Meta’s Threads remains one of the most downloaded social media apps on Apple and Google’s app stores and is consistently beating its main competitor X in downloads.
According to new data from Appfigures, Threads received 342,228 downloads on iOS and 486,803 on Google Play on Feb. 25. These download numbers soundly defeated X, which received 112,625 and 225,408 downloads on iOS and Google Play, respectively.
Threads’ download numbers suggest that Meta’s fledgling Twitter Killer is not a flash in the pan.
While the app certainly made history with over 100 million sign-ups after it launched last summer, downloads and daily users slowly filtered out after learning the site was essentially incomplete. However, Threads leadership has since steadily dolled out updates to attract users.
While both X and Threads have had peaks and valleys in their daily downloads, Threads has remained consistently higher than X. One of the reasons for the widening gap between the two sites could be X owner Elon Musk’s decision to change the name from Twitter last year. The site experienced a serious drop in monthly downloads after the rebranding, which industry watchers say made the app being harder to find.
While X has rebounded since the rebrand, smaller competitors could pull users away. Bluesky launched for all users this month after being in private beta. While the app’s downloads and users are leagues below X or Threads, the promise of a decentralized social media platform could prove attractive for those weary of the control of Meta or Mr. Musk.
Meta still has an issue of identity. While X continues to be many users’ main source for news and political discussion, Threads has openly said it will not amplify political content on its platform. With the upcoming presidential election, X stands to gain more daily active users invested in the outcome.
• Vaughn Cockayne can be reached at vcockayne@washingtontimes.com.
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