According to data tracking websites, the Threads app, launched by Instagram to compete with Twitter, has surpassed 100 million users in less than five days. This achievement breaks the record set by the AI tool ChatGPT as the fastest-growing consumer app.
Comparatively, ChatGPT took two months to reach 100 million users, while TikTok took nine months. Instagram itself took two and a half years to reach this milestone after its launch in 2010.
Threads became available on the Apple and Android app stores in 100 countries on Wednesday. However, it is not accessible in Europe due to uncertainties around complying with the European Union’s data privacy legislation, as Meta, the parent company of Instagram, is navigating the situation.
Twitter is estimated to have around 200 million regular users. However, since Elon Musk acquired the platform last year and terminated thousands of employees, it has experienced repeated technical failures.
Musk, who is also the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has upset many users by introducing fees for previously free services and reinstating banned right-wing accounts on the platform.
Although several rivals have emerged, most of them are niche platforms lacking the necessary scalability to overthrow Twitter. Threads has an advantage due to its association with Instagram, which boasts over one billion regular users.
Online data service Quiver Quantitative reported that Threads reached 100 million users at 0700 GMT on Monday. Other websites tracking the “badges” obtained by Instagram users who downloaded Threads suggest that the milestone was achieved earlier.
Musk has threatened to sue Meta, accusing them of stealing trade secrets and intellectual property. However, Meta, the owner of Facebook and WhatsApp, denies these claims.
Musk and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg are engaged in a rivalry, with both individuals recently challenging each other to a cage fight.
