Let's talk about Threads, Mark Zuckerberg's new text-based social network

Threads is Meta's new text-based social network, allowing users to organise discussions more clearly and share content on specific topics. A microblogging app based on Instagram's text conversations, it enables conversations around particular subjects. It could fill the gap left by Twitter before Elon Musk: a creative space where users can express ideas on specific themes.

Did we really need this new product launched by Mark Zuckerberg? Although it may seem interesting and designed to improve the user experience, a more critical interpretation is both necessary and legitimate.

Giving anyone an authorised space to share content on any topic could prove dangerous. As always, the danger lies less in the technology itself than in how it might be used.

Threads will provide access to a huge amount of data, already organised and categorised, that could — or will? — be fed to generative artificial intelligence, which in turn will process it to offer high-value services to users. The potential risk lies in a knowledge base that anyone can populate with any information.

Now that technology engages users' emotions and intellect, ethical and responsible use for collective wellbeing is more important than ever. Its innovations have greatly improved our lives and work, but we hope we will never have to confirm Orwell's phrase from his celebrated, visionary 1984: 'ignorance is strength'.

Because we believe in technology's value and potential, we have introduced artificial intelligence into some of our Customer Service processes: intelligence that serves people, rather than the other way round. Designed to raise operators' professional skills and give them more time to resolve unusual cases, where the human approach remains essential. Technology that truly helps people contribute more.