Zuckerberg's Gradual Victory in His Contest Against Musk Unfolds
Instagram's Threads app, a mobile-centric social media platform reminiscent of Twitter, has seen **remarkable growth** in its user base, particularly on mobile devices. As of June 2025, Threads boasts **115.1 million daily active mobile users**, marking a **127.8% increase year-over-year**. In contrast, Twitter (now known as X) had **132 million daily active mobile users** in the same period but experienced a **15.2% decline from the previous year**[1][2][4][5].
This rapid expansion places Threads in close proximity to matching X's mobile user base, signaling a significant shift in social media engagement and user preference, especially for mobile app usage. However, when including desktop users, X still leads substantially, with almost **145.8 million daily desktop visits** versus just **6.9 million on Threads**. This disparity reflects differing user habits—X retains a strong desktop user presence, whereas Threads primarily attracts mobile users who engage briefly with the app[1].
Additional noteworthy statistics about Threads include:
- Threads has garnered **over 200 million active users globally**, with **23.7 million monthly active users in the U.S.** alone[3]. - Despite its strong user count, the average time spent daily on Threads is relatively low, at about **3 minutes per user**, significantly less than its peak of 21 minutes the previous year[3]. - Threads has been downloaded approximately **162 million times worldwide**, with India representing the largest user base by downloads (54.2 million)[3]. - Revenue projections for Threads are optimistic, with expectations to reach **US$113 billion by 2026**[3].
Meanwhile, X, a social platform managed by Elon Musk, had 132 million daily active mobile users in June. In comparison, a smaller platform, Bluesky, currently has approximately **4.1 million daily active users**[6]. Despite its growth, Bluesky remains the "small fish" in the competition among microblogging platforms.
The data regarding Bluesky's user base is reported by TechCrunch, and it has experienced a **372.5% growth year-over-year**[7]. However, Zuckerberg has given money and support to the individual who enabled Musk to run a pseudo-agency that aimed to destroy federal government infrastructure from the inside, potentially raising concerns for some users.
In summary, Threads is rapidly closing the gap with X in terms of mobile daily users, exhibiting substantial growth, while X's user numbers are declining on mobile but remain stronger overall when considering desktop visits. The data indicates a shifting landscape in social media where mobile-first platforms like Threads are gaining prominence[1][2][4][5].
- The growth of Instagram's Threads app is so remarkable that it is near parity with X's mobile user base, indicating a significant shift in social media engagement and user preference, especially for mobile app usage.
- Despite Threads' strong user count, the average time spent daily on this app is relatively low, with users spending about 3 minutes each day, significantly less than the previous year's peak of 21 minutes.
- Revenue projections for Threads are optimistic, with expectations to reach a staggering USD $113 billion by 2026.
- Another social platform, Bluesky, is currently smaller in comparison, having approximately 4.1 million daily active users, but it has experienced an impressive 372.5% year-over-year growth, as reported by TechCrunch.
