According to data tracking websites, Instagram’s Threads app, launched to compete with Twitter, has surpassed 100 million users in under five days. This achievement breaks the record previously held by the AI tool ChatGPT as the fastest-growing consumer app. Comparatively, ChatGPT took two months and TikTok took nine months to reach the same user milestone, while Instagram itself took two and a half years after its launch in 2010. Threads became available on Apple and Android app stores in 100 countries on Wednesday, excluding Europe due to uncertainties surrounding data privacy legislation in the European Union.
Although Twitter is estimated to have approximately 200 million regular users, the platform has experienced technical difficulties since its purchase by Elon Musk last year, resulting in the termination of numerous employees. Musk, who also serves as the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has further upset many users by introducing charges for previously free services and reinstating banned right-wing accounts on the platform. While several competitors have emerged, most are niche platforms lacking the necessary scalability to overthrow Twitter.
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Threads has an advantage due to its association with Instagram, which boasts over one billion regular users. According to online data service Quiver Quantitative, the app surpassed 100 million users at 0700 GMT on Monday. However, other websites using a count of “badges” received by Threads users who have downloaded the app indicated that the milestone was achieved earlier.
Musk has threatened legal action against Meta, the parent company of Instagram, for alleged theft of trade secrets and intellectual property. Meta, which also owns Facebook and WhatsApp, denies these claims. Musk and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg have engaged in a rivalry, recently exchanging challenges for a cage fight.
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