UNAIR NEWS – Cyberspace users are excited by the presence of a new social media released by Meta called Threads. The social media, which has reached more than 100 million users in just five days, is predicted to compete with its text-based social media predecessor, Twitter.

Professor of Media Studies at Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), Prof. Dra Rachmah Ida MCom PhD responded to the emergence of Threads. She mentioned that competition is a natural thing in the media industry. Furthermore, Threads does not only compete with Twitter, but also with other social media.

“In the scope of digital economy, all social media are made to compete to get as many users as possible. It is because the digital media industry is the same as the mainstream mass media industry. Where the source of income comes from customers and advertisements,” explained the UNAIR lecturer included in the AD Scientific Index’s Top 100 Social Sciences Scientist.

Thriving potential

Even though users signed up for the new social media just out of curiosity, Threads still has the potential to survive in the media industry. According to Prof Ida, the fact that Threads is made by one of the Tech Giants also makes Threads’ path smooth to compete with other social media.

If you look at it historically, well-known social media like Twitter is starting to show a lot of interest because many politicians and world leaders have joined it. “People are starting to join in on social media. Because they feel they can follow and comment on global issues easily, they feel part of a network of world leaders,” said Indonesia’s first professor of media studies.

Interactivity on Twitter

Having almost the same appearance and features, Threads users may like or search for things on Twitter. “If in the future users like to build networks like on Twitter, then they need features that can increase interactivity more quickly,” said the FISIP UNAIR lecturer.

Not only interactivity, but Twitter also has more features such as the fanbase, roleplay, and anonymity that young people love to express themselves freely.

“But again, the success or failure of social media can be seen from how social media developers can understand the trends people like,” said the UNAIR Communication Department lecturer. (*)

Author: Stefanny Elly

Editor : Binti Q. Masruroh