Meta’s Threads Overtakes X on Mobile as AI Scandal and Meta’s Ecosystem Fuel Growth

Meta’s Threads has quietly flipped the script on Elon Musk’s X, drawing in more mobile users even as the latter reels from AI scandals. As of January 7, 2026, Threads reported 141.5 million daily active users on iOS and Android, surpassing X’s 125 million mobile users. X maintains a web lead with 145.4 million daily visits compared to Threads’ 8.5 million.

Threads growth is attributed to Meta’s cross-promotion via Facebook and Instagram, along with features like interest communities, disappearing posts, and games. Similarweb data shows Threads narrowed the mobile gap with X by 127.8% year-over-year as of late June 2025. The platform reported 150 million daily active users in October 2024 and 400 million monthly active users in August 2025.

X faces regulatory scrutiny following AI controversies involving Grok deepfake images, prompting investigations in California, the UK, EU, and India. Similarweb notes these issues likely aren’t the primary driver of Threads’ growth, though Bluesky saw increased app installs after X’s scandals.

Meta’s ecosystem advantages—integrating Threads with its social platforms—have proven critical in mobile adoption. X’s web dominance remains intact, but the mobile shift highlights shifting user preferences and platform strategies.