Threads App Review: Better Than X/Twitter?

Threads launched in July 2023 as Instagram's answer to Twitter (now X), and with over 500 million downloads, it's become one of the most significant social media launches in recent years. But after using it extensively since launch, I need to give you the unfiltered reality: Threads is a mixed bag that gets some things brilliantly right while frustratingly mishandling others.

This review cuts through the hype to explain what actually works, what's broken, and whether you should choose Threads over established platforms like X/Twitter, Bluesky, or Mastodon.

The Instagram Integration: Blessing and Curse

Threads' deepest integration with Instagram is simultaneously its biggest advantage and most frustrating limitation. Your Instagram username and verification badge automatically transfer to Threads, which means instant identity verification and the ability to connect with your existing Instagram network in seconds.

Here's where it gets problematic: When you follow someone on Threads, you automatically follow them on Instagram too. As one user bluntly stated in a verified review: "If you follow someone on Threads, you automatically follow them on Instagram as well. Either they're two separate apps or they're not."

Additionally, you cannot delete your Threads account without deleting your Instagram account. This aggressive coupling feels like Meta forcing adoption rather than letting Threads succeed on its own merits.

The Auto-Refresh Problem That Drives Users Crazy

The most consistently reported technical issue is the automatic feed refresh that makes content disappear mid-reading. According to numerous verified reviews on the Google Play Store, this happens constantly:

"If you click on a post to read it, sometimes when you back out it will refresh automatically and you'll lose the post forever. I constantly have issues where the page refreshes automatically while I'm mid-reading and the whole thing is gone." — Verified user review, September 2024

I've experienced this myself dozens of times. You're reading a thread, scroll down to replies, tap back—and the entire feed refreshes, erasing what you were viewing. There's no "undo" or way to recover that content because Threads doesn't have a proper browsing history feature.

This isn't just annoying—it fundamentally breaks the user experience for text-based conversations where context matters. Twitter/X doesn't have this problem. Neither does Bluesky. It's inexcusable for an app from Meta with 500 million downloads.

Privacy & Data Collection: What You're Really Sharing

Threads collects an extensive amount of data, which shouldn't surprise anyone familiar with Meta's business model. According to the official Play Store listing, the app may collect:

• Location data

• Personal info (name, email, phone number, etc.)

• Financial info

• Messages and photos/videos

• Audio data

• Files and documents

• Browsing history and search history

• App activity and interactions

• Device or other IDs

Most concerning: Personal info and device IDs are shared with third parties. While data is encrypted in transit and you can request deletion, Meta's track record with privacy makes this data collection particularly worrying for users concerned about surveillance capitalism.

What Threads Actually Does Well

Despite my criticisms, Threads excels in several areas that make it genuinely competitive:

Onboarding Is Seamless

If you have an Instagram account, you can be fully set up on Threads in under 60 seconds. Your profile transfers automatically, your Instagram followers can be imported with one tap, and you're immediately seeing content. No other Twitter alternative matches this frictionless entry.

The Algorithm Actually Works

Threads' recommendation algorithm is genuinely good at surfacing relevant content. Within days, my "For You" feed was showing posts about topics I care about from creators I didn't even follow yet. This discovery mechanism works better than X's current algorithm, which often feels random or politically biased.

Moderation Is More Consistent

Threads enforces Instagram's Community Guidelines, which means less tolerance for harassment, hate speech, and spam compared to X's increasingly hands-off approach. If you're tired of dealing with bot accounts and toxic replies, Threads feels noticeably cleaner.

Fediverse Integration (In Progress)

Threads is implementing ActivityPub protocol to become part of the fediverse, allowing cross-platform interaction with Mastodon and other decentralized networks. This is still rolling out gradually, but it represents a significant philosophical shift toward open social networks.

Missing Features That Matter

Compared to mature platforms, Threads lacks several features users expect:

• No edit button for posts: Once published, threads are permanent (you can only delete and repost)

• Limited customization: No custom themes, font sizes, or profile banner images like X offers

• No direct messages: All conversations are public or require moving to Instagram DMs

• No trending topics list: Harder to discover breaking news or viral conversations

• No browser extension support: Third-party tools that enhance X don't work with Threads

The Advertising Concern

Currently, Threads has minimal advertising, but users are understandably worried about what's coming. As one prescient reviewer noted in 2023: "I'm weary of how bad the ads are going to be if Facebook is any indication."

Meta's business model depends on advertising revenue. Facebook and Instagram are notorious for intrusive ad placement that disrupts content flow. It's not a question of whether Threads will become heavily monetized, but when. Users joining now should expect the experience to degrade as Meta prioritizes advertiser interests.

How Threads Compares to Alternatives

Who Should Actually Use Threads?

Download Threads if you:

• Already have an active Instagram presence you want to extend

• Prefer algorithm-driven discovery over chronological feeds

• Want stronger moderation than current X/Twitter

• Don't mind Meta's data collection practices

• Are looking for a less toxic alternative to X

Skip Threads if you:

• Value privacy and data minimization

• Want separate social media identities (can't separate from Instagram)

• Need features like DMs, post editing, or customization

• Distrust Meta's business practices

• Get frustrated by technical bugs and auto-refresh issues

My Final Verdict

Threads is the most viable Twitter/X alternative for mainstream users, primarily because of its Instagram integration and Meta's distribution power. The 500 million downloads prove people want an alternative to X's current direction.

However, it's far from perfect. The auto-refresh bug is inexcusable for an app this mature. The forced Instagram coupling removes user agency. The inevitable advertising tsunami will degrade the experience. And Meta's privacy practices remain concerning.

My recommendation: Use Threads, but don't go all-in. Maintain presence on alternative platforms like Bluesky or Mastodon. Don't share sensitive information on Threads. And be prepared for the experience to change as Meta prioritizes monetization over user experience—because that's what always happens with Meta products.

For now, Threads works well enough if you accept its limitations. Whether it remains compelling long-term depends entirely on whether Meta can resist the urge to Facebook-ify it into oblivion.