With Instagram now officially owning, the coveted domain Threads.com, we will probably expect Meta to rebrand & redirect users from Threads.net to the new domain soon (at least before the social network fully embraces the Fediverse).
However, suppose Meta wants Threads to become the pulse of the planet (a goal Twitter/X tried and failed to achieve). In that case, they may need to consider launching several sister sites, which could help the social media giant dominate emerging and established digital markets and evade government scrutiny.
Laying down a multi-faceted Fediverse foundation could also help Meta earn extra revenue in regional markets and compete against new rivals in new arenas, such as Artificial Intelligence, E-commerce, and banking (via Meta Pay).
Image Credit: Håkan Dahlström
Regional Sites For A Regulatory World
Unfortunately for Meta, the region of Europe has been somewhat problematic. The European Union seems to eschew ads upon Facebook & Instagram. When Meta offered to provide a premium option for users to avoid ads, the @EUCommission@ec.social-network.europa.eu unceremoniously rejected the idea entirely.
This has resulted in Meta declining to offer a Fediverse option for European Union residents, frustrating users desiring to communicate with businesses, governments & loved ones from outside Meta's digital walls via alternative ActivityPub platforms like Mastodon, Peertube, etcetera.
Other nations, like Turkey 🇹🇷 did not like the idea of Instagram sharing data with Threads and forced the company to delete all Threads accounts from users in Turkey.
To comply with an interim order of the Rekabet Kurumu/Turkish Competition Authority (TCA), we will shut down Threads in Türkiye from Monday 29 April. We know this will be very disappointing for the many people in Türkiye who engage on Threads with their community. [...]
The TCA recently issued an interim order prohibiting the sharing of data between Threads and Instagram. We disagree with the interim order, we believe we are in compliance with all Turkish legal requirements, and we will appeal. The TCA's interim order leaves us with no choice but to temporarily shut down Threads in Türkiye. We will continue to constructively engage with the TCA and hope to bring Threads back to people in Türkiye as quickly as possible. (Meta Newsroom)
To circumvent this conundrum, Meta should consider launching its first sister site to connect European Union users to Threads (albeit for a price) and a second sister site to make the first one jealous.
Image Credit: DrRandomFactor
Threads (Europe)
If the price is right, Meta should acquire Threads.eu (which is on sale via Elite Domains and registered with Key Systems) and offer an ad-free, premium federated social network for European Union residents.
Meta should charge between 5€-15€ per month per user. Unlike the original Threads network, usernames would not be pre-reserved or based upon Instagram handles. Except for brands, European celebrities, and government agencies, any user could register any user handle for a monthly fee.
Threads (Europe) would be compatible in both Turkey 🇹🇷 & the European Union 🇪🇺, as the data would not be shared directly with the rest of the Meta network. Like its predecessor, Fediverse sharing would be opt-in by default (necessary to avoid the ire of various European governments).
Image: African Union flag
Threads (Africa)
Around the same time as Meta's European launch, Instagram should acquire Threads.africa (disclosure: I own this domain, which I registered to keep out of the hands of grifters & spammers) & launch a freemium, federated site (where users pay $5 per month for an ad-free experience) for the African continent.
According to Stat Counter, Meta already dominates the African continent via Facebook, with Instagram fighting with YouTube for second place. However, when it comes to text-based social networking, Meta's mini rival X (formally known as Twitter) still dominates & shapes the conversation on the continent.
Twitter which primarily serves as a tool for interaction has since evolved into a medium for advocacy and journalism in Africa.
Hashtags such as #EndSARS in Nigeria and #ThisFlag in Zimbabwe have galvanized mass participation, sparking nationwide movements and drawing global attention to local issues.
The platform has also facilitated the growth of numerous industries, particularly the media. However, other sectors have benefited greatly from the Twitter platform including tech, finance, and business.
These industries have leveraged the platform to foster growth. From promoting businesses and attracting customers to crowdfunding initiatives and launching digital campaigns, Twitter serves as a catalyst for entrepreneurship and economic growth. (Business Insider: Africa)
If Meta desires to supplant X on the continent (and knock Elon Musk's pride down a few pegs), they should consider launching a hyper-localized sister site on the dot Africa domain extension.
Image Credit: Book cover of African Artificial Intelligence by Dr. Mark Nasila
Using AI To Unite Threads Dot Africa
To galvanize support for the African sister site, Threads Africa should announce the desire to have their site localized in every African language (there are between 1200 and 3000 languages spoken on the continent). Meta should request the assistance of Africans, & could even use their homegrown Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help speed up the process.
Meta could also use their AI to help provide direct translation between each African language. If successful, Threads Africa would be positioned as the nexus for communication between the 646 million internet African users within Africa (a number which is expected to rise to 1.1 billion by 2029).
By providing auto-native translation tools, videos, text & audio, Threads Africa could help foster a new age of communication across the continent by allowing Africans to use their mother tongue instead of adopting a language from their former colonial power.
Image: Official Meta Icon
Since Meta does not have to deal with the regulatory interference that is commonplace within Europe, they could integrate Instagram Shopping within Threads Africa, which would enable millions of small businesses in Africa to market their goods to billions of customers worldwide.
Threads Africa could, however, expand Instagram Shop, & help facilitate sales between large local businesses, major industries, & African governments. This could make it easier for Africans to market their goods & natural resources, the latter of which is estimated to be worth around $6.5 trillion.
To facilitate a smooth transaction process between numerous currencies & businesses across 54 nations, @zuck@threads.net should make Meta Pay more widely available, which will benefit both consumers & businesses alike
If adequately managed, Africans on the continent could use their newfound wealth to improve their local livelihoods & improve their future outlook, similar to what Botswana 🇧🇼 did decades ago.
Since Threads Africa would already be a part of the Fediverse (which Meta could encourage people to opt-in towards), users would be able to communicate with their sister sites (Threads & Threads Europe), & the greater Fediverse ecosystem as well.
Image Credit: .Asia Icon
Other Regional Threads Sites & Custom Domains
If Threads Europe & Threads Africa is successful, Meta could try replicating its success with Threads Asia, & use the same strategy employed in the continent of Africa & the region of Europe—however, the domain Threads.Asia is owned by a Russian 🇷🇺 blog site, & US sanctions may make it difficult to obtain that domain.
Regarding custom domains, Meta should consider hosting government accounts on their servers, which could help them build up some (much-needed) goodwill amongst regulatory authorities. It may also encourage more world leaders to join the Fediverse under a domain they control.
Offering custom domains may also encourage some governments to return to the Fediverse, as some have given up on Federated accounts self-hosting their accounts on their servers due to a lack of activity (note: props to @fediversereport@mastodon.social for reporting this news).
As far as custom domains for celebrities, businesses & individuals, Meta may feel it is wiser to let other Fediverse players (like Mastodon & WordPress) serve those individuals.
Image Credit: From the Sister Sister show
Does Threads Need Sister Sites‽
Running multiple sister Threads sites may not seem ideal for Meta, who probably prefers a singular solution that serves the masses. However, if Meta wants to move beyond the regulatory hurdles & squash a significant text-based rival, launching a sister site might be a better alternative.
As a bonus, Meta could display the power of the Fediverse by running multiple sites on different domains, which could help inspire more companies, countries & citizens to embrace the Fediverse for themselves, helping to connect all of humanity (at least digitally).
Image: Unofficial Fediverse Icon by @eudaimon@fe.disroot.org (props to @hello@social.wedistribute.org for the information)
👨🏾💻 by @darnell@darnellclayton.com 🔛 @darnell@darnell.day 📧 darnell@darnell.day
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