Meta’s Threads app, which is meant to be a rival to Twitter, is not living up to expectations. The company seems uninterested in cultivating the app into a useful platform for breaking news and world events. In response to a question, Instagram head Adam Mosseri stated that Meta’s goal is not to replace Twitter, but rather to create a space on Instagram for communities that are not interested in the angry conversations that often occur on Twitter. Mosseri’s comments are concerning because they mirror Facebook’s claims of being a neutral platform while incentivizing certain types of content and behaviors that contribute to polarization and extremism. Despite Meta’s attempts to distance itself from politics and hard news, it is inevitable that these topics will find their way onto Threads. Without proper countermeasures in place, misinformation and extremism could outweigh legitimate news sources on the app. Meta’s lack of interest in supporting journalism is evident in their actions, such as blocking access to news in Canada to protest a law requiring compensation for publishers. Mosseri’s views on the public square are misguided and disregard the historical importance of public spaces for political discourse and cultural exchange. Meta’s focus on commodifying public life and inundating the app with advertisements aligns with their narrow vision but is disappointing for a platform that had the potential to be a successful alternative to Twitter.
