Meta’s Threads reaches 175 million users in one year

A year ago, Mark Zuckerberg introduced Threads, a social media platform aimed at rivaling Elon Musk’s X. Fast forward to today, Threads boasts over 175 million monthly active users, a milestone announced by the Meta CEO on Wednesday. This achievement highlights the platform’s steady growth despite a highly competitive social media landscape.

Threads was launched on July 5th, 2023, during a tumultuous period for X, formerly known as Twitter. Musk’s controversial changes to X provided an opportune moment for Threads to capture the interest of users seeking a new social media experience. The initial launch saw a massive influx of users, and although the growth rate has slowed since, Threads continues to attract a significant user base.

While 175 million monthly users is an impressive figure, it only paints part of the picture. Unlike Meta’s other platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, Threads has not yet disclosed its daily active user numbers. This suggests that many users are still exploring the platform without becoming regular, daily participants.

Promotions within Instagram have played a crucial role in driving Threads’ growth. The integration between the two apps allows for seamless user onboarding, as both platforms share the same account system. This strategy has been instrumental in boosting Threads’ visibility and user adoption.

Despite its success, Threads remains a financial loss for Meta. However, given Meta’s vast resources, the company is prepared to sustain the platform as it continues to grow. Internally, there is discussion about introducing ads on Threads in the coming year. Integrating Threads with Instagram’s existing ad system could provide a new revenue stream while offering advertisers a brand-safe alternative to X.

Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, emphasized the cultural significance of Threads during its launch. “It would be great if it gets really, really big, but I’m actually more interested in if it becomes culturally relevant and if it gets hundreds of millions of users,” Mosseri stated. One year later, Threads is making progress, but there is still work to be done to solidify its cultural impact.

Meta’s strategic focus on expanding Threads in key markets where it can challenge X, such as Japan, indicates the company’s commitment to the platform’s long-term growth. As Threads continues to evolve, its ability to attract and retain users will be crucial in achieving Zuckerberg’s vision of the platform becoming Meta’s next billion-user app.

With 175 million monthly active users and a promising future ahead, Threads has established itself as a noteworthy player in the social media arena. As Meta fine-tunes its strategy and potentially introduces monetization through ads, the platform’s growth trajectory seems poised to continue upward.