Threads App Surges Ahead: Meta's New Contender vs. Twitter and WhatsApp's Passwordless Revolution.

Meta’s Challenger Gaining Momentum Against Twitter

Threads app, Meta’s competitor to X (formerly known as Twitter) is experiencing robust growth. According to Mark Zuckerberg’s remarks during the company’s first-quarter earnings call, the app has surpassed 150 million monthly active users, up from 130 million in February. Zuckerberg expressed satisfaction with the app’s trajectory, stating that it is progressing as hoped.

While the app garnered over 100 million downloads in its inaugural week, there was a subsequent decline in engagement. However, over the past six months, growth has remained steady, leading Zuckerberg to speculate that the app could eventually reach a billion users, becoming Meta’s next major success story. Of particular note is the app’s potential to outpace X. Estimates from analytics firm Apptopia suggest that Threads boasts more daily users in the US than X, which currently boasts 550 million daily users globally. Threads received a notable boost when Taylor Swift joined the platform to promote her latest album, The Tortured Poets Department.

Empowering Users and Developers with Threads app.

In March, Meta enabled US-based users over 18 to link their accounts to the Fediverse, allowing their posts to appear on other servers. Additionally, the company intends to release its API to a broad range of developers by June, enabling them to create customized experiences around the social network.

Threads diverges from Meta’s typical monetization strategy, as the company does not directly profit from the app. However, this may change once Threads achieves a certain level of engagement. Zuckerberg has previously stated that the company will prioritize monetization efforts only after the app has attained sufficient growth. New features continue to be introduced on Threads, such as the option for users to auto-archive posts after a defined period. Despite its growing user base, Threads is not positioned as a direct competitor to X, as it caters to a different audience profile. Instagram Head Adam Mosseri clarified in October that Threads will not “amplify news on the platform,” indicating a divergence in focus from X’s core functionality.

WhatsApp Revolutionizes Authentication.

WhatsApp’s recent update for iOS users marks a significant step forward in the realm of authentication methods, as it introduces support for passkeys, thereby aligning with the emerging trend toward ‘passwordless’ login systems. This new feature allows users to leverage their iPhone’s biometric authentication capabilities, including Face ID or Touch ID, in addition to their conventional device passcode, to access their accounts. The implementation of passkeys on iOS follows Meta’s earlier rollout of the feature for Android WhatsApp users, with Zade Alsawah, the platform’s spokesperson, indicating that iOS users can anticipate receiving the update “in the coming weeks.”

Passkeys represent a departure from traditional password-based authentication by employing biometric verification mechanisms for enhanced security. Built on the Web Authentication API (WebAuthn), passkeys are stored locally on the user’s device rather than on remote servers, reducing the vulnerability to server breaches and unauthorized access attempts. This approach leverages Touch ID or Face ID for seamless and secure biometric authentication, offering users an alternative to traditional password-based login methods.

WhatsApp Introduces Passkeys for iOS Users.

To authenticate users, an app or website must request access from the user’s device, prompting the generation of unique passkeys for each browser-based service. This ensures that each authentication process remains distinct and eliminates the risk of passkey overlap or duplication, thereby enhancing overall security and user privacy.

For users eager to take advantage of this innovative authentication method, the passkey feature can be accessed through the WhatsApp app settings. By navigating to Settings > Account > Passkeys, users can enable and manage their passkeys, thereby enhancing the security of their WhatsApp accounts while streamlining the login process.

Overall, the app’s adoption of passkeys on iOS reflects a broader industry shift toward Passwordless authentication solutions, underscoring the platform’s commitment to providing users with secure and user-friendly authentication options. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, passkeys offer a compelling alternative to traditional password-based authentication methods, empowering users to safeguard their accounts and personal information more effectively.

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