispute reminds us to cultivate independent relationships

If anything sets the Web3 community members apart, it's their scientific mindset and exploratory spirit when using Threads. They don't rule out any options but also don't rely on a single platform.

American folk singer-songwriter Rae Isla uses the sales of her NFT series "Rae Isla's Rocks" to build an online fan community and maintains a healthy skepticism towards all centralized platforms. "Use the tools," she posts. "Don't let them use you."

In the end, Threads may replace X as the choice for mainstream users, but it is unlikely to replace encrypted Twitter. Encrypted Twitter is comprised of individuals who value curiosity, decentralization, and collaboration on open-source protocols, aiming to lead us towards a vision of an internet owned by users. Perhaps the next platform that will attract us away from Twitter Spaces with frequent glitches and long tweet threads will not come from Meta, but from a small group of developers currently working in stealth mode.

To achieve this goal, authentic relationships and meaningful connections may always be our most interoperable forms of communication.