Threads Hits 500M Users, Nears X in Real-Time Chat Race

Threads Surpasses 500 Million Monthly Active Users
Meta's text-based platform Threads has officially crossed 500 million monthly active users (MAU), positioning itself as a formidable competitor to X (formerly Twitter) in the real-time conversation space. According to Meta's official announcement, this milestone reflects steady growth since the app's 2023 launch as an alternative to X following Elon Musk's controversial platform changes.

The X Comparison
Data from SpaceX filings indicates X currently maintains approximately 550 million MAU, placing Threads just 50 million users behind its primary competitor. Unlike Threads, X's user metrics remain unverified—Elon Musk typically shares figures through informal social media posts rather than official disclosures. Industry analysts tracking both platforms note that Threads' growth trajectory appears more stable, while X's numbers fluctuate significantly.

Zuckerberg's Vision Realized
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg originally positioned Threads as "a more friendly version of Twitter" in his inaugural 2023 post on the platform. His strategy focused on cultivating positive community engagement as the foundation for scaling. Three years later, Threads has achieved half of Zuckerberg's stated goal to build "the next billion-user app."

New Features Fueling Growth
To sustain momentum, Meta is introducing several upgrades to Threads' community infrastructure:

1. Communities Exit Beta: The topic-based group feature, first tested in October 2025, now launches globally with custom icons and contributor recognition systems.

2. Enhanced Discovery: A dedicated communities hub in the app's sidebar simplifies navigation, while progress indicators notify users when topics gain enough traction to become official groups.

3. Live Chat Expansion: Following successful NBA playoffs integrations, Threads now enables co-hosted live discussions and quote-sharing to main feeds. Regional localization begins with Japanese, Korean, and Taiwanese language tags.

The Road Ahead
While Threads' growth rate has slowed compared to its explosive 2023-2024 period, like.tg data suggests its methodical feature rollout and emphasis on niche communities may provide long-term stability. The platform's avoidance of algorithmic radicalization—a frequent criticism of X—appears central to Meta's differentiation strategy. With both platforms now operating at comparable scale, the battle for real-time social dominance enters a critical phase in 2026.