In a remarkable feat, Instagram’s latest venture, Threads, has achieved extraordinary success since its launch, amassing a staggering 100 million users within days. This impressive milestone has positioned the app as a formidable contender in the social media arena, as it now holds approximately one-fifth of Twitter’s weekly active user base on a global scale. Additionally, Threads has outshined its closest U.S. rival, Truth Social, boasting 86 times its weekly active user base, which previously stood at 1 million.
However, the journey to triumph for Threads hasn’t been without its ups and downs. Insights provided by app intelligence firm data.ai reveal that the app experienced a slight dip in early usage. Daily active users dropped by about 20% on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the average time spent on the platform reducing by 50% during that period, from 20 minutes to 10 minutes, as reported by CNBC. Despite this temporary setback, Threads managed to retain significant momentum, surpassing even Niantic’s Pokémon Go, known for its sensational launch back in July 2016, with over 150 million downloads. This impressive achievement makes Threads five-and-a-half times faster in terms of downloads than the iconic augmented reality game.
data.ai’s research also sheds light on the demographics of Threads’ rapidly expanding user base. During its initial partial week of availability, the app attracted a staggering 93 million active users worldwide, even before officially announcing the impressive 100 million signups milestone on July 10.
Surprising analysts, India emerged as the country with the highest number of downloads, constituting a remarkable 33% of Threads’ global user base. Brazil came in second, accounting for 22% of downloads, while the United States stood at 16%. The app also found favor in Mexico and Japan, with download shares of 8% and 5%, respectively. However, Threads is yet to reach European Union markets, as Meta, Instagram’s parent company, grapples with regulatory obstacles pertaining to privacy concerns and data collection practices. The recent measures taken to prevent EU users from bypassing the block via VPNs have contributed to this limitation.
In response to user feedback and the overwhelming demand, Threads recently rolled out its first major update since its launch. The update introduces support for iOS 17, now available as a public beta, alongside a host of smaller changes. The app developers have ambitious plans for future improvements, including the introduction of a following feed, an edit button, multi-account support, and integration with ActivityPub, the protocol powering the popular decentralized Twitter alternative, Mastodon.
Threads’ rapid rise to prominence has captivated users worldwide, revolutionizing the way people connect and share content online. With its unique emphasis on intimate and personalized interactions, Threads has emerged as a serious challenger to traditional social media platforms and promises to reshape the landscape of digital communication.
