Meta's Twitter rival Threads is marking its first anniversary with a significant milestone - 175 million monthly active users. CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the achievement as the platform celebrates one year since its July 5, 2023 launch.
Rapid Growth and Integration
Threads has seen impressive growth in its inaugural year:
- Reached 100 million users just 5 days after launch
- Hit 130 million users in February 2024
- Grew to 150 million users by April 2024
- Now boasts 175 million monthly active users
The platform's tight integration with Instagram likely fueled this rapid expansion, allowing users to easily sign up using existing Instagram accounts.
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| The vibrant and dynamic design on the smartphone screen represents the rapid growth and creative energy of Threads, fueled by its seamless integration with Instagram |
Content and Features
Some interesting insights about Threads usage have emerged:
- 63% of posts are text-only
- 25% of posts contain at least one photo
- Voice notes are gaining popularity, especially among younger users
- As of June 25, users in over 100 countries can share posts to the wider fediverse
Challenges and Future Plans
Despite the growth in monthly users, Meta has not shared daily active user figures. This suggests Threads may still be working to become part of users' daily routines.
Looking ahead, Meta has ambitious plans for Threads:
- Zuckerberg envisions it becoming the company's next billion-user app
- Targeting expansion in markets like Japan to compete with X (formerly Twitter)
- Exploring the introduction of ads in 2025
Birthday Celebration
To commemorate its first year, Threads is offering users a choice of custom app icons. These are available for a limited time until July 12 and can be accessed through the profile tab in the app.
As Threads enters its second year, it will be interesting to see if it can maintain this growth trajectory and achieve the cultural significance Meta is aiming for in the social media landscape.
Update: Wednesday July 03 17:15
Threads has taken a significant step forward by publicly releasing its API after months of closed beta testing. This move allows third-party developers to create new apps and services that integrate with the platform. The API provides access to key features such as publishing posts via third-party services, fetching user content, managing reply and quote controls, and accessing metrics like view counts, likes, and follower demographics. This development could lead to the creation of alternative Threads clients and cross-platform integration tools, potentially attracting users who prefer customized experiences and further accelerating the platform's adoption.