Threads’ Mobile Momentum: Surpassing X in the Daily User Arena

In the ever-shifting realm of social media platforms, Meta’s Threads has achieved a notable milestone by overtaking Elon Musk’s X in daily active users on mobile devices. According to fresh data from market intelligence firm Similarweb, as of early January 2026, Threads boasts approximately 141.5 million daily active users across iOS and Android, edging out X’s 125 million. This development, reported in a recent analysis by TechCrunch, underscores Threads’ growing appeal amid X’s ongoing challenges. The shift isn’t abrupt but the culmination of strategic moves by Meta, including aggressive cross-promotion with Instagram and rapid feature enhancements.

Threads, launched in July 2023 as a text-based companion to Instagram, has been steadily building its user base. The platform’s integration with Instagram’s vast ecosystem—boasting over 2 billion monthly active users—has proven a powerful lever. Users can seamlessly sign up for Threads using their Instagram credentials, which lowers barriers to entry and encourages habitual use. This cross-pollination has been particularly effective on mobile, where convenience reigns supreme. Meanwhile, X, formerly Twitter, has grappled with advertiser pullbacks, policy changes, and public controversies under Musk’s leadership, potentially eroding user loyalty.

The data from Similarweb highlights a clear divide in usage patterns. While Threads dominates mobile engagement, X maintains a lead in web traffic, suggesting different user behaviors across devices. On desktops, X’s established presence in news dissemination and real-time discussions keeps it ahead, but mobile users appear to favor Threads’ cleaner interface and algorithm-driven feeds. This mobile-first surge aligns with broader trends in social media, where apps are increasingly the primary touchpoint for daily interactions.

Strategic Plays Fueling Threads’ Rise

Meta’s playbook for Threads involves more than just leveraging Instagram. The company has rolled out creator tools, such as enhanced analytics and monetization options, to attract influencers and content creators disillusioned with X. Features like threaded conversations, polls, and integration with Meta’s AI tools have kept the platform fresh. In contrast, X’s experiments with premium subscriptions and video content have met mixed reception, with some users reporting frustration over algorithmic changes and increased misinformation.

Industry observers note that Threads’ growth trajectory has been impressive. Back in July 2025, Threads reported 115.1 million daily active users, marking a 127.8% year-over-year increase, as detailed in an earlier TechCrunch piece. By September 2025, it had already surpassed X in global daily mobile users for the first time, according to Similarweb data cited in a Medium article from The Keyword. This consistent upward trend reflects Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s vision of Threads as a “public conversations app” that prioritizes positive interactions over the combative tone often associated with X.

User sentiment on platforms like X itself reveals a mix of reactions. Posts from early 2026 indicate growing awareness of Threads’ mobile edge, with some users praising its stability and others dismissing the numbers as inflated by accidental logins via Instagram. One post highlighted Threads’ 141.5 million figure as a sign of shifting habits, while another emphasized X’s enduring strength in web-based news consumption. These discussions, found across X, underscore the competitive tension, though they often carry biases from platform loyalists.

X’s Countermeasures and Market Dynamics

Elon Musk’s X has not been idle in the face of this challenge. The platform touts its own metrics, such as record-breaking user-seconds and impressions. For instance, X reported 363.6 billion daily user-seconds in late 2024, a 12% increase year-over-year, as shared in public updates. More recently, X claims over 650 million users and dominance as the top news app in numerous countries. However, these figures encompass total users, not just daily actives on mobile, where Threads now leads.

The disparity in mobile usage could stem from X’s broader controversies. Advertisers have fled amid concerns over content moderation, with high-profile brands pausing campaigns following Musk’s endorsements of contentious views. This has impacted X’s revenue, forcing a pivot toward subscriptions and payments, but it may have alienated casual mobile users seeking a less volatile experience. Threads, benefiting from Meta’s robust advertising infrastructure, has avoided such pitfalls, focusing instead on user retention through features like customizable feeds and cross-app sharing.

