Highlights

• Threads app download numbers outperform X, especially on iOS platforms.
• Meta’s Threads saw over half a million daily installs at its peak performance.
• Significant download gap with Threads achieving triple X’s numbers on some days.
• Potential to challenge Twitter’s dominance in the microblogging world.

Meta’s Threads app is making significant waves, outpacing X (formerly known as Twitter) in terms of daily downloads on major app stores.

The rivalry between these platforms has seen Threads not only double but sometimes even triple the number of daily installs compared to its competitors, especially on iOS devices.

The Rise of Threads

Since its launch in the summer of 2023, Threads has witnessed a fluctuating journey of downloads, initially boosted by Meta’s strategic promotions across Facebook and Instagram.

Despite these fluctuations, Threads has maintained a competitive edge over X, particularly on iOS, according to Appfigures data.

This competitive stance was further solidified by the end of last year when Threads began logging over half a million daily installs on both Google Play and iOS, a figure that has somewhat declined on iOS but still remains significantly higher than X’s download numbers.

As of late February 2024, Threads has continued to outshine X with 486,803 installs on Google Play and 342,228 on iOS, dwarfing X’s 225,408 and 112,625 downloads on the respective platforms.

This significant gap was even more pronounced a few days earlier, with Threads achieving more than triple the number of installs on both platforms compared to X.

Threads Could Overtake Twitter’s Dominance

This consistent lead in daily installations potentially shifts the microblogging sphere’s power dynamics.

Should Threads maintain its growth trajectory, it could challenge and possibly overtake Twitter’s long-established dominance.

Such a shift would not only alter the platform preferences of users, including journalists, researchers, and news aficionados but also position Meta as a pivotal player in the information-sharing ecosystem.

However, Meta has committed to not amplifying news content or recommending political content on Threads, possibly to differentiate its platform and avoid the pitfalls of political polarization.

FAQs

How do the Threads app’s download numbers compare to X’s?

Threads app consistently outperforms X in daily downloads, with figures sometimes triple those of X, highlighting a growing preference among users for Meta’s new offering.

What platforms show the most significant growth for Threads?

iOS devices have seen a particularly strong uptake of Threads, with daily install numbers significantly higher than those on Android when compared to X.

Can Threads potentially overtake Twitter’s dominance in social media?

Given its current trajectory and substantial daily download numbers, Threads has the potential to challenge, and possibly surpass, Twitter’s long-established dominance in the microblogging space.

What content strategy has Meta committed to for Threads?

Meta has stated it will not amplify news content or recommend political content on Threads, aiming to create a platform that avoids the pitfalls of political polarization.

What does the rise of Threads indicate for social media users?

The popularity of Threads suggests a shift in user preferences towards platforms that offer a fresh approach to microblogging, potentially reshaping the social media landscape and user engagement.

Has Threads Recorded 130 million Active Users in Q4 of 2023?

Mark Zuckerberg announced that Threads had 130 million monthly active users (MAUs) as of the company’s fourth quarter.

It’s likely that these numbers have continued to increase in the weeks since the announcement.

Instagram head Adam Mosseri has mentioned that the Threads app is performing “remarkably well” in Japan, where Twitter has historically had strong traction.

What is the Problem with X?

X reported having 500 million monthly active users as of last fall. However, it’s uncertain how many of these accounts are automated or spam.

Recent reports indicate that X may be dealing with a Verified bot problem, where certain blue-checked, paid accounts inadvertently disclosed their nature by responding to X posts with a standard message stating, “I’m sorry, I cannot provide the requested feedback as it goes against OpenAI’s content policy” — a response typical of AI-generated content.

A search on X still shows evidence of this issue.

Threads is not fully free from this problem, it seems that more users are organically posting this phrase on Meta’s platform as a trend .

X’s challenges with new installations may be linked to its rebranding from Twitter.

What are the Effects of Alternative Apps?

Mastodon’s official mobile app and the recently public Bluesky, struggle to compete with this competition and show minimal activity on the download chart.

While Mastodon has a broad third-party app ecosystem, its network currently hovers around 1 million monthly active users, according to its own first-party data.

Bluesky experienced a small increase in downloads when it became publicly available earlier this month, but its momentum has since subsided.

On its most significant day (February 7, the day after its launch), it recorded 79,685 installs on iOS and 55,711 on Google Play—significantly lower than Threads or X.

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