Threads edges out X in daily mobile users, new data shows

Interpreting the usage numbers

• Several commenters question the article’s claim that X’s U.S. DAUs halved; the visible graph looks more like 150M → 125M and appears to be global, not U.S.-only.
• Others note the TechCrunch piece focuses on mobile DAUs; X likely has many more web users than Threads, so “parity” on mobile alone is misleading.
• People are skeptical of the Similarweb data because the article doesn’t explain methodology or provide a direct source beyond screenshots.

Drivers of Threads’ growth

• Many argue Threads’ rise is heavily driven by Meta’s funnel: Instagram’s 2B+ users, mandatory or near-mandatory IG linkage in some regions, and constant in‑app promotion.
• In the EU, some report you can sign up with a phone number instead of Instagram, likely due to DMA restrictions on cross‑using personal data.
• Users describe Instagram showing teaser “stripes” of Threads posts where you must tap through (and often install Threads) to see replies, plus aggressive, sometimes irrelevant notifications.
• Some believe most Threads “users” are Instagram users who clicked through once, not people who identify as part of a Threads community.

Perceptions of X/Twitter’s decline

• Multiple people report X feeling empty, bot‑ridden, or dominated by scammers and “tech bros,” despite large claimed user counts.
• Others say most users are quiet lurkers, which is true on all platforms, and that some niches (AI/ML, OSINT, certain politics) remain very active.
• There’s mention of abandoned-account purges and handle auctions being inconsistent; some got long-dead usernames, others view this as “renting” identities.
• A rumor is cited about an algorithmic “pageview budget” per user that suppresses visibility after some quota, allegedly breaking core dynamics; this is unverified in the thread.

Content, culture, and politics

• Several commenters see X as heavily tilted toward far-right or racist content, describing reply threads under news as “vile” and unusable for non‑aligned users.
• Others counter that their “For You” feed is mostly tech/photography and find Reddit far more “far-left” or propagandistic, sparking a long argument over what counts as extremism vs “reality bias.”
• Some note that different communities migrated to different platforms: historians and some niches to Bluesky, infosec to Mastodon, others staying on X.
• Threads is described by some as lighter and less rage-bait‑driven, but also full of ChatGPT spam and wannabe influencer posts; one person calls it “TikTok but with text.”

Platform consolidation and alternatives

• There is widespread discomfort with “trading one evil billionaire for another” and consolidating public discourse into a few corporate platforms seen as politically aligned with Trump or other elites.
• People mention Bluesky, Mastodon, and Lemmy as healthier or more pleasant, but also note that almost nobody in their offline lives is willing to leave Meta/X.
• A few advocate disengaging from social media entirely, or returning to forums, self‑hosted sites, and pseudonymous identities, while others argue the old web won’t come back without new discovery mechanisms.

Meta, WhatsApp, and anecdotal bias

• Several comments highlight “anchoring bias”: tech circles frequently underestimate Meta’s reach because their own peers don’t use certain products.
• Examples: WhatsApp as essential infrastructure in much of Europe; historic regional hits like Orkut; Facebook still heavily used by older or non‑U.S. communities even as it looks “dead” to some.
• The thread repeatedly notes that HN, and especially English‑speaking tech circles, are poor proxies for global usage patterns.

Threads vs X for tech and news

• One active Threads poster in AI/tech reports that breaking tech news and “what really matters” still appear on X first, with Threads lagging and focusing more on personal updates within small circles.
• Others say X still has a unique “you’ll see things here first” quality, akin to HN for certain fields, whereas Threads feels more generic or Instagram‑adjacent.

Walled gardens, federation, and trust

• Some argue Threads isn’t a classic walled garden because of ActivityPub integration; others are highly skeptical, citing past examples like open XMPP and now‑defunct APIs that were later shut down.
• Many fediverse instances reportedly block Threads due to spam and distrust of Meta.
• Overall, there is a consistent belief that Meta has little long-term incentive to fully embrace open federation, and users expect integration to remain limited or fragile.