Broader market data supports this narrative. A PYMNTS report from January 19, 2026, confirms Threads’ 141.5 million daily mobile users against X’s 125 million, attributing the gap to Meta’s promotional strategies. Similarly, Forbes noted on January 16 that Threads first overtook X in September 2025, with the lead widening as Meta adds millions more users. These insights paint a picture of a platform gaining ground through calculated expansion rather than revolutionary innovation.

User Behavior Shifts and Platform Habits

Delving deeper into user behavior, mobile dominance for Threads suggests a generational and habitual divide. Younger users, already entrenched in Instagram’s ecosystem, find Threads a natural extension for text-based sharing without the baggage of X’s legacy issues. Data from Similarweb, as referenced in a Mezha article, shows Threads’ mobile growth concentrated in regions like the U.S. and Europe, where app usage is high. X, conversely, retains strength in web-heavy markets, possibly due to its role in professional networking and journalism.

This mobile-web split has implications for content creators and brands. On Threads, the emphasis on mobile means shorter, more visual interactions, integrated with Instagram’s stories and reels. X’s web advantage supports longer-form discussions and live events, but its mobile app has faced criticism for bugs and ad overload. Industry insiders speculate that if Threads continues this trajectory, it could challenge X’s position in real-time news, especially as Meta invests in verification tools and algorithmic transparency.

Posts on X from January 2026 reflect this evolving sentiment. Users have shared links to articles highlighting Threads’ surge, with some expressing surprise at the numbers and others defending X’s overall reach. One thread discussed how Threads’ cross-promotion creates “accidental users,” but data suggests sustained engagement, not just fleeting visits. These conversations, while anecdotal, illustrate the real-time buzz around the rivalry.

Future Trajectories and Competitive Edges

Looking ahead, Threads’ mobile lead could expand if Meta sustains its innovation pace. Upcoming features, such as deeper AI integration for content discovery and enhanced privacy controls, are rumored to debut soon, potentially drawing more users from X. Meta’s financial muscle—bolstered by Instagram and Facebook revenues—allows for aggressive marketing, unlike X’s reliance on Musk’s personal brand and ventures like Tesla.

X, however, has unique strengths that could stage a comeback. Its focus on free speech and unfiltered discourse appeals to certain demographics, and integrations with services like Grok AI and video streaming set it apart. Recent data from X indicates 500 million posts per day and 100 billion impressions, metrics that dwarf Threads’ current scale in some areas. Yet, as Mashable pointed out on January 11, 2026, Threads is on track to surpass X in overall daily actives if mobile trends persist.

The rivalry extends beyond user counts to monetization and ecosystem building. Threads benefits from Meta’s ad network, which could soon rival X’s in social commerce. Brands are already experimenting with Threads for targeted campaigns, drawn by its positive vibe. X’s push into payments and premium content might counter this, but execution will be key amid ongoing legal and regulatory scrutiny.

Implications for the Social Media Ecosystem

This mobile overtake signals broader changes in how platforms compete for attention. Threads’ success demonstrates the power of ecosystem synergies, where one app feeds another. For X, it highlights the risks of disruptive leadership in a space where stability often wins user trust. Analysts predict that by mid-2026, Threads could reach 200 million daily mobile users if growth continues at current rates, based on extrapolations from Similarweb data.

User feedback from X posts in early 2026 shows a divided community. Some celebrate Threads as a fresher alternative, while X loyalists point to its global web dominance and community features. This discourse, combined with data from sources like News9live, suggests the shift is gradual, driven by user habits rather than mass migrations.

Ultimately, the battle between Threads and X reflects the fluid nature of digital social spaces. As mobile usage grows globally—projected to account for over 70% of social media time by 2027—platforms like Threads that prioritize seamless app experiences may hold the upper hand. For industry players, this milestone serves as a case study in adaptation, where leveraging existing networks and focusing on user-centric features can tip the scales in a crowded field. Whether X regains mobile ground or Threads expands its web presence remains to be seen, but the data points to an intensifying contest.