Instagram’s newly launched app, Threads, designed to compete with Twitter, has amassed over 100 million users in a record five days since its debut, according to recent data tracking reports. The new platform significantly surpassed the user accumulation rate of AI tool ChatGPT and the globally popular video-sharing app, TikTok.
Threads’ Remarkable Debut
Instagram’s Threads was released on Apple and Android app stores in 100 countries late last Wednesday. Notably, the app remains unavailable in Europe due to Meta’s uncertainties about navigating the EU’s stringent data privacy legislation. Despite this, Threads managed to break records, reaching the 100-million-user mark faster than Instagram, which took two and a half years to achieve the same milestone after its 2010 launch.
Twitter’s Stumbling Blocks
Twitter, believed to have around 200 million regular users, has encountered a series of technical failures since Elon Musk, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO, purchased the platform last year and dismissed thousands of employees. His actions, such as introducing charges for previously free services and reinstating banned right-wing accounts, have alienated numerous users.
While several platforms have emerged to challenge Twitter, most lack the necessary scalability to unseat the social media giant. In contrast, Threads leverages its connection to Instagram, which boasts over a billion regular users, for rapid expansion.
Disputes and Rivalries
Online data service Quiver Quantitative reported that the Threads app crossed the 100 million users mark at 7am GMT (3pm, Singapore time) on Monday. Other sites, using the count of “badges” received by Instagram users who have downloaded Threads, estimated this milestone was achieved even earlier.
In the backdrop of this success, a dispute has emerged between Musk and Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg. Musk accused Meta, which also owns Facebook and WhatsApp, of stealing trade secrets and intellectual property, claims that Meta vehemently denies. This feud escalates the rivalry between these two tech moguls, culminating in a recent challenge for a cage fight.
Conclusion
The rapid success of Instagram’s Threads, despite ongoing corporate disputes and stiff competition, illustrates the shifting dynamics of the social media landscape. This triumph might represent a new phase in the competition for social media dominance, as platforms strive to innovate, engage users, and expand their global footprint.
