Threads, the social media platform from Meta Platforms Inc.
What Happened: The launch of Threads in the EU was initially delayed due to concerns about the region's strict regulations for online services.
Threads, which is capable of importing data from Instagram such as advertising and behavioral information, plans to comply with these regulations by offering EU users a consumption-only option, eliminating the need for a personal profile, reported The Wall Street Journal.
The decision follows recent announcements from Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, about a new feature enabling users to delete or deactivate their Threads profile separately from their Instagram account. This comes in the wake of Threads' announcement that it had become the fastest consumer app to reach 100 million users.
Threads' move to expand into the EU is anticipated to give a boost to its user base.
According to Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, Threads currently boasts just under 100 million monthly users. The expansion comes at a time when prominent advertisers such as Apple Inc.
Why It Matters: The launch of Threads in the EU is a significant step for Meta, given the initial concerns around data privacy and regulatory differences.
The platform was initially barred from launching in the EU due to concerns from the Irish Data Protection Commission. However, Threads' commitment to abide by EU regulations shows Meta's willingness to navigate complex digital privacy landscapes.
Additionally, the introduction of a feature allowing the deletion of Threads accounts separately from Instagram accounts provides users with more control over their data. This will likely appeal to privacy-conscious users and could further drive user growth.
