How to sign up for Threads, Meta's Twitter competitor

In a bid to expand its social media dominance, Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, is set to release Threads, a text-based Twitter competitor. As Twitter temporarily limits the number of tweets users can read, Meta's move aims to tap into the growing demand for alternative platforms. While Meta's new app is scheduled to launch in the United States on Thursday, European users will reportedly have to wait for its availability.

Threads, unlike its invite-only beta phase competitor Bluesky, seems to have no restrictions on user access, apart from requiring an Instagram account. This approach has fueled anticipation among users eager to get ahead of the official launch.

To gain early access to Threads, users can follow these steps:

1. Open the Instagram app and navigate to the Explore page by clicking the magnifying glass icon in the bottom left corner.
2. Enter the term "Threads" in the search bar, which should prompt a small ticket emoji to appear on the far right.

Tap the "Admit One" ticket in the search bar to access your Threads invitation. The invitation will display your username, the Threads launch date and time, a QR code, a numeric code, and a "Get Threads" button at the bottom of the screen, leading you to the App Store.

It's important to note that although Threads is listed in the App Store, it is not yet available for download.

Alternatively, users can access their invitation by following these steps:

1. Open your Instagram profile and tap the three lines located at the top right corner.
2. In the drop-down menu, a "Threads" option will be available near the top. Clicking on it will display your invitation.

As of now, Threads usernames mirror Instagram usernames, leaving uncertainty as to whether they can be changed. Users are eagerly awaiting the app's official launch on Thursday for more information.

Meta's introduction of Threads comes at a time when users are seeking alternative social media platforms due to Twitter's rate limits on tweet reading. The recent move led many users to explore competing apps like Bluesky, which experienced a surge in traffic over the weekend.