Launched last year, Meta’s Threads is a social media app that uses Instagram’s technology and is gaining popularity. Apptopia reports that daily active users (DAUs) in the US have been rising continuously since November. This expansion contrasts sharply with the user exodus that X (previously Twitter) has experienced following Elon Musk’s takeover.
December marked a turning point. Threads became the most downloaded app on Apple’s App Store, a trend reflected in current rankings with Threads at a comfortable third compared to X’s distant 41st place. Google Play shows a similar story, with Threads at 12th and X languishing at 44th.
As of April, Threads boasts an impressive 28 million daily users in the US, a 55% increase since December. Meanwhile, X struggles with a lower and stagnant DAU curve, averaging 22 million – a concerning 21% less than Threads. This marks a significant first: Threads surpassing X in daily US users.
However, Threads’ path to dominance isn’t clear. Sensor Tower reports a surprising lack of user growth after a promotional campaign featuring Taylor Swift. Additionally, Threads’ US monthly active users (MAUs) fall short of X’s 140 million, although Zuckerberg claims a global total closer to 130 million.
Despite these hurdles, Zuckerberg remains a vocal advocate. He’s actively promoted Threads in every quarterly call since launch, calling it “on track to be a major success.” Whether Threads can maintain its momentum and truly challenge X as the go-to microblogging platform remains to be seen.
One key differentiator may be focus. Threads positions itself as a “friendly discussion-oriented app,” a stark contrast to X’s often-divisive atmosphere. If Threads can capitalize on this distinction and foster a welcoming community, it could attract users frustrated with X’s current climate.
Ultimately, the battle between Threads and X hinges on user experience and growth strategy. Can Threads maintain its upward trajectory and attract new users? Will X manage to adapt and win back its lost audience? Only time will tell which platform emerges victorious in this evolving social media landscape.