Threads Surpasses X in Daily Mobile User Count

Meta’s Threads has marked a significant milestone by overtaking Elon Musk’s X in daily mobile usage, as per recent findings from market analyst Similarweb.

As reported by TechCrunch on Sunday, Similarweb's estimates indicate that Threads achieved 141.5 million daily active users on both Android and iOS as of January 7, 2026, compared to X's 125 million during the same timeframe.

Conversely, trends differ when it comes to web usage. Data from TechCrunch shows that X maintains a lead in browser activity, registering around 145.4 million daily visits on January 13, while Threads lagged with just 8.5 million.

TechCrunch articulated this change as a continuous, gradual trend instead of a sudden fallout due to X's recent controversies. The report highlighted that Threads’ mobile growth largely stems from Meta's tactics in redirecting users from its larger platforms like Facebook and Instagram, coupled with ongoing feature enhancements that boost user interaction.

Threads has evolved beyond merely a text feed, introducing various innovative tools and features. These range from interest-based communities, enhanced content filters, direct messaging, to long-form and disappearing posts, with indications of game testing within the app.

Meta has also revealed notable engagement metrics recently. By August 2025, Threads hit 400 million monthly active users, with TechCrunch citing a figure of 150 million daily active users by October 2025.

This consumption shift occurs as X faces mounting regulatory scrutiny regarding its AI chatbot Grok, concerning the production of harmful or non-consensual sexual content. Issues surrounding deepfake technology, particularly those affecting minors, have attracted the attention of various regulatory bodies.

In the U.S., California Attorney General Rob Bonta has initiated an investigation into xAI’s Grok, focusing on the proliferation of non-consensual sexual deepfakes targeting women and children, as asserted in a statement by the California Department of Justice.

Meanwhile, in the U.K., the media regulator Ofcom has launched a formal inquiry under the Online Safety Act into X, assessing whether the platform has fulfilled its legal obligations to curb illegal and harmful content.

TechCrunch concludes that Threads’ advancement reflects a slow but steady shift in user behavior, with X retaining dominance on the web while Threads increasingly becomes a go-to platform on mobile devices.