Threads was originally planned to live inside the Instagram app, but Meta made a bold move to launch it separately — and users still wonder why. If you're searching for why Threads wasn’t just a new Instagram feature or how Threads is connected to Instagram, you're in the right place. Instagram boss Adam Mosseri revealed during Meta’s 2025 antitrust trial that Threads began as an experimental feature inside Instagram, aiming to take on Twitter’s text-first social media model. However, critical user experience concerns led to a major internal shift, creating the standalone Threads app we know today.

According to Mosseri’s testimony, Meta’s team initially tried integrating Twitter-style posts and threaded replies directly into Instagram. However, they quickly ran into challenges. Instagram was fundamentally built around visual content like photos and videos, making a sudden pivot to a text-dominant format confusing for users. Unlike Twitter, where replies often carry the same weight as original posts, Instagram’s ecosystem, like YouTube and TikTok, naturally subordinates replies beneath main content. This fundamental mismatch made it clear: text posts needed their own home.

The decision to separate Threads into its own platform wasn’t made lightly. Mosseri described it as a “very contentious decision internally,” but one that ultimately preserved Instagram’s identity while allowing Meta to compete directly in the high-value, high-engagement text-based social media market. This strategic move also allowed Meta to optimize Threads for better ad placements, user engagement, and higher cost-per-click (CPC) opportunities, a crucial factor for maximizing AdSense and platform monetization.

Even though Threads is now its own app, it remains deeply intertwined with Instagram. Users must have an Instagram account to sign up for Threads, and both profiles are linked for seamless navigation. Instagram also promotes Threads posts within its own feed, encouraging users to engage with the new platform without feeling forced to abandon their primary app. This cross-promotion strategy helps boost user retention, session times, and ad revenue — key metrics in the competitive social media landscape.

Meta’s decision highlights a broader trend in the tech world: companies are increasingly building specialized apps to dominate specific niches rather than cramming too many features into a single platform. By spinning off Threads, Meta created a new space optimized for high-intent user interactions, opening up new opportunities for targeted advertising, higher CTR (click-through rates), and improved audience targeting through personalized feeds.

As Meta continues to innovate, Threads' evolution shows how user experience and clear brand differentiation can drive platform success. It also offers a glimpse into the future of social networking — one where apps specialize and users enjoy more customized, streamlined experiences.