Data tracking websites revealed on Monday that the Threads app, introduced by Instagram as a direct competitor to Twitter, has amassed a staggering 100 million users in under five days. This achievement shatters the previous record held by AI tool ChatGPT for the fastest-growing consumer app. ChatGPT required two months to reach the 100 million user milestone, while video-sharing app TikTok took nine months. In comparison, Instagram itself took a lengthy two and a half years to achieve the same feat following its launch in 2010.
A Global Launch with One Major Exclusion
Threads became available for download on both Apple and Android app stores in 100 countries late last Wednesday. However, due to concerns over how to navigate the European Union’s data privacy legislation, the app is currently inaccessible in Europe. Meta, the parent company of Instagram, remains uncertain about its approach to European data privacy regulations.
Twitter’s Struggles and Threads’ Advantage
While Twitter boasts an estimated 200 million regular users, the platform has experienced a series of technical failures since its acquisition by Elon Musk last year, resulting in the termination of numerous employees. Furthermore, Musk’s introduction of charges for previously free services and the reinstatement of banned right-wing accounts has alienated many users. Although several rival platforms have emerged, most of them are niche platforms lacking the necessary scalability to overthrow Twitter. Threads, on the other hand, benefits from its association with Instagram, which boasts over one billion regular users.
Meta and Musk: A Rivalry Intensifies
At 0700 GMT on Monday, online data service Quiver Quantitative reported that Threads surpassed 100 million users. However, other websites, which calculated the count based on the “badges” obtained by Instagram users who downloaded Threads, suggested that the milestone had been reached even earlier. Elon Musk has threatened legal action against Meta, accusing the company of stealing trade secrets and intellectual property. In response, Meta, the owner of Facebook and WhatsApp, denied the allegations. Musk and Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg have been engaged in a bitter rivalry, with both individuals recently challenging each other to a cage fight.
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