Meta Platforms Inc. announced this week that its group messaging app Threads is now available to download in the European Union. Threads was previously only available in North America.
Threads is a messaging app similar to WhatsApp and developed by Instagram to enable enhanced privacy-focused communication between close friends and small groups.
Some key features highlighted at Threads’ EU launch include end-to-end encryption for messages and calls, customizable profiles rather than requiring users’ full names, and a dedicated “Close Friends” feed for sharing personal updates or moments more privately.
The launch timing appears strategic amidst increasing EU regulatory scrutiny over Meta’s handling of private data and dominance in social media. Just last month, the European Parliament passed the Digital Services Act which imposes strict guidelines on online platforms.
“We built Threads as a more intimate, private social experience you can trust,” said Meta Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg. “We’re excited to make this available globally for the first time.”
While Threads faces stiff competition from Meta-owned WhatsApp in Europe, its focus toward closer groups rather than public forums could appeal to EU users desiring more control over their information and digital experiences going forward.
