Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, has announced that Threads, the text-based social media app, has reached over 130 million monthly active users emerging in the wake of Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter (now X) in 2022, Threads competes with a host of startups and open-source projects including Bluesky and Mastodon among others.
Steady Growth Despite Early Challenges
Zuckerberg noted that Threads has been growing steadily, albeit it launched before Meta was fully prepared, “Threads now has a significant number of people actively using it compared to the active user count during its initial launch peak, this suggests Threads is on the right path to achieving significant success,” Zuckerberg stated.
Ambitious Future Projections
In the third quarter of 2023, Zuckerberg praised the app, suggesting it has the potential to reach a billion users within a few years, at that time, Threads had already amassed over 100 million monthly active users.
Meta’s Expanding User Base
Meta reported that its suite of applications, which includes WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger, was used by approximately 3.19 billion people daily in the fourth quarter of 2023, an increase from 3.14 billion in the third quarter, monthly active users rose to 3.98 billion, up from 3.96 billion in the previous quarter.
Increasing Popularity of Threads
Recent weeks have seen evidence of Threads’ growing popularity, app information provider Appfigures found that the Meta-owned app saw its downloads triple in December, making it the sixth most downloaded app across Apple and Google’s app stores for the month.
Record-Breaking Launch and Resurgence
Threads experienced a record-breaking launch, reaching 100 million registered users within its first five days, although interest waned in the fall, it didn’t return to growth until Meta promoted Threads posts to Facebook users, Zuckerberg’s comments may aim to alleviate concerns raised during Threads’ period of decline. External trackers estimate Threads now has around 160 million users.
Threads’ Promising Trajectory
Threads’ surpassing 130 million monthly active users marks a significant milestone for Meta’s social media landscape, showcasing the app’s potential for continued growth and its ability to compete in the dynamic social media market.
