Meta’s new text-based social network Threads has surpassed 100 million users within just five days of its launch, making it one of the most popular social media platforms in the United States. The app’s rapid growth has put it on par with TikTok, which had 102.3 million active U.S. users in May, according to data from Insider Intelligence.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the milestone in a post on Threads, highlighting that the user base was primarily driven by organic demand and that the company had not yet implemented many promotions. However, Threads has benefited from its integration with Instagram, another Meta-owned platform that boasted approximately 135 million active U.S. users in May. Users can easily sign up for Threads by linking their Instagram accounts.
Impressively, Threads has achieved this milestone faster than any other app, despite the fact that it is currently unavailable in Europe due to European Union data privacy regulations. A UBS study revealed that the app outpaced AI-based app ChatGPT, which took two months to reach 100 million users.
On a global scale, Threads still lags behind other social media platforms. Facebook leads the pack with over 2 billion users, while Instagram boasts 1.4 billion and Twitter has more than 363 million users, according to Insider Intelligence’s estimates from May.
The introduction of Threads coincides with a potential decline in Twitter’s popularity. Matthew Prince, the CEO of network security firm Cloudflare, recently tweeted a graph showing a gradual decrease in Twitter’s traffic ranking throughout the year. Despite this development, Twitter has not yet commented on the matter.
Twitter has experienced a tumultuous few months since being purchased by Elon Musk. The emergence of various text-based alternatives has garnered attention, with Threads being particularly impactful. Shortly after Threads’ launch, Twitter threatened legal action against Meta, indicating the platform’s concern over potential competition.
In conclusion, Meta’s Threads has achieved significant success in its initial five days of operation, rapidly attracting a large user base. While it still trails behind other social media giants globally, its integration with Instagram and its organic growth have propelled it into the top tier of social media platforms in the United States. The future success and impact of Threads will be closely watched as it continues to expand its reach and features.