Threads in Europe: Why Meta's new hot app isn't available (and probably won't)

Can’t download Threads in Europe? You’re not the only one. 

With over 100 million sign-ups in the first five days since its release, Meta’s new hot app has been the talk of the town for quite some time. 

However, to put it simply, the app is not available in Europe because of regulatory concerns. The Digital Markets Act (DMA), which is set to come into effect in 2024, will impose new rules on large tech companies, such as Meta. These rules are designed to promote competition and protect user privacy.

One of the key provisions of the DMA is that large tech companies will be prohibited from combining data from different services. This means that Meta would not be able to use a user’s data from Instagram to target them with ads on Facebook, for example. 

So, since Threads accounts are closely connected to Instagram and if Meta were to launch Threads in Europe, it would need to ensure that it complies with the DMA’s data privacy rules.

Meta has said that it is still working to comply with the DMA. However, the company has not yet announced a timeline for launching Threads in Europe. 

In addition to the DMA, other regulatory concerns could be delaying the launch of Threads in Europe. For example, the European Commission is investigating Meta for alleged antitrust violations, which could also have an impact on the launch of Threads.

“The goal isn’t to replace Twitter. The goal is to create a public square for communities on Instagram that never really embraced Twitter and for communities on Twitter (and other platforms) that are interested in a less angry place for conversations, but not all of Twitter,” says Instagram boss Adam Mosseri on Threads. 

When do you think Threads will start launching in Europe? Will it be any time soon? Let us know in the comments!