Threads Overtakes X on Users: Is The Social Media App Heading Towards Extinction?

Threads Beats X in Daily Mobile Users

Threads is now ahead of X in daily mobile users. New data from Similarweb shows a clear shift. As of January 7, 2026, Threads recorded 141.5 million daily users on iOS and Android. X followed with 125 million.

This marks a major moment in the social media race. X still holds strength on the web. Yet, mobile is where daily habits form. That is where Threads is winning.

The Rise of Threads on Mobile

Threads has grown steadily for months. The surge is not tied to a single controversy. It reflects a deeper pattern. Meta promotes Threads across Instagram and Facebook. Millions see it every day. That exposure drives installs and repeat use.

The app also keeps evolving. Threads added interest-based communities. It improved filters, launched DM and enabled longer posts and disappearing updates. Now, it even tests games. Each update gives users more reasons to stay.

These changes turn casual visits into habits. More people now open Threads as part of their daily routine.

From Twitter to X: A Long Slide

X’s story tells a different tale. Twitter once shaped global conversations. Over time, the platform lost stability. After becoming X, the product changed fast. Policies shifted. Features arrived and vanished. Trust weakened.

Recent controversies deepened concerns. Users discovered Grok creating non-consensual deepfake images. Authorities across regions began investigations. These events did not start the decline. They highlighted it.

Bluesky also gained installs during this period. The market shows restlessness. Users explore alternatives. They no longer stay loyal by default.

Mobile vs Web: Two Different Worlds

X still rules the web. It records around 145 million daily web visits. Threads sees only about 8.5 million. Yet, most people now live on apps. Mobile defines modern engagement.

In the United States, X remains ahead. Still, the gap narrows each year. Similarweb notes that X now has far fewer daily users than before.

Meta reported that Threads crossed 400 million monthly users in 2025. It also shared 150 million daily users later that year. The direction remains upward.

Not a Sudden Shift, But a Long-Term Pattern

The shift toward Threads does not appear to be a knee-jerk reaction to recent controversies on X. Instead, it reflects a longer trend in user behavior that has been building for months. However, the latest developments on X have added fresh pressure.

In recent weeks, users were found using X’s integrated AI, Grok, to generate non-consensual nude images of women, including, in some cases, minors. The discovery triggered widespread concern over deepfake abuse and platform safety. California’s attorney general has since opened an investigation into Grok. Similar probes are already underway in regions such as the UK, the EU, India, and Brazil.

These events did not start the migration. But they underline a growing trust gap. As questions around safety, moderation, and stability continue, many users are rethinking where they spend their time. The result is visible on mobile, where Threads keeps gaining daily habits while X struggles to retain them.

What the Numbers Signal

The data does not declare an end for X. It signals a shift in behavior. Users follow ease, features, and stability. Threads offers all three.

The journey from Twitter to X reflects years of erosion with frequent downtimes. Threads represents a new habit forming. On mobile, the center of gravity has already moved.

119 Views