Should Churches Be Using Threads?

A wayyyy all-too-early look at Instagram's companion social media app

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Before you say no, before you bring in anything that you've heard or experienced on the app, before you say "I don't have time for another social media page to handle", I want you to put all that aside, and then wait until the end of the article to tell me why you think I'm wrong. I believe that this could change the social media landscape. And it will be so much easier to use than Instagram and TikTok, so hear me out:

To start off, what is Threads? If you've used Twitter, it's that. Just stolen by Zuckerberg with Instagram branding thrown on top of it. Tweet style comments fill your home page, filled with both people you follow, and people you don't. You can like, comment, or repost (someone pointed out that they could've had it be a rethread, and like them, I am highly disappointed this wasn't chosen) anyone's thread. So that would probably bring up the question; "Why not just use Twitter then?"

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As soon as I opened the app and started scrolling through, I saw many people posting "What is this app going to be?" and "How do I even use this thing?". One thread earlier today caught my attention. @thechrisdo asked the Thread world, "What's the best way to utilize Threads so that it's not just another version of Twitter?" The responses had me surprised, and hopeful of the future of the app. Here are some of them:

- "Great questions that spark healthy conversation" @tjscreates

- "Threads currently feels like an actual group chat with actual people and not some random wall you throw text at. So being real, sharing your actual thoughts would probably be the difference." @michealaddit

- "To me it feels like you're having a public DMs with someone - I think this will be a very polished version of Twitter" @dainwalker

These three people, among many more, pointed out that the initial feel was a better connection with the people they were interacting with. Imagine a place where healthy conversations can happen? Couldn't be Twitter. Imagine a place where people actually listen to each other instead of arguing? Couldn't be Twitter. I love the hope of @dainwalker, saying it feels like a more polished version of Twitter. I would definitely agree, it feels like people are kinder, that people are looking for conversations instead of arguments. But will that last? Hard to say, only time will tell.

Now what is something that the church should do well? In Bible College I both learned and experienced that having healthy discussions are vital to faith development. And if we, as churches, are providing ways to have these discussions, it will lead people deeper in the discipleship process. People have used apps like Facebook and Instagram in the past to attempt facilitating healthy dialogue around faith. So far Threads appears as though that's what it was made for, with the line of communication between 'Threaders' so much simpler and more genuine.

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Some more responses about what people want to avoid:

- "No video!" @kentmayne

- "Hmm, no NSFW content." @quitethemarketer

I have also seen many people discussing how they don't want ads in their feeds, as it is so much nicer without them. And as I read these responses I agreed with all of them. Not scrolling through a mindless video that doesn't have a point was really nice for once. Reading people's thoughts and jokes was much more engaging mentally and made me learn more than if I were watching Reels. Imagine a social media app that doesn't have any NSFW content on it... ya, that's pretty hard to do. But it feels like most people are wanting that, a safe place where people can come to share their thoughts and feelings without being bombarded by content they don't want to see. When scrolling through Threads you often think to yourself; 'there feels like something is missing' and then you realize that it's the ads. So far Threads is ad-free, but unfortunately, that will likely be changing in the future. But for now, it's a beautiful experience that is reminiscent of early social media.

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The last couple of quotes are my favourite, as I believe they sum up what Threads has started off as perfectly:

- "So far, I feel like Threads is a better way to connect and form community discussions than Twitter or even Instagram. More meaningful conversations and connections."

- "be a discussion starter instead of an influencer"

- "all in for authentic conversations over incessant noise"

LIKE COME ON

If you are a church leader/pastor and don't get fired up about that, I don't know what will. People are saying that they want meaningful conversations and people to be authentic. Is that not what we are called to do as Christians? The conversation around social media is changing before our very eyes. People know the way that social media is currently going is both destructive and at times, meaningless.

They want good discussion. They want to see what others think. They see how destructive and polarizing our culture is right now and want it changed.

@careynieuwhof summed it up really well in my opinion:

Will Threads be the social media app that breaks down FOMO and brings people together better? Probably not always at all times, but the way-too-early indications say that it might be healthier than what we've experienced in the past.

So to sum it up, YES, in my very humble opinion your church should look into using Threads. How that actually happens in a practical way on Threads is a totally different animal that nobody really knows how to tackle right now. But I would say throw some stuff on the wall and see if it sticks. We have an algorithm that's new and learning how people are engaging with each other. So why not try asking people their favourite Bible verse, or giving 3 ways someone can worship God daily.

Some people have posted something to the effect of 'What you do right now, even if Threads dies in 6 months, could change how you influence people.' This is a major opportunity to jumpstart not only your church's presence online but WAY more importantly, jumpstart the discipleship process for someone who has never walked through the doors of your church.

What about you, what do you think? Let me know by voting down below, or commenting on my Thread! I would love to hear what you think about the newest trend in social media. If you found something in here helpful, be sure to follow me on Instagram/Threads @mitchmueller__ and I may even post some more blogs and other church social media-related content.

P.S. I can't wait to look back on this in 6 months and probably be totally wrong :)

Do you think churches should use Threads?

• 0%Yes
• 0%No
• 0%We have no way of knowing yet