Threads, Mark Zuckerberg’s rival app to Elon Musk's X, has been launched in Europe, offering itself up to millions of new potential users across the continent.
Having initially been introduced in the UK and US in July, the Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:FB)-operated social media was confirmed to be expanding by Zuckerberg on Thursday.
“Today we’re opening Threads to more countries in Europe,” he said in a post, with the X competitor having supposedly been held back from the continent due to tougher competition rules.
Instagram head Adam Mosseri suggested in July that the delay in rolling out to Europe was due to “complexities with complying with some of the laws coming into effect”.
This includes the Digital Markets Act, which so-called “gatekeepers” such as Meta, which also owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, will have to comply with by March.
Threads, meanwhile, hit app stores earlier this year as its direct competitor X (formerly Twitter) has faced struggles.
Declining advertising revenue and controversy over its content moderation has plagued X since Musk bought the site late last year.
Threads' move into Europe will make the app available to 448 million people, with the site having closed in on 100 millions users after initially being launched although this number later declined.