Elon Musk, the tech mogul known for his bold statements, seemed to react strongly to Meta Platforms’ decision to impose rate limits on its new text-based app, Threads. The move came in response to a surge in spam attacks on the app, prompting Instagram head Adam Mosseri to announce plans to tighten rate limits. However, Musk expressed his reservations, calling it a “copycat” move and criticized it as “oppressive.”
Twitter users were the first to experience rate limits on July 1, with the initial cap set at 6,000 tweets per day for verified users, 600 for existing unverified users, and 300 for recently-joined unverified users. These limits were later raised to 10,000, 1,000, and 500 posts per day, respectively, following a second increase.
Musk, who acquired Twitter last year, previously commented on the platform’s “temporary” restrictions, explaining that they were implemented to combat data scraping and system manipulation. Twitter clarified that the temporary limits were aimed at detecting and eliminating bots and malicious actors that were negatively impacting the platform. This measure was also intended to prevent the misuse of public Twitter data to build AI models and manipulate conversations on the platform.
In the midst of this, Meta Platforms launched Threads, an app described as a positive and creative space for expressing ideas through text posts. Surprisingly, the app was made publicly available two weeks ahead of schedule and quickly gained traction, attracting an impressive 100 million sign-ups as revealed by Meta Platforms’ CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, on July 10.
Zuckerberg’s excitement about Threads was evident when he mentioned that “tens of millions of people now come back daily” to use the app. For the rest of 2023, the company’s focus will be on improving the app’s basics and user retention. Zuckerberg himself has amassed 3.1 million followers on Threads.
Since the app’s launch on July 5, the value of Meta Platforms shares has risen by approximately 6%, indicating investors’ confidence in the app’s potential success.
Elon Musk’s Take on Rate Limits
Elon Musk’s response to the rate limits on Threads was quite direct. On Twitter, he posted “lmaooo copy [cat]” in response to Adam Mosseri’s announcement, hinting at the idea that Meta Platforms may have mimicked a feature from another platform, possibly Twitter. Musk’s criticism raises questions about the originality of Threads’ functionalities and how they compare to other similar apps.
Concerns about Oppressive Measures
In his second comment, Musk used the term “seems oppressive” to describe the rate limits set by Meta Platforms. This choice of words suggests that he believes the limitations could have a negative impact on users’ experience, potentially restricting their ability to engage actively on the platform. Musk’s position could add pressure on Meta Platforms to reconsider their rate limit strategy and find a balance between spam prevention and user satisfaction.
As the competition in the social media app space intensifies, it remains to be seen how Meta Platforms will respond to the feedback from influential figures like Elon Musk. For now, users of Threads will have to navigate the rate limits and provide feedback on their experience with the app. Zuckerberg’s commitment to enhancing the app’s features and user retention might help address some concerns, but the company must strike a delicate balance to maintain a positive user experience while tackling spam and malicious activity effectively.
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