Meta's Threads has officially surpassed X (formerly Twitter) in daily mobile usage worldwide, marking a significant shift in the social media landscape. According to a new report from Similarweb, Threads boasted 141.5 million daily active users on iOS and Android as of January 7, 2026, eclipsing X's 125 million. As someone who's seen countless app updates and platform shifts, this feels like a seismic event.
Steady Growth, Dramatic Decline
The data suggests Threads overtook X sometime between late October and early November 2025. What's most striking is that this wasn't a flash-in-the-pan phenomenon fueled by a viral trend. Instead, it was a slow, steady climb for Threads, indicating a genuine stickiness with users. Meanwhile, X is facing serious challenges. While X still holds a larger mobile user base in the United States, Similarweb estimates that X's U.S. daily active mobile user base has been cut in half compared to the previous year. That's a brutal metric, and it spells trouble for the platform's long-term health.
What's Behind the Shift?
Several factors likely contribute to Threads' rise. First, Meta's deep integration with Instagram gave it a massive built-in audience. The ability to easily port your followers and profile information from Instagram to Threads was a masterstroke in user acquisition. Second, X's controversial policy changes and moderation issues under its new ownership have alienated many users, driving them to seek alternatives. "Threads crossed ahead of X on mobile sometime between late October and early November 2025, following a prolonged period of steady growth rather than a sudden spike," MacRumors reports, highlighting the sustained nature of this shift.
As a former Genius Bar employee, I've seen firsthand how user perception and app updates can impact adoption rates. Threads has consistently delivered new features and improvements, keeping users engaged and providing a compelling alternative to X. X, on the other hand, seems to be struggling to find its identity and retain its user base. The battle for social media dominance is far from over, but Threads has clearly landed a major blow. It will be interesting to see if X can regain ground with it's planned changes to its subscription model for premium features. Regardless, Meta's Threads is a force to be reckoned with in the social media space.