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Connections

Discussing the latest with Threads, X (formerly Twitter), and users' data

 Emily Hessney Lynch and Scott Malouf on "Connections"
Julie Williams
/
WXXI News
Emily Hessney Lynch and Scott Malouf on "Connections with Evan Dawson" on Monday, July 24, 2023

After what analysts are calling an “explosive launch,” Meta’s new alternative to Twitter, Threads, seems to be losing its allure. Research shows there has been a nearly 70 percent decline in active users since a peak on July 7. Meta says its vision with Threads is to “take what Instagram does best and expand that to text, creating a positive and creative space to express your ideas.” Can it – and will it – compete with Twitter?

Meanwhile, on Monday, owner Elon Musk changed Twitter’s bird logo to an “X” as part of a rebranding effort. The goal, he has said, is to turn X into an “everything app” that includes audio, video, messaging, banking, and more.

What do users need to know about these platforms and all of the changes? What do social media companies do with users’ data? Our guests explore these questions and more:

Evan Dawson is the host of "Connections with Evan Dawson." He joined WXXI in January 2014 after working at 13WHAM-TV, where he served as morning news anchor. He was hired as a reporter for 13WHAM-TV in 2003 before being promoted to anchor in 2007.
Megan Mack is the executive producer of "Connections with Evan Dawson" and live/televised engagement programming.