Received

Mark Zuckerberg has launched a direct challenge to Twitter with Threads, garnering millions of users in hours as it sought to take advantage of its rival's much-weakened state after a series of chaotic decisions from owner Elon Musk.

Those quick to join the new Meta platform included celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez as well as prominent US politicians including Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

"Let's do this. Welcome to Threads," Zuckerberg wrote on Wednesday in his first post on the app, along with a fire emoji. He said the app logged 10 million sign-ups in seven hours.

He also took to Twitter, posting a well-known meme of Spiderman facing off against Spiderman - in a humorous jab at the rivalry with Musk and between the two services.

Analysts have said Threads' ties to Instagram might give it a built-in user base and advertising apparatus. That could siphon ad dollars from Twitter at a time when its new chief is trying to revive its struggling business.

"Investors can't help but be a little excited about the prospect that Meta really has a 'Twitter-Killer'," said Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at investment firm AJ Bell.

While Threads launched as a standalone app, users can log in using their Instagram credentials and follow the same accounts, potentially making it an easy addition to existing habits for Instagram's more than 2 billion monthly active users.

Others saw the launch of Threads as an opportunity to create a less toxic version of Twitter.

"May this platform have good vibes, strong community, excellent humour, and less harassment," Ocasio-Cortez said in her post.

Much like Twitter, the app features short text posts that users can like, re-post and reply to, although it does not include any direct message capabilities.

Posts can be up to 500 characters long and include links, photos and videos up to five minutes long, according to a Meta blog post.

It is available in more than 100 countries on both Apple's App Store and Google's Play Store, the blog post said.

Meta stock closed up 3 per cent on Wednesday ahead of the launch, outpacing gains by rival tech firms.

Threads' arrival comes after Zuckerberg and Musk have traded barbs for months, even threatening to fight each other in a real-life mixed martial arts cage match in Las Vegas.

Musk bought Twitter for $US44 billion ($A66 billion) last October, but its value has since plummeted amid deep staffing cuts and content moderation controversies that have alienated both users and advertisers.

Its latest move involved limiting the number of tweets users can read per day.

Zuckerberg noted the challenges that big public social media forums bring. "I think there should be a public conversations app with 1 billion+ people on it. Twitter has had the opportunity to do this but hasn't nailed it. Hopefully we will," he wrote.

© RAW 2023

Telcos will have to offer financial hardship assistance to customers so they do not lose access to work, education and other critical services, the federal government says.

This will bring their social responsibilities into line with similar requirements for energy companies.

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has directed the Australian Communications and Media Authority to introduce enforceable standards for telcos by January 1, 2024.

"Given the current cost of living pressures that many Australians are facing, it's important we have clear and enforceable rules so telcos give appropriate support to consumers doing it tough," Ms Rowland said.

More than one in ten Australians have issues paying their telco bills but just 0.03 per cent of residential customers were in financial hardship programs, according to a recent report by Roy Morgan and OmniPoll.

It found found just two thirds of telco customers experiencing financial difficulties were aware they could contact their provider for help.

However, telecommunications services have not been a key contributor to increased household spending, unlike mortgage costs.

Industry and consumer stakeholders will be able to take part in developing the standards for the telecommunications sector before they are introduced.

© AAP 2023

Seven teenagers have been arrested following two separate incidents in Melbourne.

Early on Thursday morning a car smashed into a home opposite Southland shopping centre in the city's southeast.

Officers allegedly saw the vehicle run red lights in Dandenong and followed it for about 15 kilometres across several suburbs before deploying stopsticks.

The car continued on but eventually the driver lost control and the vehicle hit a home in Highett.

Police said a 14-year-old Frankston boy and 13-year-old Hampton East boy inside the car were not hurt and had been assisting with the investigation.

Just over 24 hours earlier, five teenage girls were arrested after police tracked an allegedly stolen car from North Melbourne to Carlton.

Two 16-year-olds from Deer Park and Fitzroy North were charged with theft of a motor vehicle and committing an indictable offence on bail.

A 16-year-old from Melton West was charged with theft of motor vehicle and a 15-year-old from Brookfield was charged with the same offence, as well as burglary and two counts of obtaining property by deception.

Another 16-year-old from Melton West was released pending summons.

© AAP 2023