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In an unexpected turn of events, a Slack alternative named Threads has seen a surge in downloads and website traffic. This surge is not due to a sudden increase in its own popularity, but rather a case of mistaken identity. The recent launch of Instagram’s Twitter clone, also named Threads, has led to a significant increase in traffic for the Slack alternative.
The Unintended Boost
Threads, the Slack alternative, was launched in 2019 with backing from Sequoia Capital. It has seen a significant increase in traffic to its website following the launch of Instagram’s Threads. The confusion arises from the fact that the Slack alternative owns the Threads.com domain name, while Instagram’s version is on Threads.net.
This confusion led to a major spike in downloads for the Slack alternative in the week immediately after Instagram launched its Threads. Between July 6 and July 12, Threads had more than 880,000 downloads globally on iOS alone. It was also the 52nd most downloaded app globally overall, and third in the “business” category.
The Impact of Name Confusion
The confusion has led to some humorous moments, with Threads (the Slack alternative) having a little fun at Instagram’s expense on social media. However, it has also necessitated the addition of disclaimers on its website and App Store listing stating that it is not associated with Instagram.
While the sudden increase in visitors and downloads is unlikely to have translated into new business for Threads, as users quickly realized their mistake, the profile boost could be seen as free publicity. However, as Instagram’s Threads gains more traction, businesses may have to integrate it into their social media strategy, potentially leading to further confusion.
The Future of Threads
Threads, the Slack alternative, confirmed that it owns the trademark for its name. However, it declined to answer any further questions on the matter, including whether it plans to initiate any action against Instagram or its parent company, Meta.
This situation highlights the importance of brand names in the digital age, and how confusion can arise when different companies share the same name. As the live streaming and communication platform landscape continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how this situation unfolds and what impact it will have on both versions of Threads.
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