Threads Sees Continued Growth with 23 Million Downloads in May, Closing Gap with X

Meta's Twitter alternative Threads maintained strong momentum in May 2025, securing 23 million downloads across iOS and Android platforms while holding its position as the 8th most downloaded app globally. This represents a million-download increase from April's figures.

The social media platform has accumulated 350 million monthly active users, positioning itself as a serious challenger to X (formerly Twitter), which claims 600 million monthly active users. However, X's reported numbers have raised questions given its documented 15% decline in European usage since Elon Musk's acquisition. Source: Reuters Social Media Analysis

Platform Performance Analysis

Meta's growing success with Threads demonstrates the platform's evolution through enhanced real-time news capabilities and strengthened live event coverage, particularly in sports. These strategic implementations target X's traditional stronghold in immediate engagement and breaking news.

Download Rankings and User Metrics

ChatGPT continues to dominate app downloads, with Instagram and TikTok alternating in second and third positions. The download data reveals significant patterns across major social platforms:

• TikTok maintains consistent popularity in the top three
• Facebook and WhatsApp show stable download numbers
• Snapchat remains in the top 10 despite user retention challenges

User Engagement Insights

While download numbers provide valuable metrics, actual user retention presents a more comprehensive picture. Snapchat's experience particularly highlights this distinction, with strong download volumes but comparatively lower user numbers – 900 million monthly active users and 460 million daily users – compared to competitors like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, which have all surpassed one billion users.

Strategic Implications

Businesses should consider:

• Diversifying their social media presence to include Threads
• Leveraging Threads' focus on real-time news and sports coverage
• Monitoring platform usage trends beyond download statistics

Enhanced Features and Future Outlook

The platform continues to evolve with enhanced features including:

• Improved content discovery algorithms
• Enhanced engagement metrics
• Advanced user interface optimization
• Real-time analytics for business accounts

These developments indicate Threads' commitment to providing a robust social media experience while steadily closing the gap with established platforms.