My Review of Threads

Even though Threads is a Meta product, it's not awful. Not awful like Instagram, which has devolved into crap. And even though Mark Zuckerberg stole one of my books to train his AI model, I can still be objective. 

Sure, Threads isn't perfect. What site is? But I like the fact that it's text-based, plus I have yet to spy any ads. 

Logging in is an ongoing issue, however. I set up a separate account from my Instagram, which apparently messes with Meta's head, so every time it asks me to sign in with Instagram, which it always does, I have to jump through hoops--complete the captcha puzzle, sometimes wait for an emailed code that never arrives, then miraculously get signed on...somehow. This is needless. Just let me sign in with either my email address or my user name and password. Works great on my phone, but I don't work great on my phone. I prefer desktop.

In order to see the types of posts I want, I need to join groups. Some keywords have groups attached; most don't. Out of all the interests I included in my bio, only two have actual groups: author threads and book threads. This is fine, but a reader thread would be helpful.

I do like that authors are a friendly sort. I've only created two posts aside from my introductory one, but I've gotten responses and likes and a few follows from them. I have replied to a few posts, too, because they were interesting. That's one more surprise. I think it's because everyone on the site isn't constantly pushing, pushing their books. They actually say things. I can spot disingenuousness instantly; most social media is made up of contrivance, if not downright lying. Or the posts are manipulated pleas for engagement. Most Thread posts don't come across that way.

And speaking of engagement, I'm not used to getting replies to my posts on other social media sites. I've been on X for over ten years and I'm still essentially invisible. I get likes and sometimes replies to something I post under someone else's post, but my own original posts go unseen. Same with Instagram. I've gotten a like here and there, but no responses whatsoever, unless someone's trying to sell me something. With Threads one can count on getting replies to basically anything, no matter how mundane or dull it is.

Also, the number of followers one has is not a big deal. I probably should be following more people just to be nice, but I haven't quite gotten into the Threads rhythm yet.

So, yes, if you're tired of being invisible, Threads is the place. I'm still not a big utilizer of social media. I can only take so much of it. And I don't always feel like interacting. I'm more of a reader than a blabber. Thus, I peruse Threads only once or twice a day.

But it is far superior to other sites I've tried. It's probably just a passing thing for me, but it'll always be there waiting if I feel like visiting. I like the no pressure vibe.