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All of your examples are unique, distinct separate product and problem spaces, whereas Threads is pretty aligned with Instagram as-is. A lot of the plumbing for

All of your examples are unique, distinct separate product and problem spaces, whereas Threads is pretty aligned with Instagram as-is. A lot of the plumbing for Instagram is likely reusable for threads, and a lot of the same optimization techniques might apply just as well (or with minor tweaks). I don't think this is as much "launch something new" as it is "instagram with a mask on".

john_max_1 3y ago
So. multiple attempts at cloning Snap, HouseParty, IRL etc. into standalone products were unique. And this one is just a minor tweak on Instagram? Let's discuss this in another 6 months. I can't predict what the future of Twitter is, but Threads would have been shuttered by then.
- mtrpcic 3y ago
  What apps are you referencing that Meta/Facebook launched and failed to clone Snap/Houseparty/IRL? Their snap competitor is Instagram, and it's still doing very well. Instagram is _also_ their TikTok competitor, and Reels has done a solid job in that space as well.
  - john_max_1 3y ago
    1. Bonfire - HouseParty clone https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/3/18528317/facebook-bonfire-shutdown-group-video-chat-houseparty-clone 2. Poke - Snap clone https://www.vox.com/2018/2/17/17022586/facebook-snapchat-poke-clone-mark-zuckerberg-evan-spiegel-billy-gallagher 3. Slingshot - Snap clone https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/mar/10/snapchat-clones-facebook-copies Note: Can't seem to find the one for IRL
    - pavlov 3y ago
      Thing is, these were intentionally created as experiments with the expectation that they would be eventually shut down, with whatever learnings integrated into the mainline apps. Since about 2017-18 there has been a unit at Facebook called NPE, New Product Experimentation, tasked with producing these.
      - john_max_1 3y ago
        You mean Mark Zuckerberg added his voice to Poke knowing that the app wouldn't even exist in a few years? https://techcrunch.com/2012/12/21/mark-zuckerberg-voice-of-poke https://techcrunch.com/2012/12/21/mark-zuckerberg-voice-of-p...
        pavlov 3y ago
        That's from 2012. NPE was created around 2017-18 (I don't remember exactly).
        john_max_1 3y ago
        NPE was created in 2017. Facebook had "Labs" in 2011-12. The same idea keeps showing up again and again every few years thanks to a hugely profitable ads business.
- TechBro8615 3y ago
  Snap was cloned extremely effectively within Instagram (stories). So was TikTok (reels). I'm actually surprised they aren't taking the same strategy here. Why create a new app? Why not add Threads to the existing Instagram, in the same way as Stories and Reels?
  - jadtz 3y ago
    Instagram would get too bloated if they do that, but Reels + Instagram makes sense.

john_max_1 3y ago

So. multiple attempts at cloning Snap, HouseParty, IRL etc. into standalone products were unique. And this one is just a minor tweak on Instagram? Let's discuss this in another 6 months. I can't predict what the future of Twitter is, but Threads would have been shuttered by then.

mtrpcic 3y ago
What apps are you referencing that Meta/Facebook launched and failed to clone Snap/Houseparty/IRL? Their snap competitor is Instagram, and it's still doing very well. Instagram is _also_ their TikTok competitor, and Reels has done a solid job in that space as well.
- john_max_1 3y ago
  1. Bonfire - HouseParty clone https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/3/18528317/facebook-bonfire-shutdown-group-video-chat-houseparty-clone 2. Poke - Snap clone https://www.vox.com/2018/2/17/17022586/facebook-snapchat-poke-clone-mark-zuckerberg-evan-spiegel-billy-gallagher 3. Slingshot - Snap clone https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/mar/10/snapchat-clones-facebook-copies Note: Can't seem to find the one for IRL
  - pavlov 3y ago
    Thing is, these were intentionally created as experiments with the expectation that they would be eventually shut down, with whatever learnings integrated into the mainline apps. Since about 2017-18 there has been a unit at Facebook called NPE, New Product Experimentation, tasked with producing these.
    - john_max_1 3y ago
      You mean Mark Zuckerberg added his voice to Poke knowing that the app wouldn't even exist in a few years? https://techcrunch.com/2012/12/21/mark-zuckerberg-voice-of-poke https://techcrunch.com/2012/12/21/mark-zuckerberg-voice-of-p...
      - pavlov 3y ago
        That's from 2012. NPE was created around 2017-18 (I don't remember exactly).
        john_max_1 3y ago
        NPE was created in 2017. Facebook had "Labs" in 2011-12. The same idea keeps showing up again and again every few years thanks to a hugely profitable ads business.
TechBro8615 3y ago
Snap was cloned extremely effectively within Instagram (stories). So was TikTok (reels). I'm actually surprised they aren't taking the same strategy here. Why create a new app? Why not add Threads to the existing Instagram, in the same way as Stories and Reels?
- jadtz 3y ago
  Instagram would get too bloated if they do that, but Reels + Instagram makes sense.