Evolving Apps

Dixya Poudel

Facebook’s parent company, Meta recently released its new app called Threads. It is in fact quite similar to Twitter in its many features. As a result, Twitter and Meta are at a tussle as the former has threatened to sue the latter for infringement of intellectual property. It hasn’t stopped users from downloading Threads which has become the fastest app to be downloaded. Meta is undoubtedly counting on it being on a par with the most downloaded apps. But does the world require yet another social media app? And while it is no secret that Threads has blatantly imitated Twitter, how will it fare in upcoming days?

Apps, short for applications are software programmes created to carry out certain functions on electronic devices such as tablets, smartphones, computers, and so on. They offer users a multitude of services and features. Come up with any features of the human world and you will find that there are probably apps to carry them out. For example, if you are looking for health services on the internet, there are apps such as Fitbit, Strava, MyFitnessPal, and Headspace to track physical activity, meditation and fitness goals. 

There are also apps for music, travel, finance, education, gaming, ecommerce, entertainment, messaging, communication, etc. Then there are apps that have functional purposes such as converting an image into a pdf file. Likewise, social media apps provide a source of communication and connection while also entertaining the users. Among the millions of mushrooming apps, social media apps are the most downloaded. And a steep competition among such apps means that they are quite relevant today.

Each day, billions of users log into their social media which has become a global trend. In a multitude of such apps, there are a few that succeed e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, among others. Yet, they aren’t free from controversy. Particularly, TikTok has come under fierce scrutiny when it comes to data privacy. Facebook isn’t free from controversy either as Cambridge Analytica disgrace revealed how Facebook shared private information and data of its users. It isn’t thus surprising that there are worries over user privacy, misuse of personal data and data sharing practices. 

Despite such concerns, apps are booming at an unprecedented rate. Organisations such as banks, hospitals, schools, colleges, governmental institutions and private businesses have their own apps today. They have hugely facilitated services as people are now able to carry out shopping, book appointments, send or receive payments, order goods, and even check out examinations results online. These are just a few examples when it comes to the services bolstered by apps.

Circling back to Threads, the new social media app is buzzing in the internet. Instagram users can easily create their Threads account and already millions have done so. And as seen through the warring between Twitter and Threads, the rivalry is ruthless when it comes to the tech world. The Silicon Valley may be the centre of high tech but the entire world is its consumer, gobbling up every new and trendy technology. As such, the tech world seems to be evolving at a rapid pace with tech giants like Apple, Google, and Meta working towards futuristic applications. However, instead of being superfluous, such apps have to be of advantage and welfare to their users.