Since launching last week, Threads has garnered over 70 million users, with experts calling it a ‘serious threat’ to Twitter.
While users have been enjoying getting to know Meta‘s new app, many have claimed that it is draining their smartphone’s battery.
Several frustrated users have taken to Twitter to discuss the issue, with one saying: ‘I would use threads but it kills my phone battery lightning fast.’
So, have you noticed your smartphone battery draining after installing the app?
Here’s what to do if your phone is affected.
Since launching last week, Threads has garnered over 70 million users, with experts calling it a ‘serious threat’ to Twitter. While users have been enjoying getting to know Meta’s new app, many have claimed that it is draining their smartphone’s battery
‘Is Threads just…murderous to anyone else’s battery?’ one user tweeted
Threads is a new microblogging app that was launched by Meta last week.
It is a text-based conversation platform which is linked to Instagram, allowing users to follow accounts they are already interested in on the photo-sharing platform.
Users can share their point of view in thread-like posts that appear very similar to tweets.
‘Threads is where communities come together to discuss everything from the topics you care about today to what’ll be trending tomorrow,’ Meta explained.
‘Whatever it is you’re interested in, you can follow and connect directly with your favorite creators and others who love the same things — or build a loyal following of your own to share your ideas, opinions and creativity with the world.’
Follow the Daily Mail on Threads
While millions of users were quick to download the new app, many have noticed that it is draining their smartphone battery.
‘Is Threads just…murderous to anyone else’s battery?’ one user tweeted.
Another added: ‘Is Threads a drain on the iphone battery or did something change with the iphones lately? I’m not on the app hardly at all but lately my battery is draining way more than normal.’
While millions of users were quick to download the new app, many have noticed that it is draining their smartphone battery
And one vented: ‘Don’t download threads it will drain your battery. Last night I went to bed with a fully charged phone and woke up with 60% battery I deleted the stupid app.’
While the reason for this battery drain remains unclear, Jake Moore, a cybersecurity expert at ESET, suggets it could be down to process called ‘negative testing.’
Speaking to MailOnline, he explained: ‘Meta apps have long been accused of causing iPhone battery draining.
‘It could be because they are trying to understand more about their app and how users interact with it.
‘A process called negative testing is used to help developers learn how people use the app to make it better and Facebook have been thought to use this in the past.
‘Negative testing involves analysing the response of the app when invalid entries are inputted.
‘In the context of Facebook, negative testing can be employed to assess the functionality of specific features or gauge the speed at which messages load when batteries deplete faster than usual.
‘This might not be against their own policy but it can be rather frustrating if you are one of the accounts they use to analyse.’
If you’ve noticed your battery draining after you downloaded Threads, make sure you turn off your phone’s Background App Refresh setting.
This setting allows apps to check for updates and new content, even when they’re not actively in use – and can quickly deplete your battery life.
To turn this off on iPhone, simply open the Settings app and go to General. Tap Background App Refresh, then Off.
On Android, open Settings then tap Connections and then Data Usage.
From the Mobile section, tap Mobile data usage. Select Threads from below the usage graph, and turn off Allow background data usage.
MailOnline has contacted Meta for comment.
Follow the Daily Mail on Threads
What is Threads? Everything you need to know about Zuckerberg’s Twitter rival – and what it means for Elon
What is Threads?
Threads is a new microblogging app that was launched by Meta Platforms at 7pm EST and at midnight in the UK.
It is a text-based conversation platform which is linked to Instagram, allowing users to follow accounts they are already interested in on the photo-sharing platform.
Users can share their point of view in thread-like posts that appear very similar to tweets.
‘Threads is where communities come together to discuss everything from the topics you care about today to what’ll be trending tomorrow,’ the App Store’s description reads.
‘Whatever it is you’re interested in, you can follow and connect directly with your favorite creators and others who love the same things — or build a loyal following of your own to share your ideas, opinions and creativity with the world.’
Threads is currently available for pre-order for users aged 12+ on the App Store
The app is available in 31 different languages, including but not limited to English, Traditional Chinese, Russian and Spanish.
Location and browser history is used to make Threads function, according to Meta’s terms of service.
What does it mean for Elon Musk?
Mark Zuckerberg’s Threads comes just days after Elon Musk announced a temporary cap on how many posts a user can read on Twitter.
Now, Twitter users who chalk up the $8 a month to become a verified user can view up to 6,000 daily tweets.
Unverified users can see up to 600 tweets a day, and new unverified accounts can see up to 300 tweets a day.
Threads is likely to be a huge source of competition between Zuckerberg and Musk, with the pair already agreeing to a physical fight last month.
In a tweet earlier this week, Musk appeared to take a swipe at the new platform.
‘Thank goodness they’re so sanely run,’ he wrote in response to a group of Thread screenshots.
Users will be able to share their point of view in thread-like posts that appear very similar to tweets
What personal data will Threads collect?
Threads collects 14 different types of data that may be linked to your identity.
Alongside location and browser history, this includes financial information, purchase history and even health data.
The App Store also suggests that identifiers and ‘sensitive information’ are collected too, in addition to personal contact data.
But data use can vary depending on your use of the features on offer.
A full list of its data collection is below:
- Health and Fitness
- Financial Information
- Contact Information
- User Content
- Browsing History
- Usage Data
- Diagnostics
- Purchases
- Location
- Contacts
- Search History
- Identifiers
- Sensitive Information
- Other Data
How and when can you download it?
Threads is free and is currently available for pre-order for users aged 12 and above on Apple’s App Store.
