Threads launch leads to surge in Zuck vs Musk memes

Now that the rumours have become reality, the new text-based social network has caused social media users to swarm the internet with jokes and memes that lampoon the billionaire's rivalry. 

Mark Zuckerberg kicked things off from his personal Twitter account, with his first Tweet since 2012 goading Musk with a popular Spiderman meme post, where two Spidermen meet - a nod to the similarity between Threads and Twitter.

pic.twitter.com/MbMxUWiQgp

— Mark Zuckerberg (@finkd) July 6, 2023

People quickly started to reply, mocking the extensive list privacy and data permissions required by the new app, a common feature and criticism of much of Meta's suite of products.

👀 pic.twitter.com/kTxHFFnHvX

— Ali G (@Ali_G_and_Doge) July 6, 2023

Following the podcast, and Threads rumours, Musk challenged Zuckerberg on social media to a cage fight at Vegas Octagon.

With the launch of Threads, the so-far friendly rivalry between two of the world's richest men has taken on a new dimension.

Meme rage

Co-founder & CEO of Bloom Institute of Technology, Austen Allred tweeted: 

“My Facebook/Instagram social graph is basically all the people I knew in High School – “A place where you can read all the Twitter-like thoughts of the people you follow on Instagram” sounds like a special hell.” 

Musk responded to the tweet with a laughing-with-tears emoji and a hundred percent emoji.

🤣💯

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 6, 2023

Another Tweet from Internals Tech Emails illustrates Elon Musk on Instagram supported by an image from August 21, 2018. The image is of an email from Musk to Juleanna Glover stating, “I just deleted my Instagram. Weak Sauce.”

Musk tweeted back saying, “It is infinitely preferable to be attacked by strangers on Twitter than indulge in the false happiness of hide-the-pain Instagram.”

It is infinitely preferable to be attacked by strangers on Twitter, than indulge in the false happiness of hide-the-pain Instagram

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 6, 2023

A meme on Twitter that caught the attention of Musk was posted by DogeDesigner who tweeted an image of a keyboard capturing the current climate between the two tech giants. The tweet states, “Meta's new app was built entirely using this keyboard.”

😂

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 6, 2023

Another post by British satirist Cold War Steve showcased Musk in his underpants holding up a posterboard saying “Free Speech £9.60 (12.26) per month.”

pic.twitter.com/AVJQQujVeP

— Cold War Steve (@coldwarsteve) July 1, 2023

Meanwhile, many die-hard Twitter fans were quick to demonstrate their loyalty to the blue-bird platform, having given Threads a try:

Everyone running back to twitter after trying Threads App for 5 min.. #ThreadsApp pic.twitter.com/WpeQZx6fcc

— Hector (@walterwhitee31) July 6, 2023

Many social network users have been sarcastically mocking both Musk ad Zuckerberg as the self-styled kings of free speech, while Musk has been adding paywalls to many features on the popular text-based application, and Meta's platforms have been criticised by many - particularly those on the right of politics - for not allowing 'free speech'.

Zuck is the king of Free Expression™ pic.twitter.com/Ql8SmHoSV4

— Five Times August (@FiveTimesAugust) July 6, 2023

The social networks row

So far, Twitter has dominated the text-based social media space by allowing users to pursue real-time discussions, but recently the platform has hit controversy for the prevalence of anonymous bots and bad actors using the platform to orchestrate 'pile-ons' and 'drag' and abuse those in the public eye.

One tweet mocked the combative nature of Twitter users experiencing the tranquil and friendly atmosphere or Threads for the first time, using a clip of meme-friendly boxing promoter Eddie Hearn:

Everyone arriving in Threads from Twitter.. pic.twitter.com/T7R6MdSWHx

— Dominic  🇦🇺 (@domyates) July 6, 2023

In what might be seen as a retaliatory move from Musk Interesting Engineering reported last week that he plans to introduce voice and video calls to Twitter, without the need for users to share phone numbers. A feature that would put Twitter in direct competition with Meta-owned WhatsApp and Instagram.

Some would agree it's only fair for the Instagram owner to fight back.

Could launching Twitter's rival be the final straw leading to a much-anticipated billionaire bout between the two CEOs?

I guess we will have to wait and see, but with huge numbers of Instagram users testing out the new Threads platform, it looks like Zuck has Musk in a tricky half-nelson that it will take some time for Musk and Twitter to find their way out from.

IE will continue to report on developments.