Threads, the Twitter clone developed by Meta, is experiencing a surge in growth, with engagement on the rise. During Meta’s Q4 2023 earnings announcement, CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed that Threads now has an impressive 130 million monthly active users. This signifies a steady increase in users since its initial launch peak, positioning the app for potential success.
It is not entirely surprising that Threads has gained popularity. In Meta’s Q3 earnings call, Zuckerberg mentioned that the app was nearing 100 million active users, just four months after its launch. Additionally, extending the availability of the app to European users in December likely contributed to the projected growth of approximately 26 million additional active users in that region alone. However, considering these figures, one might have expected Threads to be closer to 200 million active users by this stage. Despite this, Threads has managed to cultivate a substantial community of 130 million users, making its success noteworthy.
Threads aims to dethrone X as the leading real-time discussion app; an ambitious goal considering X currently boasts around 500 million monthly active users. While Threads has achieved approximately a quarter of X’s usage, it is essential to acknowledge X’s advantage of having years of embedded user behaviors and community building. Though Elon Musk’s changes at X may have received mixed responses, many users remain devoted to the platform for their social interactions. This is evident when comparing the top user engagement statistics between X and Threads; half of the most followed profiles on X have not ventured beyond X to create Threads accounts. This implies that Threads still has a long way to go before becoming a primary consideration, especially among sports communities that exhibit strong loyalty to X. Nevertheless, unexpected circumstances, such as financial difficulties faced by X following Elon Musk’s loss of a $55 billion pay package from Tesla, could potentially shift the balance. While this outcome seems unlikely, it is worth noting X’s tight operating margins, even with the cost reduction measures Musk has implemented. Moreover, the platform’s ad revenue has declined by 50% due to advertisers distancing themselves from Musk’s controversial statements, further jeopardizing its prospects.
Although Threads cannot be directly compared to X due to its relatively young age, it remains the most logical comparison given the focus of the Threads team. However, Threads is also adopting a distinct approach to engagement, setting it apart from X. In a recent statement, Instagram chief Adam Mosseri hinted at upcoming features on the app, such as trending topics and lists, that could enhance the user experience. While these highly anticipated updates may attract attention, Mosseri cautioned against expecting significant changes in user behavior as a result. The success of Threads in the face of these challenges will ultimately depend on its ability to deliver value to its user base and expand over time.
Threads is building a solid foundation with its current active user base, which positions it well for future growth. It will be a gradual process for Threads to potentially surpass X in terms of user adoption and engagement. While many obstacles lie ahead, the positive signs indicate that Threads is on the right path. With continued refinement of its features and the addition of valuable updates, Threads has the potential to become a major player in the real-time discussion app market. It remains to be seen whether Threads can overcome the challenges and fulfill its ambition of becoming the dominant platform in this space.
Leave a Reply