Meta is giving Android users the opportunity to check out features for its newest app Threads first.
A Meta engineer announced, on Threads, of course, that Android users “who love to live on the cutting edge” can sign up for the app’s Google Play beta where “new features and bug fixes” will come first at the price of a potentially less stable build. No TestFlight options for iOS users is currently available.
There’s no waitlist, and anyone with an Android device is eligible to download the beta version of the app, although given how new the app is there isn’t currently a beta version available.
By signing up for the beta version you’re also consenting to providing some information to Meta about how you use it. The signup page for the app notes that data privacy and security practices might potentially vary based on your use, region, and age. Some information might also be shared with third parties.
Threads, Meta’s answer to Twitter, launched in the United States earlier this week and built an audience of over 30 million users during the first 24 hours it was available.
The app offers striking similarities to Twitter; however, the app has raised some concerns with privacy experts who warn the app collects sensitive information about users that it could potentially share with third parties given its current terms and conditions.
Using Threads requires users to also have an Instagram account, and currently, if you decide to delete your Threads account you also have to delete your Instagram account as well.
Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri clarified the issue in a Threads post where he said the company is working on a solution to the issue.
“You can deactivate your Threads account, which hides your Threads profile and content, you can set your profile to private, and you can delete individual Threads posts – all without deleting your Instagram account,” he said. “Threads is powered by Instagram, so right now it's just one account, but we're looking into a way to delete your Threads account separately.”
Early on users have also complained about the lack of ability to view a chronological feed of posts as well as a feed of just accounts users choose to follow. Meta has suggested it’s working on both issues, and we might see potential solutions show up in that beta app soon.
