Threads Hits 350M Users: Is X's Lead Shrinking?

Threads Reaches 350 Million Monthly Active Users

Meta's Threads has surpassed 350 million monthly active users, steadily gaining ground on X (formerly Twitter). This announcement, made during Meta's latest earnings update, also revealed a 35% increase in time spent on the platform. Meta attributes this growth to ongoing improvements in its recommendation systems.

“With more people joining the vibrant conversations and communities on Threads, it’s on track to be Meta's next major social app, and the best alternative to X and other text-based sharing platforms.”

While Threads is forging its own identity, competing with X remains a key objective. Although X recently reported 600 million monthly active users, nearly double Threads' current user base, the accuracy of X's data is questionable.

Is X's User Count Accurate?

X owner Elon Musk claimed 600 million users in May 2024, yet official reports at the time indicated 550 million. Even this figure seems speculative. Previous Twitter management hesitated to address bot profiles, fearing a negative impact on usage statistics. Former CEO Jack Dorsey hinted at this in 2022, suggesting Twitter needed to be private to address the issue effectively.

Musk himself estimated that around 20-33% of Twitter's active users were bots. Despite claiming to have purged millions of bot accounts, X's reported user count has continued to rise. This raises questions about the validity of X's user data, especially considering the reported loss of 17 million users in Europe since Musk's acquisition.

While X is not obligated to provide verified usage data outside the EU, the actual gap between X and Threads may be significantly smaller than reported.

Threads' Continued Momentum

Threads continues to experience strong download momentum and growing user engagement. Meta's recent exclusive content partnership with the UFC, focusing on sports content—a major engagement driver on X—further strengthens its position. Combined with a more open approach to real-time news, Threads is poised to challenge X as the preferred real-time platform.

While Threads still has progress to make, the gap between the two platforms may be smaller than it appears. Threads has the potential to gain significant momentum in the near future.