Threads tops 350M monthly users as growth accelerates

Threads, Meta’s answer to social microblogging, has surpassed 350 million monthly users, according to details shared on Meta’s latest earnings call. User gains have surged in Q1 2025, positioning Threads as a heavyweight in the microblogging app landscape. This milestone signals growing momentum for the platform and new openings for creators and small brands relying on organic reach.

User additions soar in 2025

Meta revealed a 30 million increase in active users for Threads since the close of 2024, outpacing its previous quarter’s gains. By comparison, Threads added just 20 million new users in Q4 2024. The first quarter’s growth spurt nearly matches the entire user base of challenging newcomers like Bluesky, which currently sits at around 35 million users.

Other benchmarks put Threads’ current audience at over half that of X, which recently cited 600 million active users. While still dwarfed by legacy Meta properties such as Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp, Threads’ growth trajectory stands out in a crowded market.

Momentum tied to feature refinements

Meta credits its recommendations system and a sharper user experience for this recent surge. App improvements have reportedly driven a notable spike—users are now spending 35% more time in-app on average. Complementing this, Meta’s strategic launch of the Threads.com domain and major desktop UI update has broadened the app’s appeal to professionals and brands.

Key changes fueling growth this quarter:

Improved recommendations and personalization

Increased average session time per user

Full rollout of the Threads.com platform and desktop interface

Marketing efforts targeting creators and the organic social crowd

How Threads compares to its rivals

Threads trails X in total audience but leads most newcomers in both momentum and scale. Its current growth rate positions it ahead of decentralized competitors like Bluesky. Despite lagging far behind the scale of Meta’s flagship properties, Threads is now a serious contender for the microblogging crown, especially as X continues to experience uneven public perception and advertiser hesitation.

For brands and creators, more eyes and time spent on Threads mean a bigger canvas for content and relationship building. The platform’s uncluttered feed and recommendation-driven mechanics create opportunities to break through organic barriers that often bog down legacy networks.

Implications for social marketers

With session times on the rise and discoverability powered by improved recommendations, Threads is emerging as a practical channel for rapid, organic growth. For marketers and creators who rely on social-first approaches, engagement rates are likely to benefit as Threads battles to keep users inside its ecosystem. The desktop UI overhaul, in particular, provides more flexibility for brands managing multiple campaigns or publishing longer-form content.

Growth outlook and what to watch

Meta leadership is signaling strong support for Threads as its next major app, encouraged by recent gains in both user numbers and engagement. The company continues to roll out targeted features and promote organic participation. If current momentum holds, Threads could quickly transition from alternate player to central platform for creator-first social media.

With Meta’s diverse social products reaching over 3.4 billion daily users collectively, and with competitors jostling for share, watch for further innovations, integrations, and potential ad formats as Threads aims to solidify its place in the digital ecosystem.