Threads, a text-based social media platform developed by Meta, has emerged as Apple’s most downloaded app. Launched in July, Threads initially experienced a decline in usage due to limited features and simplicity. However, the app’s team made necessary enhancements and updates, prompting users to return and remain engaged. After expanding to the European Union in December, Threads climbed to the top spot in Apple’s App Store. In contrast, rival platform X, owned by Elon Musk, has seen a decrease in daily and monthly active users. With its growing popularity and positive trajectory, Threads is poised to become a major player in the social media landscape.
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Threads: Apple’s Most Downloaded App
Overview
Meta’s new messaging app, Threads, has rapidly gained popularity, becoming Apple’s most downloaded app. With its roots in Instagram, Threads offers users a text-based social media platform that competes directly with X (formerly Twitter). While X continues to see a decline in downloads and users, Threads has experienced steady growth and has expanded to the European Union. This article will explore the background of Threads, its increasing user base, Meta’s vision for the app, and the decline of X under Elon Musk’s ownership.
Background information
Threads, developed by Meta and launched in July, quickly captured the attention of users. However, the initial surge in popularity was followed by a decline as the app lacked features and was perceived as bare-bones. Determined to improve the user experience, Meta’s team of 15 engineers, who built the app leveraging Instagram’s technology, made significant updates and enhancements to Threads. The efforts paid off as users returned to the platform. Furthermore, the recent launch of a web version and the availability of Threads in the European Union contributed to its rise in popularity.
The popularity of Threads
This week, Threads achieved a significant milestone by becoming the most popular app in Apple’s US App Store. While it ranked within the top five apps in previous weeks, the expansion to the EU propelled Threads to second place, only behind Temu, a discounted goods marketplace. However, Threads quickly claimed the top spot and has maintained it since. It currently holds the fifth position in the Google Play Store’s list of most downloaded free apps.
Threads in the EU
The availability of Threads in the European Union has significantly contributed to its success. This expansion boosted the platform’s ranking in the App Store and further increased its user base. As Threads gains more traction in the EU, it solidifies its position as a leading messaging app.
Threads in the App Store and Google Play Store
Threads’ rapid rise in popularity is evident in its performance in both the App Store and the Google Play Store. Within a year, Meta has transitioned from not having an app in Apple’s top ten downloads to having Instagram, Threads, and Facebook all ranked within the top 10. This impressive growth demonstrates Meta’s ability to compete with well-established apps and platforms.
Meta’s growth in the App Store
Meta’s success is further underscored by Threads’ inclusion in Apple’s end-of-year report on top apps and games. Despite its relatively recent launch in July, Threads secured the fourth position in Apple’s most-downloaded apps for the entire year. This achievement highlights the app’s rapid growth and user appeal.
User Growth
Threads’ user base has experienced steady growth since its launch. Over the past three months, the number of daily active users has increased by 17%, reaching just under 35 million people. Additionally, monthly active users have grown by 27% to nearly 140 million people. These figures, based on Apptopia data, demonstrate Threads’ ability to attract and retain users. Furthermore, since its launch, Threads has amassed a total of 445 million downloads, according to Apptopia.
Meta’s Vision for Threads
Threads aligns with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s vision of creating a platform that fosters positive conversations among a billion users. In an earnings call in October, Zuckerberg expressed optimism about Threads’ potential, highlighting its then-credible user base of nearly 100 million monthly active users. Additionally, Meta’s inclusion of Threads in Apple’s end-of-year report further solidifies the company’s commitment to the app’s growth and success. Unlike X, which has strayed from its original value and experienced declining user numbers, Threads’ rise underlines Meta’s dedication to providing users with a valuable messaging experience.
X’s Decline
In contrast to Threads’ noteworthy growth, X has experienced a decline in both daily active users and monthly active users. Over the past three months, X’s daily active user count has decreased by approximately 5%, while the number of monthly active users has decreased by 1%. Furthermore, since Musk’s rebranding of X, the platform has witnessed the lowest level of downloads in over a decade. This decline reflects the challenges X faces under Musk’s ownership and the departure of major advertisers, jeopardizing the platform’s future.
Musk’s Controversial Behavior
Elon Musk’s engagement with extreme conservative views has garnered significant attention and controversy. Musk’s alignment with racist and antisemitic tweets on X has led to an exodus of major advertisers, putting the platform’s existence at risk. At the New York Times’s DealBook conference, Musk responded to the advertiser exodus with public outbursts and frustration, suggesting he was being blackmailed. These incidents, coupled with Musk’s recognition that the loss of advertisers could “kill the company,” have raised concerns about X’s future.
Conclusion
Meta’s messaging app, Threads, has established itself as Apple’s most downloaded app, outpacing its competitor X. Threads’ steady user growth, coupled with Meta’s vision for the app’s future, showcases Meta’s ability to create successful platforms. On the other hand, X has faced declining user numbers and advertiser departures due to Elon Musk’s controversial behavior. This stark comparison highlights the diverging paths of these two prominent messaging apps.
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