Meta’s social media platform Threads has overtaken Elon Musk’s X in daily mobile usage, according to new data from market intelligence firm Similarweb. The figures highlight a shift in how users are engaging with rival platforms, particularly on smartphones.
Similarweb’s data shows that as of 7 January 2026, Threads had 141.5 million daily active users on its iOS and Android apps. X, formerly known as Twitter, recorded about 125 million daily active users on mobile over the same period. The gap has been closing steadily over recent months, driven by consistent growth on Threads rather than a sudden spike.
Long-term trend
Analysts say the rise in Threads’ mobile use appears to be part of a longer-term pattern. While X has faced criticism and scrutiny over recent controversies involving its AI chatbot, Grok, Similarweb suggests these events are not the main driver behind Threads’ gains.
The Grok tool has been linked to the creation of non-consensual deepfake images, including images of minors. This has prompted investigations by California’s attorney general, alongside similar inquiries in the UK, the European Union (EU), India and Brazil. The situation has also coincided with a rise in interest in alternative platforms, including the social network Bluesky, which has seen a jump in app downloads.
Why Threads is growing
Threads’ growth is largely being credited to Meta’s wider ecosystem. The app is heavily promoted across Facebook and Instagram, giving it easy access to a large user base. Meta has also focused on attracting creators and rolling out new features at a steady pace.
Over the past year, Threads has introduced interest-based communities, improved content filters, direct messaging, longer posts and disappearing content. The company is also testing games within the app.
Meta said in August 2025 that Threads had passed 400 million monthly active users, with daily users reaching 150 million by October.
Web still dominated by X
Despite Threads’ mobile success, X continues to lead on the web. Similarweb reports that X receives around 145 million daily web visits, compared with fewer than nine million for Threads’ websites. In the US, X remains more popular overall, though the difference is narrowing.
Also Read: Nearly 5M underage social media accounts removed in Australia
