Mark Zuckerberg has claimed that Instagram's new text-based app and Twitter reskin, Threads, gained over 10 million new users in the first seven hours after it went live. Who knows how many it's on now?
The Meta chairman and CEO responsible for Facebook, Instagram, the Metaverse and now Threads, says that the new Twitter-like social media app which debuted on Wednesday, 6 July, racked up 5m new accounts in just a few hours after launch before doubling its user base after a total of seven hours. And yes, we are among them.
Moreover, given that Threads accounts can be created directly through existing Instagram profiles and essentially serve as text companions to Meta's popular image-based, it could potentially rise to around 2 billion from those users alone.
Created simply with the press of a button on IG, Threads ports over all your profile's existing details and followers whilst allowing users to carry out "real-time updates and public conversations" in a new. Well, we say 'new, it's basically just Twitter a new logo.
As for the old bird app, it's fair to say Twitter's user base, audience and all-round service have been pretty up and down of late. Let's be honest, pretty much ever since Elon Musk bought it in October 2022.
From controversies surrounding freedom of speech, getting rid of verification on numerous accounts and the whole 'Twitter blue' subscription thing — not to mention most recently limiting how posts people can see in a day — the billionaire kind of just made what was a very simple app into a bit of a convoluted mess.
The platform was never perfect, far from it, and certainly needed improving when it came to things like online abuse, misinformation and so on, but with this new, stripped-back and yet already familiar alternative now on offer, it looks like millions are already making the switch over.
Not only does Threads allow you to like, reply, repost and pretty much do everything else Twitter already did and more, including sharing videos up to five minutes in length and making use of 500 characters, but it also looks to have started off on the right foot:
As for Zuckerberg himself, the 39-year-old kicked things off by posting, "Let’s do this. Welcome to Threads", along with a fire emoji and adding "It'll take some time, but I think there should be a public conversations app with 1 billion+ people on it."
'Zuck' went on to say that he believes "Twitter has had the opportunity to do this but hasn't nailed it" and that, hopefully, his team will — the only difference is he didn't have to pay £38.1bn to put his company's name on it as Musk did.
While Threads is currently unavailable in the EU as it is yet to be fully reviewed by the union's privacy and data protection regulator, it has already rolled out in over 100 different countries including the UK, US, Ireland and Australia.
Zuckerberg also insisted that this is merely an "initial version" of the app and Meta will continue developing the platform and are keen to keep "actively listening to feedback" from an already growing community already growing on there.
The question is, will Threads turn out to be the 'Twitter killer' that it's being hyped up as, just another app for you to download or will the bubble eventually burst? The numbers so far seem to suggest that won't be happening any time soon.
Featured Image — The Hoot (via Threads)/Wikimedia Commons
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Leeds Festival 2026 – drinks prices for beer, cider, wine, spirits and more
Leeds Festival 2026 is officially underway and we've rounded up drinks prices at the bars on the festival site.
While many of us will be sipping on warm cans of cider and boxes of wine at the camp sites, you can't take any of your own alcohol into the arena (where all the stages are) itself.
So you'll need to budget for drinks over the course of the weekend if you want to watch the headliners with a pint in hand.
And with headline performances from the likes of Fontaines D.C., Raye, Florence and the Machine and Dave, there's masses of amazing live music on the horizon at Leeds Festival 2026.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
We're already on site at Leeds Festival ready to bring you all the action and updates from this massive weekend - staring with, importantly, drinks prices.
So, let's get into it...
This year you're looking at paying around £7 of beer and £7.50 £7.50 for a pint of cider.
Different for this year, is you'll get 10% off if paying with a Paypal debit card which you can get for free - which we think is pretty class and well worth your time.
You can take your own empty water bottles in to refill at water stations around the festival site.
You're also allowed to bring in sealed water/soft drinks which are 500ml or less.
And if you're taking your own booze into the campsites, remember that there's no glass allowed, so you'll need to decant anything into plastic bottles.
Here are all your drinks prices for Leeds Festival 2026
Beer and cider
Budweiser - £7 (£6.30 with Paypal discount)
Corona Extra - £7.50 (£6.75 with Paypal discount)
Kopparberg Crisp Apple - £7.50 (£6.75 with Paypal discount)
Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime - £7.70 (£6.93 with Paypal discount)
Rose - 175ml £10 / btl £35 (£9/£31.5 with Paypal discount)
Italian sparkling - 200ml £10 (£9 with Paypal discount)
No and Low
Budweiser Zero - £5.80 (£5.22 with Paypal discount)
Water - £2.50 (£2.25 with Paypal discount)
And that should just about do you in terms of booze - as always, please drink responsibly and look after each other.
For all the other important information, you can consult our complete 2026 Leeds Festival guide down below.
Featured image - The Hoot Leeds
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Leeds Festival warning issued as police announce speed cameras and traffic restrictions
Clementine Hall
Leeds Fest is almost here, but festival-goers heading to Bramham Park by car have been warned to take extra care on the roads.
Driving to Leeds Festival has never been particularly easy, but West Yorkshire Police have issued a warning to those driving by car in an attempt to make it somewhat easier.
Ahead of Leeds Festival 2026, temporary traffic management measures will be in place from Wednesday 26 August until Monday 31 August.
The measures are designed to improve road safety, reduce congestion, and help ensure the safe movement of the tens of thousands of people expected to attend the event.
Speed camera enforcement vans will be operating throughout the festival period alongside clearways surrounding the festival site.
Police have warned that drivers caught breaking the temporary restrictions could face prosecution, so it's definitely worth keeping an eye out for the signage as you approach the festival.
Superintendent Dan Wood said: “Leeds Festival is one of the largest events in West Yorkshire and attracts a significant increase in traffic to the local road network.
"The temporary speed restrictions and clearways are being introduced to help keep everyone safe, including festival-goers, local residents and road users.
"We would ask all motorists to pay close attention to the temporary signage in place and allow extra time for their journeys. Speed enforcement will be carried out during the event, and we encourage drivers to comply with all restrictions for their own safety and that of others."
Festival attendees are also being urged to follow the event signage rather than relying solely on their sat nav. Dedicated routes will direct different categories of visitors to the correct locations, including:
Camping entrances
Day / Non-camping ticket parking areas
Drop-off and pick-up points
Staff and authorised vehicle access routes
Motorists who follow sat nav directions alone may be directed to unsuitable routes, causing unnecessary delays for themselves and other road users.
Danny Jones -
6th July 2023 
