Facebook owner Meta is rolling out its new ‘Threads’ social media platform in Ireland from today.

The platform is billed as an alternative to Elon Musk’s X (Twitter) – but promises to have tighter restrictions on extreme content, racism and conspiracy theories.

Threads has been available in over 100 countries, including the UK, since the summer; however, it has not been available in the EU until now.

Meta owner Mark Zuckerberg announced the rollout at 11am this morning when a timer on the Threads.net homepage counted down to zero.

Screenshots from the Threads app. Image: Meta

Meta Ireland said users in the EU can now create a Threads profile linked to their Instagram account – which will offer them, “the same experience as everyone else around the world”.

People can also use Threads without an Instagram profile; however, while they will be able to browse content, search for accounts, share content and report content, they will not be able to interact with it.

In a statement, the Data Protection Commission (DPC) said it has been “engaging” with Meta in the runup to the launch.

“In November, we wrote to them with several data protection recommendations,” said a DPC spokesperson.

“We understand that Meta has since made some changes to Threads prior to this launch and the DPC will continue to monitor and engage with Meta, as required.”

Screenshots from the Threads app. Image: Meta

Meta said it has made “significant improvements” to Threads since it launched in July.

The changes it has introduced include:

• A web experience
• A Following Feed
• The ability to edit a post
• Search with keywords
• Tag topics, and more

Currently the Threads app works in a similar fashion to X, with short updates, alongside photos and videos.

Users can post, repost, reply, like or block.