In the fast-moving world of social media, a new player is making waves and it’s coming straight from Meta’s playbook, and it may just shake the digital throne. Meta’s Threads, the sleek, mobile-first app born from Instagram’s ecosystem, is rising fast. Really fast. And the app it’s chasing? None other than Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter), the long-standing ruler of real-time chatter.
According to TechCrunch, Threads boasted 115.1 million daily mobile users in June 2025, a 127.8% jump from a year ago. In comparison, X had 132 million mobile daily users, but its numbers have dipped by 15.2%. With growth curves like these, it’s not a matter of if, but when Threads overtakes X in the mobile space.
Some call it competition. Others call it a coup.
Meta has played its cards wisely. By tying Threads to Instagram, Meta instantly tapped into a massive user base. Then it gave them what they craved: a clean, distraction-free space to post thoughts without the noise. No confusing algorithmic chaos. No shadowy blue check drama. Just text, images, and a growing community that feels fresh.
And X? Its journey has been stormy. Since Elon Musk’s takeover, some users feel the platform has become more chaotic, less inclusive, and frankly, less fun. Changes to content moderation, subscription features, and visibility rules have driven users away,many of whom found their new digital refuge on Threads.
In the U.S. alone, Threads now counts 15.3 million daily mobile users compared to X’s 22.9 million. That gap is closing, and fast. Meta’s new tools, such as direct messaging and the Threads Highlighter, a trending post finder, are giving the app more depth. According to Mobigyaan, these features are aimed at turning Threads into a destination, not just a passing curiosity.
It doesn’t end there. Meta plans to allow access to Threads without needing an Instagram account, opening the gates to non-Instagram users. Emily Dalton Smith, Threads’ VP of Product, confirmed that the app is now developing its own identity and user behavior proves it. Threads isn’t just a clone anymore. It’s becoming a competitor on its own terms.
Of course, not everyone’s buying the hype. Critics argue that Threads is simply Meta’s attempt to dominate yet another corner of the internet, locking users deeper into its ecosystem. Others worry it lacks X’s openness and edge, elements that made Twitter the heartbeat of newsrooms, protests, and culture wars.
But perhaps that’s exactly why Threads is thriving.
It feels safer, for now. A little more curated. A little less angry. Yet if Threads wants to be the public square, can it handle disagreement, dissent, and the real-time messiness that made Twitter iconic? Or will it become a sanitized feed where only the algorithm wins?
As Threads climbs and X struggles, social media is clearly in transition. The apps we choose say as much about our digital identities as the things we post. Are we choosing peace over chaos? Control over freedom? Or just a better-designed app?
The battle for the soul of public conversation has a new front. And whether you are Team Threads, loyal to X, or watching from the sidelines, one thing’s certain: the conversation is far from over.
