Twitter has a competitor in the form of a new app called threads, but it is not available in the EU yet

by Joe Lonergan

Recently we got a few inquiries about why is the new Threads app from Meta not available in the App Store.

Threads has been made available virtually everywhere but Europe, due to the expanding requirements of the EU Digital Markets Act (DMA), which is designed to protect user privacy, and provide control over data usage, while also mitigating monopoly-type behaviour by the tech giants. Instagram chief Adam Mosseri has said that it’ll likely be ‘many months’ before the app is available in the region.

To make sure the app is compliant with the new regulations and all the boxes are ticked it is going to take time.

It is frustrating for users that wanted to try threads as it is available in the UK as they are no longer part of the EU. Some excitement was building around the app for vision-impaired users as it is mostly text-based and sign-up was easy as it is linked to Instagram accounts and that is probably the reason for the massive take-up outside of the EU.

Twitter has cut their accessibility department and many people were also hoping to move to a new platform for that reason. A reported 114 million users have signed up already. So, we will watch this space.

We will also point out it is good to have EU regulations as it stops anyone company from taking control or having a monopoly in the digital market.